Walton MBA - Finance Career Track

Undergraduate: Business, University of Arkansas
Hometown: Fayetteville, Arkansas

Why did Matt want a Walton MBA? “I choose the Walton College MBA program for two main reasons. The first was the affordability of the program and the second was their clear commitment to making the MBA program one of the best in the country,” says Matt. Over the past couple of years, the Sam M. Walton College of Business has experimented with innovations in the MBA format, working toward making the program a top-tier graduate destination.

Matt believes that the combination of faculty and his peers has enhanced his experiences in the program. “Everyone has been fantastic,” comments Matt. “The professors have real world work experience, so they can often tie together the theory aspects of lessons to real world experience.” Many members of the faculty have spent substantial time in various leadership positions in private industry. Regarding his peers, Matt comments, “I have also enjoyed my time with fellow students. I particularly enjoy the class discussions. I feel that my fellow classmates do an excellent job of stimulating my thinking.”

Negotiating the twists and turns of classes and a Graduate Assistantship is all about time management for Matt. “Life is busy as a graduate student. There is no sugar coating the time crunch I feel on a daily basis,” says Matt. “I typically wake at 7:30am, go to class until 12:30pm. Grab a quick lunch, then head to work at Tyson.” Matt has been a graduate assistant with Tyson Foods, Inc., in their corporate strategy group, since his first semester in the Walton MBA program. Matt continues, “After work, I will typically grab another quick meal and then head back to school to study or to meet with my group.” How does Matt balance his time? “It’s all about time management and setting priorities,” says Matt. “One simply cannot accomplish EVERYTHING every day, so it is absolutely crucial to set priorities.”

Part of Matt’s time management strategy is to allow himself time to unwind and enjoy Fayetteville. “I absolutely love Northwest Arkansas,” exclaims Matt. “I fell in love with this area of the state in undergrad; it is truly the perfect size, not too big and not too small.” Matt enjoys both the outdoor activities the area affords, as well as the night life. “My springs and summers are filled with floating the Buffalo River by day and enjoying some live music on a patio at night, there really isn’t a better combination.” “Throw in Razorback games in the fall and you come up with a fantastic place to live,” says Matt. “On top of the quality of the personal life, the booming Northwest Arkansas area allows me to make contacts with some of the biggest and best employers in the world.”