Whitman Student Pursues Her Online Degree, Getting a Seat at the Table

When Chanel Webb ’23 MBA was determined to find an online MBA program, she wanted one that would help her differentiate herself from others in her field. She found it at the Whitman School; after starting the program in January 2022, Webb has already seen the impact it has made on her career. 

“I decided to pursue my MBA online at Syracuse University because the Whitman School’s program is highly ranked, and I wanted to expand my business acumen, enhance my strategic thinking skills and have an opportunity to network with other leaders across various industries,” Webb says. “I felt that an MBA from Syracuse University would help me stand out from other candidates when I pursue my future career goals.” 

Even though Webb only recently started the program, she has been able to incorporate the skills and concepts she is learning into her job at the Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA), a global insurance and risk management company outside of Philadelphia. 

Just after she started the online program, Webb was promoted at MMA to assistant director, where she manages a benefits service center. She is certain the promotion was partly due to her pursuit of an MBA, which she believes has also led to a number of other recent opportunities “to have a seat at the table” within her company, including participating in corporate-wide events and attending the National African American Insurance Association convention as the company’s representative. 

While Webb has been taking her classes online, she has also participated in three of the MBA program’s residencies, including Women as Business Leaders, which she took virtually; and Digital Storytelling, and PowerUp with Power BI, both held on campus in April 2022. 

“I had never been to Syracuse University, so it was exciting,” she says of her on-campus residencies. “The experiences were definitely an added value that allowed me to meet others who were in the program with me.” 

Webb hopes to complete her MBA sometime in 2023 and is excited about the possibilities the future may hold for her. She says, “The program is structured in a way that reflects the current business landscape, and nothing we’ve learned has been out of date. From the very beginning of the online MBA program, I was positioned for success.” 

By Caroline Reff