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The USC Marshall MBA Student Experience

The USC Marshall MBA Student Experience

MBA students sharpen business fundamentals, technological fluency, and leadership skills while expanding their professional network to transform their careers.

by: Bea Huff Hunter
04.21.25
MBA Students doing Fight On.

USC Marshall MBA Students

[USC Photo / William Vasta]

Featured

  • Leigh Tost

    Leigh Tost
    • Vice Dean for MBA Programs
    • Associate Professor of Management and Organization
  • Rebecca Heino

    Rebecca Heino
    • Cyrus the Great Teaching Chair in Timeless Leadership
    • Professor of Clinical Management and Organization

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USC Marshall’s MBA experience extends far beyond job placement or financial gains — it includes personal growth, leadership development, and networking opportunities that can significantly impact graduates’ lives and career trajectories.

“I entered the MBA program eager to explore opportunities in entertainment and high-tech industries,” Aarushi Chugh, MBA student, Class of 2026, said. “Being an active member of the USC Marshall community has profoundly shaped my career journey, allowing me to grow as both a leader and a strategist.”

MBA students at USC Marshall School of Business leverage hands-on learning and rich community engagement. They reap the rewards of their education, transform their aspirations into tangible outcomes, and share this value with the next generation.

Leveraging the MBA’s Resources for Career Transition

Patrick Li, an MBA student, Class of 2025, worked in the aerospace industry before coming to USC Marshall to pivot into consulting, where he could make a positive impact across sectors.

“You’re getting back into the groove of school, and at the same time, you’re interviewing for your next job,” Li said. “USC Marshall does a great job preparing you with core classes like corporate finance, accounting, and marketing so you have the foundation to recruit — propelling you into your new career.”

USC Marshall’s Career Launchpad, a weeklong program, boosts job search readiness through learning and networking. Students receive guidance from faculty and industry experts to develop personalized strategies and build a strong professional network.

“Most of our students are coming in from one industry or function and would like to switch to another. Many features of the program — from courses to clubs — offer students a competitive advantage from the start,” said Leigh Tost, vice dean for MBA Programs and an associate professor of management and organization.

For Li, the Marshall Consulting and Strategy Club (MCSC) and consulting case competitions offered him the community and real-world experience needed for a successful transition.

“The consulting club hosts ‘Super Sundays’ in the fall, where alumni give first-year MBA students mock interviews. Managers, senior managers, and even partners come back to USC to share their wisdom and knowledge on how you can stand out and find success in recruiting,” Li said.

Li’s investment paid off. After a case competition win and a summer internship with Deloitte, he accepted a return offer at the global consulting firm.

This led him to become MCSC’s president and offer the same support to new MBA students.

Being an active member of the USC Marshall community has profoundly shaped my career journey, allowing me to grow as both a leader and a strategist.

— Aarushi Chugh

MBA Student, Class of 2026

“At the heart of USC’s value proposition is the ‘pay it forward’ culture,” Li explained. “It truly feels magical. Since adding Marshall to my LinkedIn profile, so many alumni have been receptive to a 20-minute coffee chat to share their knowledge and time, to work with me — helping me push forward and find success.”

Finding a Leadership Voice and Paying it Forward

With a human resources and consulting background, Aarushi Chugh, an MBA student, Class of 2026, came to Marshall to level up her leadership skills and grow as a digital transformation strategist.

“A leader is someone who shows up and gets it done, earns respect through their actions, and creates a legacy,” Chugh said. “I aspire to take on a leadership role in the education or healthcare technology industries, directly influencing strategy and operations. High-impact areas like these need support now more than ever.”

Just nine months into the program, Chugh has seen the value of the MBA’s hands-on courses and campus community in her development.

Being selected for the Marshall Leadership Fellows Program (MLFP), a rigorous one-year leadership development program for full-time MBA students, provided Chugh in-depth and supportive leadership training.

“I’ve developed many tangible skill sets by approaching leadership from a different angle in each Marshall Leadership Fellows Program class. This has helped me refine my leadership abilities, find my own leadership voice, and become the best version of myself.” Chugh explained.

Next year, she’ll have the opportunity to mentor and coach first-year MBA teams, creating a return on investment for herself and the next generation.

“To be successful in our current world, leaders must not only understand business but also prioritize self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and cultural competence,” said Rebecca Heino, who leads MLFP and is the Cyrus the Great Teaching Chair in Timeless Leadership as well as a professor of clinical management and organization.

“Through a holistic classroom and experiential learning program, leadership fellows transform their ability to give feedback, develop others, and resolve conflict, preparing them to step confidently into meaningful roles in any industry,” Heino added.

In Chugh’s experience, the MBA program’s thriving student culture is another value-added feature, so much so that she was elected MBA Class of 2026 president to continue providing growth opportunities for future students.

“Being active in campus culture has enhanced my personal and professional growth as a leader and strategist,” Chugh said. “My roles in the Marshall Graduate Student Association, Marshall Leadership Fellows Program, and international case competitions have empowered me to apply classroom knowledge to real-world situations.”

This strong community connects her to new and established members of the mighty Trojan Network, which includes 485,000 alumni, 100,000+ of whom are from USC Marshall.

“Alumni networking events have opened doors to interviews at aligned companies,” Chugh said. “These experiences have empowered me to build meaningful connections and pursue my goal of driving innovation in health-tech and edtech. In terms of ROI, the Trojan Network is irreplaceable.”

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