From Specialization to MBA — A Learner’s Path Through Gies College of Business
Abubakar Abdullahi has been learning for years on Coursera from Abuja, Nigeria. When he decided to enroll in the Strategic Leadership and Management Specialization from Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), he set himself on a path towards acceptance into the Master of Business Administration (iMBA) program. Abubakar started the…
From Specialization to MBA — A Learner’s Path Through the Gies College of Business
Abubakar Abdullahi has been learning for years on Coursera from Abuja, Nigeria. When he decided to enroll in the Strategic Leadership and Management Specialization from Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), he set himself on a path towards acceptance into the Master of Business Administration (iMBA) program. Abubakar started the…
How a Film Industry Professional Decided to Pursue the Gies iMBA
When Ines Weitgasser first started out, her passion for storytelling and creativity led her to Los Angeles, where she began working for TV and film studios doing post-production. “I was always interested in creative work and working with a team of motivated professionals,” she said about her time in Hollywood. But after ten years, she…
Mastering the Code of Business: A Seasoned Software Engineer’s Journey to the iMBA
Over the course of your career, you may find that the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve your goals often change. After all, different goals require different abilities. Mateu Batle, a software engineer based in Lima, Peru, discovered as much when he launched the fintech start-up Rextie. Batle had a wealth of experience in software…
Interview with iMBA future graduate Mesoma Akaolisa
iMBA – Gies College of Business, University of Illinois Meet Mesoma, a native of Nigeria. She is currently based in Houston, Texas, and is a rising leader on the engineering team at ExxonMobil. She knows it’s important to acquire new skills to progress further in her role, and Coursera has become instrumental in her growth.…
Stack your way to an MBA
We are excited to announce that when you complete the 1-year online Master of Science in Management (iMSM) program from Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, your credit hours can be applied directly toward the online Master of Business Administration (iMBA) program if you are accepted to the program. This is…
From Chemistry to Strategy: How Ishpinder Kailey Used the iMBA to Expand Her Impact...
When Australia-based learner Ishpinder Kailey reflects on her journey—from teaching physical chemistry in India, to leading global R&D teams in Canada, and now co-founding her own advisory firm in Australia—her path tells a story of unwavering resilience, shaped by bold decisions, reinvention, and a deep commitment to education and personal growth. With a foundation in…
Progress your career with the iMBA from Gies College of Business
Claire recently completed the iMBA from Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Ranked “#1 Biggest B-School Innovation of the Decade” from Poets&Quants, the iMBA program includes learners from nearly 100 countries across the globe and 88 of the Fortune 100 companies. The diversity of the class profile allows learners like…
Exploratory learning that counts and professional networking that matters
The Master of Business Administration (iMBA) from Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is a great option for learners like Molly Johnson who want to explore continuing their education by first completing stackable courses on Coursera. With these courses, learners can build their skills into a master’s degree. The iMBA…
From MOOCs to Mastery: How Patrick Surrett Found his Perfect Fit in the Gies...
For Patrick Surrett, pursuing an MBA wasn’t just about adding a credential to his resume—it was about lifelong learning, growth, and finding a community. His journey to the University of Illinois Gies College of Business iMBA was anything but traditional. Having initially enrolled in a different online MBA program, Patrick discovered the Gies iMBA through…
