A Glimpse Into Goizueta: A Week in the Life of a MBA Student
I am a student in Emory University’s Goizueta Business School’s one-year accelerated MBA program. Here, we have just 10 weeks and two semesters to accomplish what traditional two-year MBA students achieve in four semesters. After months of adjusting to the fast-paced environment, I have finally found a rhythm that balances academics, career prep, fitness, and social life. Here’s a glimpse into how I spend a typical week as a Goizueta MBA student living in Atlanta, GA.
Monday
5:30 AM – 7:30 AM | Wake Up & Hit the Gym
Over the summer and last fall semester, I found it impossible to go to the gym and ultimately decided to stop working out with my trainer of over five years. I’ve always been a morning workout person, typically hitting the gym at 5:30 AM at least three to four times per week. With a grueling Summer Core schedule that often ran 10-12 hours a day, not to mention a fall semester packed with night classes that ended around 9:30 PM, waking up early to work out was no longer a priority.
After letting my workouts slide and putting on the dreaded “MBA 15,” I knew it was time to get back in the gym this semester. I found a new trainer closer to my house who starts at 6:00 AM—and let me tell you, that extra 30 minutes of sleep makes all the difference. My classes now typically start at 10 or 11 AM and wrap up by 6:30 PM at the latest, making it much easier to fit in a workout while still getting enough rest.
On workout days, I’m up at 5:30 AM, out the door by 5:45, and in the gym by 6:00 for a 60-minute HIIT strength training session. By 7:30, I’m back home, enjoying a healthy breakfast or a protein shake before showering and getting ready for the day!
I didn’t realize how not working out impacted me as a student. Incorporating daily movement again has made me feel less sluggish, more focused, more energized, and an overall better student.
11:30 AM – 12:45 PM | AI in Marketing with Professor David Schweidel
Mondays start strong with AI in Marketing, a special topics course that is being piloted this semester for a permanent course offering. I love our discussions in this course, as Artificial Intelligence has become one of today’s most relevant and rapidly evolving technologies. Today, we’re discussing algorithmic bias and the dangers of when we rely on algorithms to produce outcomes. The discussion really drove home how algorithms systematically disadvantage (or privilege) certain groups of people based on characteristics such as gender, race, class, sexual orientation, religion, or age.
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM | CMC Coaching & Lunch Break
After class, I swing by the Career Management Center (CMC) for a one-on-one session with my advisor, Jenny. We review my latest networking outreach and refine my pitch for upcoming coffee chats. With “just in time” recruiting in full swing, every interaction counts. Jenny reminds me to highlight my consulting background while weaving in my passion for brand strategy. I leave feeling more confident and slightly less stressed. After meeting with Jenny, I warm up my lunch to eat before heading to class.
2:30 PM – 3:45 PM | Negotiations with Professor Michael Sacks, an MBA week highlight
This has been one of the best classes I’ve taken at Goizueta! Today, we wrapped up our discussion on strategies for effective collaborative negotiations after participating in a negotiation simulation between a job recruiter and a candidate. Each side had to negotiate eight job terms, like salary, bonus, and location, based on a point system that assigned conflicting values based on each player’s priorities. The goal was to maximize personal points while also finding common ground for a mutually beneficial agreement.
At the end of the exercise, my partner and I had a 200-point difference, meaning our final agreement was close in value for both of us, suggesting a well-balanced deal.
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Meeting with Director of Alumni Engagement, Lindsay Topping
I’m working on two club initiatives right now: the second iteration of the Goizueta student-led speaker series and a mini-conference for the Goizueta Association for Media, Entertainment, and Sports (which I lead). Today, I met with Lindsay to explore ways to get alumni involved in supporting both events.
5:00 PM – 5:30 PM | Consortium “CFAM” Monthly Meeting
I don’t have much time to stay for our monthly Consortium meeting today and will have to leave early. At Emory, The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management fellows have our own organization and regularly come together for social and community service events. The group, which we affectionately call CFAM, will have its own ceremony during graduation weekend. Today, we’re going over logistics for graduation and announcing the first-year student elected to be the new CFAM president.
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Yoga at Grove Park Recreation Center
After a full day of classes and meetings, I need to decompress. On Mondays, I meet my boyfriend, Bobby, at our local rec center for yoga. It’s a great way to stretch, meditate, and connect with others in the community.
7:00 – 9:00 PM | Dinner and Homework
After a long Monday, I’m finally home for the night. I heat up some dinner and settle in to prepare for tomorrow’s Managerial Accounting class with some case reading.
Tuesday
7:30 AM – 9:00 AM | Wake Up for Breakfast and a Slow Morning
Tonight, I’m heading to a tech event, so it’s going to be a long day. I decided to skip the gym and sleep in a bit to make sure I don’t crash and have enough energy for the networking event later.
10:00 AM – 11:15 AM | Managerial Accounting with Professor Karl Schuhmacher
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I only have one class. Unlike traditional financial accounting, this class focuses on interpreting information for both operational and strategic decision-making. Today, we’re discussing a case about a steel manufacturer facing a strategic dilemma. A competitor has introduced a superior and cheaper plastic ring to replace their steel rings, creating pressure to adapt. The general manager must decide whether to transition to plastic immediately, despite holding significant steel inventory and raw materials, or find a way to use the remaining steel while staying competitive.
Through this case, we examined core concepts like contribution margin, relevant costs, and “make vs. buy” decisions. In the process, we gained a deeper appreciation for the complexities of cost analysis, such as product substitution and technological obsolescence. Ultimately, the key takeaway is that effective financial decision-making involves asking the right questions and identifying the truly relevant costs in any given scenario.
11:15 AM – 11:45 AM | MBA Physiology and Wellbeing KPI Measurement Session with Dr. Eric Holshouser
The MBA Physiology and Well-Being Program, founded by Dr. Eric Holshouser (DPT/MBA, 2021), is a unique initiative at Goizueta that equips students with strategies to optimize their physical and mental well-being.
Currently, we’re in the 2025 New Year Physiology Leadership Challenge, a four-week program focused on building physical and mental strength through weekly tasks and exercises. Today, I’m meeting with Dr. Eric to take my baseline fitness measurements, including BMI, muscle and bone mass, and body water. At the end of the challenge, we’ll reassess these key performance indicators (KPIs) to track improvements. Participants can earn awards and cash prizes for achievements in performance consistency, KPI improvement, leadership, movement health, and cognitive performance.
Complementing this challenge is the Goizueta Champions League, a spirited competition between the MBA ‘25 and ‘26 classes that fosters teamwork, fitness, and school pride. Upcoming events include basketball, pickleball, soccer, badminton, flag football, and the Dooley Dash 5K.
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Beyoncé Concert BeyHive Presale Fiasco
I was eager to wrap up my session with Dr. Eric because Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour tickets were going on sale for the Beyhive presale at noon. A classmate and I grabbed a conference room and logged into the Ticketmaster portal. I joined the waitlist, and when the presale opened, there were over 14,000 people ahead of me in line. By the time I finally got in to purchase tickets, everything within my budget was gone. After an hour of trying, I gave up, feeling defeated. I decided to try again tomorrow during the Verizon presale. I headed home from campus to eat lunch and take my last meeting.
4:00 PM – 4:30 PM | AdFellows Meeting
Last semester, I was selected to be an Admissions Fellow, a paid role within the admissions office with more outreach responsibilities than a typical admissions ambassador. Specifically, we’re responsible for contacting admitted students or students that are interviewing. Today, we’re meeting with our lead, Emma, to discuss priority outreach for Round 1 admits.
6:00 – 10:00 PM | ATL Office of Tech & Innovation 2nd Anniversary Event
Tonight, a friend I met at a previous Tech conference invited me to attend the 2nd Anniversary of the Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Technology and Innovation, an invite-only event celebrating two years of innovation and collaboration in Atlanta’s tech ecosystem.
I was nervous I wouldn’t know anyone there, but ran into two Goizueta students and a couple friends from undergrad upon arrival. Mayor Andre Dickens and Senior Technology Advisor Donnie Beamer shared updates on the city’s tech initiatives. It was followed by three insightful panel discussions on growing Atlanta’s tech talent pipeline, supporting entrepreneurship, and fostering business collaboration with the city. It was a great opportunity to connect with leaders from government, startups, corporations, and community organizations, all working to drive Atlanta’s tech future forward.
My friend invited my classmate and me to an intimate reception hosted by RenderATL at 3 Parks Wine, where we enjoyed networking, wine, and small bites. I had the opportunity to catch up with a good friend from undergrad and connect with several people doing exciting work in the entrepreneurial space. One standout was Jilea Hemmings, who is leveraging AI technology to revolutionize the grocery industry. She has developed a “frictionless” shopping experience with a contactless checkout system powered by computer vision. She also founded the world’s first African-American-owned autonomous grocery store with robotic delivery.
After a long night, I finally head home, eager to tell Bobby all about the event.
Wednesday
5:30 AM – 7:30 AM | Wake Up and Hit the Gym
After a day off, I’m back in the gym on Wednesday morning, ready to get back into my routine.
11:30 AM – 12:45 PM | AI in Marketing with Professor David Schweidel / Beyoncé Pt. 2
Today in class we are discussing targeting strategy and how to incorporate A/B testing to identify a precise group of individuals to be targeted with a promotional offer. We are using an experimental dashboard to test scenarios to propose a targeting plan with the intent of Increasing transactions and revenue while not sending out too many promotions.
I have to step out at noon for a very important mission—round two of securing Beyoncé tickets. I’ve been to every Destiny’s Child and Beyoncé concert since I was like 10-years-old, so missing this is not an option. This time, I joined the queue with only 2,000 people ahead of me, so I’m already feeling way more optimistic. When I finally get in, I rapidly scroll and spot tickets in the 100-level club section for under $250 each. My heart is racing. I frantically add the max of four tickets to my cart and slam checkout. Tickets secured! I immediately text my friends—”WE GOT ‘EM!” Cowboy Carter, here we come!
I returned to class relieved and ready to finish the rest of the promotional test experiment.
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM | Lunch & Catch-Up with Classmates
One thing I love about campus is how close the business school is to Emory Village, where there’s a great mix of fast-casual spots and restaurants for a quick lunch. Today, I walked to Cava with a few friends to grab food and catch up. We swap stories about our week, upcoming conferences, interviews, and weekend plans. One of the best parts of my MBA experience is the people. I’ve built more friendships and connections than I ever expected, and that’s what makes this journey so special.
2:30 PM – 3:45 PM | Negotiations with Professor Michael Sacks
Today, we are negotiating a case between a real estate buyer and seller over the “Bullard Houses,” a set of historic, architecturally significant homes that have become the center of a high-stakes development dispute. My goal in the negotiation simulation was to secure the property on behalf of my client, Absentia Ltd., without revealing its intended use as a high-rise hotel. This meant navigating zoning challenges, competing bids, and maintaining confidentiality while making a competitive offer. However, despite my best efforts to convince the seller, they insisted on keeping 20% of the development as residential, which ultimately prevented us from reaching a deal. Professor Sacks will lead a discussion on the outcome of the case next week.
4:00 PM – 6:30 PM | Distressed Investing with Professor Klaas Baks
This is my third class with Professor Klaas Baks. After taking Entrepreneurial Private Equity and his Work, Wealth, and Happiness mini-course last fall, I knew I wanted to continue exploring entrepreneurship through acquisition. This class felt like the perfect bridge between last semester’s EPE course and Real Estate Development.
We’re diving into distressed investing with a focus on real estate, covering market structures, valuation techniques, investment strategies, and practical frameworks for acquiring distressed assets. Through case studies, guest speakers, and team-based assignments, we’re gaining hands-on experience in deal structuring and valuation in distressed debt private equity.
Today, we had a guest speaker, Soren Reynerston from GLC Advisors, who shared his expertise on bankruptcy investment banking and municipal bankruptcy. It gave us real-world insights into navigating distressed markets.
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Entrepreneurship through Acquisition Panel
After class, I attended an on-campus event hosted by the Center for Alternative Investments, where panelists shared insights on acquiring and operating businesses. While it was an interesting discussion, it felt a bit repetitive compared to past guest speakers in my Entrepreneurial Private Equity course. They also advertised food and drinks, but all we got for food was one tray of Chick-fil-A nuggets and some snacks. I stayed for the full event, but was completely drained by the end.
After a packed week of events, I’m grateful for a lighter school workload and the chance to recharge since most of my assignments aren’t due until Sunday.
9:00 – 10:00 PM | Homework and Prep for the Next Day
I always have case readings for Managerial Accounting, so after returning from the event, I spent some time reviewing our next case, working through prep questions, and completing calculations for tomorrow’s discussion.
Thursday
5:30 AM – 7:30 AM | Wake Up and Hit the Gym
Third and final gym session of the week! Wrapped up my workout feeling accomplished and my trainer surprised us with flowers for Valentine’s Day, which was a nice touch.
10:00 AM – 11:15 AM | Managerial Accounting with Professor Karl Schuhmacher
Last class of the week! Today, we’re diving into traditional cost systems, how they work, their limitations, and strategies to overcome their inefficiencies. One key takeaway for me was how traditional cost systems can distort product profitability, often leading to misguided strategic decisions. This resonated because it reinforced the importance of choosing the right costing method to ensure accurate financial insights, especially in industries where overhead allocation is complex.
11:30 AM – 12:45 PM | IMPACT TA Coaching
IMPACT is one of Goizueta’s signature consulting-style experiential learning programs. The IMPACT core course builds the foundational skills of structured problem-solving, persuasive communication, and managing the work of a problem-solving team. In the spring, teams work on projects for actual companies, putting their problem-solving skills into action. This semester, the program lead, Lynne Segall, asked me to be a TA for the undergraduate version of the course. Today, my co-TA and I are teaching Step 2 of the Strategic Problem-Solving Process, which is breaking down the problem using a question-tree technique.
It’s definitely a bit nerve-wracking to stand in front of a class of BBAs and teach material I just learned last summer. However, they’re a smart, funny, and engaged group, which has made the experience fun.
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM | GAMES Weekly E-Board Meeting
I am the president of the Goizueta Association for Media, Entertainment, and Sports (GAMES). Today, I am leading our weekly meeting to finalize plans for our upcoming mini conference. Dhy, our VP of Communications, is putting the finishing touches on our marketing materials so we can start outreach to industry professionals. At the same time, Cydney, our VP of Events, is making sure everything is set with the facilities team and venue. We lock in our action items and leave feeling energized and ready to make it happen.
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Keeping Everyone at Goizueta Social (KEGS)
It’s one of the best traditions at Goizueta! Every Thursday, students gather to unwind and connect. This MBA week, it’s hosted by the Black MBA Association to celebrate Black History Month. In homage to Black Southern cuisine and our African roots, we served up a soulful spread of fried fish, chicken, macaroni and cheese, and Jollof rice—a perfect blend of deep Southern tradition and West African flavors. To drink, we featured Black-owned wines like Black Girl Magic Red Blend, House of Brown, and Viarae Prosecco, along with a Blackberry Smash crafted with Uncle Nearest whiskey. Our DJ is setting the vibe with a seamless mix of R&B, Hip Hop, Afrobeats, and crowd-favorite line dances.
I’m able to catch up with some 1-year classmates I haven’t seen since Summer Core. Now that we’re in the Spring Semester and people have fewer courses, I don’t see everyone as regular as I used to do. As the night winds down, I’m reminded of why I chose this program—the balance of academic rigor, career prep, and an incredibly supportive community.
Friday
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM | Morning Walk with Friends
I throw on my walking shoes and hit the Westside Beltline trail for a morning walk with friends. Last year, we started a “Westside Walks” group, where we take turns picking the trail and bringing coffee for the crew. It’s the perfect way to get fresh air, good conversation, and my steps in. Today, we knocked out a 3.5-mile walk—a solid start to the day!
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Coffee Chat
After the walk, I showered and got ready to meet with a professional from a company that interests me for a networking coffee chat at Portrait Coffee. We had a great conversation about career paths, industry trends, and potential opportunities. One key insight I gained was the importance of storytelling in interviews and how being able to clearly articulate my experiences and impact can make me stand out as a candidate. I walked away with valuable insights and feeling good about the application process
12:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Fabric Shopping with a Classmate
My classmate Hunter is the definition of a jack-of-all-trades. One of his many talents is sewing and upholstery, so he volunteered to help me make custom cushions for my kitchen breakfast nook. We decided to split the project into two days. Today, we met at Forsyth Fabrics to pick out fabric and gather all the materials so we can sew cushions together on Sunday. As a thank you, I treated him to lunch at Star Provisions, just down the street.
6:00 – 9:30 PM | Valentine’s Day Dinner at Home
Today is Valentine’s Day. After a super busy MBA week of school, I’m looking forward to some quality time with my boo. Bobby surprised me with flowers, chocolate, and gift cards to two of my favorite stores.
Since we’re going out for a fancy sushi dinner with two other couples tomorrow, we decided to keep it low-key tonight. A few summers ago, we took a pasta-making class in Italy, so we put our skills to the test and made short rib pasta from scratch, with tiramisu for dessert. Nothing beats a homemade meal and a romantic night in to end the week.
Life as a Goizueta MBA student is a whirlwind, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Between classes, clubs, events, and personal commitments, every day is packed with learning and growth. And somehow, we still make time to have fun along the way!
This MBA Week was written by Amber O’Donoghue 25MBA, a one-year accelerated full-time MBA student with a concentration in marketing at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. With a decade of experience in strategy and operations consulting, her career has been defined by successfully managing projects from inception to execution, solving complex business challenges, and collaborating cross-functionally to implement strategic initiatives across global locations. Amber is passionate about sharing diverse stories and perspectives while striving to make a meaningful impact in her community and uplift others on her journey to success. She is a native of Chicago, Illinois, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Spelman College.
Interested in exploring Full-Time MBA opportunities? Learn more about Goizueta’s Full-Time MBA program.
