Marnie Harris

Marnie Harris was looking to develop her leadership skills in a structured environment. After studying biomedical engineering and working in higher education, she knew she would need to get a better understanding of business – how business leaders think and how strategy is set ­­– to advance her career. “It was clear before I had even applied to Goizueta that it was a welcoming, tight-knit community. I also was looking for school leadership that I respected and was invested in helping me develop my non-traditional path.”

When Marnie first arrived at Goizueta, she was unsure of what industry she would be moving into, but she did know she wanted to stay true to her goals. “My biggest fear was coming to school and being pushed into an MBA-specific path and losing who I was. The exact opposite has been true at Goizueta.” After her core experience, she was able to enroll in two directed studies that were specifically related to her long-term career interests. And, with the help of invested faculty, she was able to craft a professional strategy and engage in a broader network. “Because of the support of the school, I feel like I can bring unique opportunities to Goizueta for others to participate in as I explore a unique career path.”

By being able to take two directed studies, Marnie learned how to be more results-oriented and how to communicate her ideas in a way that makes sense to the audience – all leadership skills she needed to advance her career. “I've learned that blazing a path forward is best done with others rather than going alone. Goizueta has helped me cultivate a strong network of supporters. The partnerships, results-driven nature, and communication skills have been instrumental in shaping me to be a leader of influence.”