Biography
Molly McDonald wants to make an impact. After working in consulting doing strategy and operational work with state and local health agencies, Molly found herself needing a change. “I had a recent moment of being interested in other things, so I decided to make a career pivot.” The change led her to Emory University’s Roberto C. Goizueta Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, where she currently focuses on community engagement and building external partnerships in the entrepreneurship ecosystem. “I decided to get an MBA originally because I thought I was going to stay in consulting for my entire career. I really saw the MBA as a way for me to build my network, grow my skill sets – especially in leadership, but obviously things have changed.”
The Evening MBA program at Goizueta exposed Molly to new people, new ways of thinking and new industries, ultimately driving her to make that career change.
“I've always been somebody that's very mission driven. I want to make the world a better place, as cliché as it sounds. When I came across Emory, I saw that doing good through business is a core value, and they are really focused on making a social impact, so for me, that was a perfect fit.”
Molly was also looking for a welcoming community. The Massachusetts native quickly found a home away from home in Atlanta and immediately found a strong connection to the city and Goizueta community. “When I came on campus, before I even decided if I was going to be pursuing the MBA here, I immediately connected with current students, faculty, staff and really was drawn in by the community that's here.”
While she wanted to advance her career and challenge herself professionally, Molly made the personal decision to build friendships in Atlanta. “It's been a great way to grow my network. From a professional standpoint, especially as I've decided to make this career pivot, but overall, I think for me, it has been the friendships that have made all the difference in doing this program.”