Professor Finds Satisfaction Teaching Business To Chicago College Students
There is growing debate about whether business students should choose traditional business degrees, executive Masters of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degrees or go straight to the workforce. But M.B.A. professionals are on an interesting playing field: they are equipped to teach what they've learned in schools and on their resume. That includes Chicago State University's Professor Stephanie Bibb.
Bibb planned on exclusively working in the business field after earning her M.B.A. with a focus in marketing. But when her previous marketing management position with Soft Sheen products was downsized, an accounting friend suggested teaching her management skills to students at CSU.
"I had not planned on entering into the field of higher education," said Bibb. "I started off part-time. It provides a strong satisfaction when you see [students] progress in the undergraduate program. My mom, my aunt, my godmother, they're all teachers so I've always been very comfortable with it."
Her enthusiasm for business management and satisfaction with education proved to be double the perks, and a part-time position became full-time at CSU's College of Business. But with one foot in both worlds, she's observed the shift in business management courses.
"Most traditional management programs' focus has been traditionally corporate management," said Bibb. "Over the last 10 years or so we've seen many graduate, as well as undergraduate, business management programs offer a major in entrepreneurship."
And while some entrepreneurs have been able to be successful without obtaining M.B.A.s, she still supports traditional education.
"Entrepreneurs had to learn their craft from somewhere so maybe they received a lot of on-the-job training. Maybe they were in a family business. However, to be successful as a business person, there's a variety of skills you need to learn. So [for] those who do not learn their management skills from the family or from an on-the-job environment the university offers an alternative."
For other teachers who hold an M.B.A., she wants them to be prepared for the workload and patient with students.
"People who are inexperienced in higher education tend to think the job is all about standing in front of students and teaching or lecturing, which is an important part of the job. But you spend equally as much time preparing examinations, preparing assignments and grading papers. You have to be an expert in your subject matter. But you've also got to enjoy watching people learn and grow at their own pace."
Shamontiel L. Vaughn is a professional journalist who has work featured in AXS, Yahoo!, Chicago Defender and Chicago Tribune. She's been an Examiner since 2009 and currently writes about 10 categories on Examiner.com.