It took an MBA from American University’s Kogod School of Business to inspire Victoria Bulson’s career change. After entering the program as a commercial real estate researcher, she’s now flying high in her consulting career.
Before earning her MBA in 2017, Victoria had been craving a career change to reignite her personal and professional development. Real estate wasn’t for her. “That’s where I started and, thankfully for my sake, transitioned out of,” she says.
She’s now a senior consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton in Washington DC—one of her primary clients is the federal government—where she focuses on federal management consulting.
And it was during the MBA that she found her passion.
From real estate to a career in consulting
Victoria chose Kogod for a few reasons. The location of the school in the heart of DC was a big pull, alongside the caliber of the faculty and the opportunity to learn in small cohorts. That, paired with the hands-on learning style between peers and professors, matched what Victoria was looking for in a business school.
It was in the Kogod MBA program that Victoria’s career direction started to take shape. A consulting elective piqued her interest and led her to where she is today.
Kogod's MBA students can also take courses like Project Management, Management Consulting Practice and Methodologies, and Negotiating Strategy and Tactics, all of which further their consulting ability.
“That was definitely eye-opening,” she says. “I’d obviously heard of consulting; I knew people that were in consulting, but it's such a broad term that you don't fully understand what goes into the job, and the holistic aspects of it.
“The professor we had came into the classroom with years of consulting experience, and she had great insight into the realm of consulting and the kind of work that was really being done, and how to apply all the things that you learn in your MBA.”
Consulting was the change Victoria was after as it gave her the things she wanted from her post-MBA career. It's intellectually challenging and has a clearly laid out path for professional development—things her previous career in real estate didn't give her.
“I felt discontented and couldn't really see my trajectory going forward. I really wanted a career that I felt challenged by and intellectually rewarded for my work, and an area where the path for advancement is very clear and laid out.”
After graduating, she spent nearly three years as a consultant with Savan Group, before landing her current role as a senior consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton.
How the Kogod MBA developed Victoria into a consultant
There was one key aspect of the MBA at the Kogod School of Business that prepared Victoria for her career in consulting: the MBA immersions.
The immersions are three-to-four-day-long programs exposing students to representatives from both domestic and global businesses. Students work in teams to solve a real-life business problem and then present their findings to the rest of the cohort at the end of the immersion.
Teamwork is key, emphasizes Victoria. And the collaborative and hands-on nature of the immersions set Victoria up to work in a similarly demanding environment.
“I have colleagues from diverse backgrounds that really challenge the way that I’m looking at a problem or challenge the way I’m recommending the solution,” she says.
I am completely enamored with this school. The entire student body is driven, inclusive, and highly intelligent. The decision to attend American University is not made haphazardly. Its close proximity to Washington DC, making it one of the most strategically located schools after Georgetown, means it's just a short train ride away. The campus is well-maintained, with mostly attractive buildings, although there are a few that are less appealing. Additionally, there are numerous excellent food options available. The wide range of clubs and organizations to join is remarkable. It is undeniably a school filled with immense passion.
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22/06/2023
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I’m having a wonderful time at American University. I love that I can get to a big city and still feel like a traditional campus. Sincerely, it is a school that may require some adjusting to, but in the end, it is a very good school with numerous opportunities for its students. The atmosphere in AU is so great that it pushes you in a positive way and offers every opportunity you could want.
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28/05/2023
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Amazing helpful professors
American College is an incredible school with astounding teachers. Best professors I could have asked for at an amazing school. My opinion is that American University's professors are its greatest asset. They are extremely intelligent and always eager to assist their students. They go above and beyond in their classes to make sure that their students do their best.
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15/12/2022
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AU Review
The workload is quite high and AU is definitely not an "easy" school. Students take their studies very seriously and can almost always find a group in the library, DAV, Starbucks or MGC. Courses can be quite ambitious if the right courses are offered and the admissions process can be confusing at times, but with the help of an advisor it is quite easy to navigate. The library can be crowded, and while it's not huge, there are plenty of other places to study on campus. The professors really want to help during office hours and interact with students. I've had good experiences with the professors and workload at AU, but it's an expensive city.
Paul
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15/12/2022
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Majoring in Political and International Relations
The instructors are unique and the classes can be boring at times. Check-in is stressful (but it is everywhere). The workload is what I expected. The most popular majors are international relations and political science
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15/12/2022
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I Love Being A Musical Theater Major
I love being a musical theater student, if you want to help behind the scenes, if you want to be an assistant director, if you want to be a director, if you want to write, you can do anything at this academy, very supportive, it's amazing, they are always there to help you. This is their working time. Even after the audition tells you what you did wrong, you can do better, or if you get picked, you know why they picked you, which is great
Timothy
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15/12/2022
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AU's Business Model
Overall, there were a lot of good opportunities at UA, both in terms of course range and faculty. However, I had a few complete misfires. People who shouldn't have taught at all. Like all universities, AU's business model is to hire hands-on assistants so they don't have to pay them extra or perform well. They are signed and if that does not work, they are not hired any more. The problem with this is that you end up with people who are unqualified and bring their own agendas, biases that may or may not be based on research. Most of the professors were absolutely fantastic.
James
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14/12/2022
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AU - The Real Problem With Academics
Some teachers are amazing, some awful - typical of any school. But the real problem with AU is that many students don't care about academics as much as other things (eg, partying). The academics are really interrupted by the Greek life and the social life of the students. This makes it difficult for students interested in academics to get the most out of their school experience. Some students do not take classes seriously and do not respect teachers and other students. Courses and opportunities at UA are perfect for people who want to take advantage
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14/12/2022
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American University - The Best Place to Study
They know their stuff - I chose American University because the campus is beautiful and the biology program is relatively small. But after the first semester, I realized that all the professors, especially the people in the science department, are experts in their field. They are enthusiastic and helpful in lecturing; even the TAs who teach the labs are amazing and engaging.
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1/06/2024
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Engaging Students and Incredible Professors
I would 100% recommend this school. I am a Marine Corps Veteran and proud AU alum. NI received my BA in Comparative Politics at AU in 2017. It was engaging and worth every minute. I was constantly engaged with the material the material and was fascinated by the culture the school presented. As an older student I was nervous to go to a highly competitive college but with the culture of both student and staff it was enjoyable through and through.
