Emma “Em” Strieter (MBA, ’24) was recently named a 2025 MBA to Watch by Poets & Quants. She was thrilled to receive the honor, but attributes the accolade to the support of her Full-Time MBA cohort at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business.

“I feel so proud to represent Haslam in this way,” she says. “My name is on the list, but I feel it is a recognition of everyone around me in the program as well,” she says.

Mary Goss, executive director of Haslam’s graduate business programs, called Strieter’s recognition as a 2025 MBA to Watch well-deserved.

“Em’s contributions in class and on group projects were always relevant, applicable and insightful; she was a great asset to her cohort,” Goss says. “We could not be happier for her to receive this honor.”

Applying Business Skills to Improve Healthcare

Strieter vaulted from Haslam’s MBA program into the position of supply chain fellow with Cook Medical and the Mayo Clinic. She learned about the job at a Haslam career fair in fall of 2024. Since one of her undergraduate degrees was in biology, Strieter was intrigued by the possibility of combining her skills sets.

“I was interested in the healthcare industry and learning how I could apply my business skills in that field, so it seemed like a good fit,” she says. “I pursued this role knowing I could use my biology background with all the skills I learned through my MBA program.”

As a supply chain fellow, Strieter is evaluating the use of a one-to-many data sharing model for use in the healthcare industry. Through this assessment, Strieter will highlight how this model can benefit the healthcare industry in the future. Skills Strieter learned in the classroom, such as data analysis and Excel applications, have been useful in her evaluation. She credits the MBA program for equipping her with the proficiencies she needs to thrive in her new role.

“Haslam has exceptional faculty members who excel in their classroom instruction,” Strieter says, “The curriculum they delivered helped prepare me to enter my new position with confidence.”

Co-Curricular Activities Contribute to Success

Another element of Strieter’s fellowship is to present research findings at industry events. In this capacity, she enjoys applying a skill gained in one of her co-curricular endeavors at Haslam: public speaking, which was a necessity to participate on the Haslam case competition team.

“I’m attending different conferences and presenting in front of healthcare professionals, so polishing my public speaking on the case team greatly helped me,” Strieter explains. “I have to thank my case teammates, Tony Gunn, Lily Hendrickson and Antonio Terrell — working with them enhanced my presentation skills.”

Laura Williams, director of student services with the Full-Time MBA program, also works with the MBA case competition teams and says that case members often tell her that participating in the competitions helps them build their business skills repertoire.

“In addition to public speaking, case competitions require students to develop organizational, research and time-management skills, all important in the business world,” Williams says. “The team Em was on did exceptionally well in these areas. They are Haslam’s most decorated case competition team.”

In another co-curricular activity, Strieter served on the Women’s Organization of MBAs (WOMBA) board as director of Grads to Golf. Recognizing that business deals and connections are made on the links, Strieter and WOMBA brought in a golf coach to help its members learn the game. She has applied her golf lessons during business events, most recently during one of the conferences at which she presented her research.

“That speaks to the opportunities the MBA program gives you outside the classroom to expand your business skills while networking with your peers,” she says.

From bonding through these activities, Strieter feels she established long-term relationships, saying, “I know it hasn’t been that long, but I can see myself staying connected with people in my MBA class because of the culture Haslam fosters.”

Strieter praised the college for attracting students with different backgrounds and experiences. She believes developing connections with her disparate cohort members inside and outside class made for a fuller educational experience. Future MBA students should do likewise, she says.

“Embrace the full experience,” Strieter advises prospective students. “A Haslam MBA isn’t just what you learn in the classroom—it’s what you learn from your faculty, your peers and your extracurricular activities outside it.”

About the Haslam College of Business Graduate and Executive Education Programs  

Haslam offers graduate and executive education programs that prepare students to reach their full potential and advance their careers. At the master’s level, these programs include the Haslam Full-Time MBA, Online MBA, Professional MBA, Executive MBA (Healthcare Leadership and Strategic Leadership), Aerospace and Defense MBA, Physician Executive MBA, Master of Accountancy, M.A. in Economics, M.S. in Business Analytics, M.S. in Management and Human Resources, M.S. in Marketing, M.S. in Supply Chain Management (Global), M.S. in Supply Chain Management Online and M.S. in Business Cybersecurity Online. Haslam also offers a full portfolio of doctoral programs. 

Haslam’s graduate programs address real-world challenges through an interdisciplinary approach that develops both analytical and leadership skills. Its faculty are industry thought leaders, seasoned practitioners and accomplished researchers who work tirelessly to create dynamic, relevant and impactful learning experiences.

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CONTACT:

Scott McNutt, senior business writer/publicist, rmcnutt4@utk.edu