You don’t have to choose between your career and an MBA

A lot of working professionals like the idea of earning an MBA. The challenge is figuring out how to fit it into an already busy life. Between work, family and everything else competing for your time, it can feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day. That’s why flexibility is such an important part of the MBA experience at the University of Florida Warrington College of Business.

Around 90% of students in Warrington’s MBA programs are working while earning their degrees. They don’t have to put their careers on hold to go back to school. Instead, they’re finding ways to balance work, classes and their personal lives.

Whether you’re looking for an online MBA, a part-time MBA or another option that fits your schedule, Warrington offers several ways to earn a top business degree while continuing to build your career.

Find out how two Warrington MBA students balance their careers, coursework and personal lives, and learn more about how you can start your MBA journey.

Tony Agolini (Executive MBA ’27) | Senior Account Manager at Fortegra

Q: What does a typical week look like for you, and how does your MBA coursework fit into it?

Agolini: “I am in the office Monday through Friday, usually for about 45-50 hours a week. I also log in and check email from home. My MBA coursework usually takes up my lunch hour (reading while I pedal away on the Peloton). When I am at home for the evening, I play dad to our almost five-year-old daughter and husband to my wife during dinner and for a few hours after. Once our daughter is in bed, it is back to student mode. I am usually more engaged with schoolwork on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I also make sure to dedicate time most weekends. An hour or two of true focus is far more beneficial than four hours of trying to focus with chaos in the background.”

Q: What other responsibilities are you balancing with the program, and how has the MBA program allowed you to balance school with them?

Agolini: “I do still have a life and hobbies. I love attending sporting events and going to concerts. Our daughter certainly keeps us busy on the weekends, especially in the summer. Whether it involves going to the movies, the beach, our pool, the zoo, or whatever she wants to do that day, I make time for her and find time for school at another point during the day, even for a quick trip to Disney. There have been scheduling conflicts, but I am more than willing to sacrifice a game or concert here and there to be present in Hough Hall with my amazing cohort. The EMBA weekends are scheduled in advance, and few things are more set in stone than which days we will be in Hough Hall. It really helps you map out life events, and the cohort looks forward to catching up in person every three or four weeks. I will say I play a lot less golf than I did when I started the program, but that is a small sacrifice for a large achievement. I was not exactly PGA Tour material anyway.”

Q: Can you tell me about a time when flexibility of the program really made a difference for you?

Agolini: “I travel a decent amount for work. With the in-person classes happening on the weekend, my travel during the week actually gives me some time in the evening to focus and study after checking in with my family via FaceTime. Instead of work travel putting me behind, it lets me get ahead on reading or work on a group project.”

Q: How has the flexibility of the program allowed you to keep growing professionally while earning your degree? 

Agolini: “I was promoted back in March of this year. I went from Account Manager to Senior Account Manager. I joke that it means I have more gray hair now, but really my responsibilities and scope at work increased immensely. The material covered during the MBA is structured so that it has an impact on my day-to-day life in corporate America. I have learned how to identify inefficiencies in my work patterns and processes and make better use of my time. I also try to help those on my team and around me at work do the same. The knowledge I have gained while pursuing my MBA has helped me better manage my increased responsibilities and approach my work from a broader business perspective.”

Q: What would you tell someone who thinks getting an MBA while working full time is impossible? 

Agolini: “As Kevin Garnett said, anything is possible. It is not easy. It is hard. It can be very hard. That said, if everyone had the courage to pursue an MBA, everyone would. The UF Executive MBA program is a difficult yet amazing journey with ups, downs, laughter, and maybe even some tears along the way. You will have moments when you wonder deep down why you signed up for this, but you will also have moments when it hits you that you cannot imagine missing out on the Executive MBA experience. If you want it, go get it, and tell yourself you won’t back down. In the end, the tears are tears of joy that you accomplished something extraordinary and that you will miss weekends with your cohort.”

Amelia McDonough (Weekend Part-Time MBA ’28) | Senior Development Project Manager at NextEra Energy

Q: What does a typical week look like for you, and how does your MBA coursework fit into it?

McDonough: “My weeks are definitely busy. I typically work 40–50 hours each week, and classes are held one weekend a month on Saturday and Sunday. Most of my coursework gets done during lunch breaks, in the evenings, and on weekends when I have free time.

“Depending on the class and where we are in the semester, I usually spend anywhere from 5–15 hours a week on MBA work, with more time dedicated when I’m preparing for exams or major projects.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned is that consistency matters more than having large blocks of free time. I’ve gotten comfortable using lunch breaks, evenings, and other small pockets of time to keep moving forward.”

Q: What other responsibilities are you balancing with the program, and how has the MBA program allowed you to balance school with them?

McDonough: “Outside of work and school, I’m also balancing life as a newlywed, making time to work out, seeing family who live out of town, spending time with friends, and traveling when I can.

“The weekend format gave me the flexibility to make it work, but it still takes planning, discipline, and a willingness to prioritize. I haven’t felt like I had to put my career or personal life on hold to earn my MBA, and that’s been one of the biggest benefits of the program.”

Q: Can you tell me about a time when flexibility of the program really made a difference for you?

McDonough: “One of the biggest examples was during my first year, when I was planning my wedding and honeymoon while working full time and completing the MBA. Being able to balance wedding planning, get married, enjoy a 10-day honeymoon, and stay on track academically wouldn’t have been possible without the flexibility of the program.

“I also have to give a lot of credit to my classmates. Everyone understands what it’s like to balance demanding careers, family responsibilities, and school. My MBA team was incredibly supportive throughout that time. We naturally adjusted responsibilities based on what each person had going on, stepping up for one another when life got busy.

“That sense of community has been one of the biggest surprises of the program. Everyone is balancing demanding careers and personal lives, so there’s a genuine willingness to support one another when life gets busy. Those relationships have become just as valuable as what I’m learning in the classroom.”

Q: How has the flexibility of the program allowed you to keep growing professionally while earning your degree? 

McDonough: “One of the things I’ve enjoyed most is that I’ve been able to apply something from nearly every class directly to my job. Working full time while earning an MBA is challenging, but it also creates opportunities to immediately put what you’re learning into practice.

”For example, I’m currently helping launch a new project at work and have been able to apply concepts from my marketing coursework, as well as what I’m learning about business planning in my macroeconomics class. Beyond the technical knowledge, I’ve also noticed growth in my confidence and executive presence as I’ve progressed through the program.”

Q: What would you tell someone who thinks getting an MBA while working full time is impossible? 

McDonough: “I would tell them to respect the commitment because it is a lot of work, but don’t let that stop you. You’ll have to rethink how you manage your time, prioritize what matters most, and be intentional with your schedule.

“At the same time, it’s absolutely doable. The knowledge you gain, the relationships you build, and the opportunities that come from the program make the effort well worth it. Looking back, I would make the same decision again.”