[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/news\/balancing-life-and-career-with-an-executive-mba\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/news\/balancing-life-and-career-with-an-executive-mba\/","headline":"Balancing Life and Career\u00a0With\u00a0Faulkner University\u2019s Executive MBA\u00a0","name":"Balancing Life and Career\u00a0With\u00a0Faulkner University\u2019s Executive MBA\u00a0","description":"Patrick Smith, the director of the Executive MBA program. For working professionals who want to advance their careers without putting life on hold, Faulkner offers a fully online Executive Master of Business Administration\u00a0(MBA)\u00a0program that blends flexibility, academic\u00a0rigor\u00a0and Christian values.\u00a0 The program is…","datePublished":"2026-05-08","dateModified":"2026-05-08","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/author\/rburylo\/#Person","name":"Rebecca Burylo","url":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/author\/rburylo\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/37a0c97fbd1eda89e38697defcaf0573?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/37a0c97fbd1eda89e38697defcaf0573?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Faulkner University","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Official-Horizontal-480x128.png","url":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Official-Horizontal-480x128.png","width":480,"height":128}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Patrick_Smith.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Patrick_Smith.jpg","height":360,"width":360},"url":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/news\/balancing-life-and-career-with-an-executive-mba\/","about":["Business","News"],"wordCount":720,"articleBody":"Patrick Smith, the director of the Executive MBA program.For working professionals who want to advance their careers without putting life on hold, Faulkner offers a fully online Executive Master of Business Administration\u00a0(MBA)\u00a0program that blends flexibility, academic\u00a0rigor\u00a0and Christian values.\u00a0The program is designed to meet the needs of established business professionals who want to grow their leadership skills and prepare for upper-level positions while maintaining personal and professional responsibilities. Unlike a traditional MBA, which often focuses on foundational business concepts, an executive MBA emphasizes advanced strategies and leadership practices. It is tailored for students who are already immersed in their careers and ready to refine their skills. Because the courses are entirely online and offered on a part-time basis, students can complete the program without stepping away from their current roles. Faulkner\u2019s Executive MBA consists of 10 courses, each lasting five weeks. Students take one course at a time, allowing for deeper focus on each subject. With start dates every five weeks, students can begin the program at their convenience and finish in as little as one year if courses are taken consecutively. Classes combine traditional learning methods with integrated video segments to keep students engaged. Topics include modern management practices, finance, decision-making, marketing, quantitative reasoning, strategic thinking, corporate operations, international business, information systems and entrepreneurial practices. True to Faulkner\u2019s mission as a Christian university, the program integrates biblical principles into its curriculum. Students are encouraged to grow in intelligence, character and service, seeing their careers not only as professional pursuits but also as opportunities to serve others. Patrick Smith, the director of the Executive MBA program, said his primary goal is to ensure students graduate with the most relevant, up-to-date skills and knowledge needed to succeed in today\u2019s rapidly evolving business landscape. \u201cThis means continuously adapting the curriculum to reflect current industry trends, emerging technologies and evolving leadership practices, while also strengthening opportunities for practical application and real-world problem solving,\u201d Smith said. \u201cI want the program to be a place where experienced professionals not only deepen their knowledge but grow personally and spiritually into the leaders that the world desperately needs.\u201d\u00a0Smith, who earned both his bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s degree at Faulkner, has been a part of the university community since 2022 when he began serving as a graduate enrollment counselor. \u201cWhenever anyone asks me about my history with Faulkner, I always tell them, \u2018I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0attend or work at Faulkner. Faulkner adopted\u00a0me,\u2019\u201d\u00a0Smith said. \u201cMy fellow students, the faculty and staff supported and loved me throughout my academic and professional journey. I never felt alone, and I knew that no matter what I was facing, the people around me were there for me.\u201d\u00a0Graduates of the Executive MBA program often cite its balance of flexibility and practicality as a key advantage. The online format allows students to balance work, family and studies while eliminating the need for a commute. The accelerated structure means degrees can be earned in less time than traditional programs without sacrificing quality or support. \u201cThe program\u2019s design revolves around the balance of flexibility and practicability,\u201d Smith said. \u201cIt emphasizes real-world applications that professionals can apply immediately to their current roles, creating value for themselves and their organizations. It equips students with the tools and knowledge to advance their careers and stay relevant in this fast-changing work environment.\u201d Smith added that Faulkner\u2019s program is set apart by its unique integration of faith and ethics. \u201cOur program does not focus solely on technical business skills,\u201d he said. \u201cOur MBA integrates ethical decision making and a faith-based perspective. We prepare students to become leaders that are not only effective but also principled and purpose driven. Our faculty are seasoned industry professionals who seek to actively support our students.\u201d For Smith, the value of the program goes beyond career advancement. \u201cEarning your MBA at Faulkner University is an investment in your career, your future and yourself,\u201d he said. \u201cOur program is designed to fit into the lives of industry professionals, allowing you an opportunity to develop skills and knowledge you might not have thought possible.\u201d Follow the Harris College of Business on Facebook."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Balancing Life and Career\u00a0With\u00a0Faulkner University\u2019s Executive MBA\u00a0","item":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/news\/balancing-life-and-career-with-an-executive-mba\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]