Marcus Burrell, WMBA '25
Marcus Burrell, MBA ’25, was born an entrepreneur. He started his first business at six years old, an investment company that used profits he earned from selling candy to his classmates to buy stock shares of a number of well-known companies. There was no question that business would be his path, and he is now capitalizing on his lifelong experiences to expand his career opportunities through the Weekend MBA Program at the Ross School of Business.
Born and raised in Michigan, Marcus earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Michigan. After graduation, he worked as a financial advisor, business banker, and managed his own business for 10 years. When deciding his next career move, consulting caught his eye. He realized that he had been doing a lot of that work already and recognized that earning an MBA would provide him with the career opportunities he was looking for to take it even further.
A devoted U-M alum, Marcus already knew where he wanted to go and applied to just one school: Michigan Ross.
“Going to U-M for undergrad ended up being one of the best decisions I ever made. The environment, the culture, the people — there’s just something transformative about the Michigan spirit, and I saw the same thing at Ross,” Marcus said. “When you’re on campus, you’re surrounded by brilliant people with an amazing energy for learning and passion for the future. I wasn’t going to go anywhere else.”
When deciding which Ross MBA program to pursue, Marcus carefully weighed everything going on in his life. Having a family and wanting to continue working, he knew he needed a program that offered him maximum flexibility. He discovered that the WMBA's every-other-weekend, in-person format fit perfectly into his life.
“I can still work, and I can still dedicate my time to the weekend. I can’t express how much it’s been worth it so far,” Marcus said.
Leveraging the Resources at Ross
As soon as he arrived at Michigan Ross, Marcus began leveraging the resources of the Career Development Office. He worked with a Part-Time MBA career coach who helped him find a full-time position that worked with his busy schedule.
“From my first week in the program, the CDO resources already started working for me,” Marcus laughed.
Marcus was also immediately impressed by his Michigan Ross professors and the action-based learning curriculum Ross is known for.
Some of the professors we are learning from are transforming multibillion-dollar industries,” Marcus said. “You talk with them and hear their stories, and it’s edge-of-your-seat stuff. Their energy and passion are so engaging, and the material is so applicable to the real world. We’re not just discussing cases; we’re flying out to these companies and having real conversations. It’s amazing.
Applying What He’s Learning
Marcus says his experience with his Multidisciplinary Action Project helped put much of that learning into practice. Working with StoryFile, a tech startup company that produces conversational videos through artificial intelligence, Marcus and his team were challenged to develop a business case for which industries the company should focus on to help their business grow.
“We worked with a very diverse set of people from various industries,” Marcus said. “We did a lot of research together as a team, communicated a lot with the sponsor, and in the end, we presented three strong industries that we thought would be best for them and gave them recommended strategies for engaging and attracting clients in those industries. We had a whole ecosystem of support around us; it was a great experience.”
Recruiting Journey
Being one to give maximum effort at everything he does, Marcus’ approach to his internship recruiting journey was no different. He read all the provided material, attended informational events, joined clubs, and connected with those on similar paths. At the end of the recruiting cycle, he received seven interview offers from some of the world’s top companies, including his first choice: McKinsey & Co.
I got recruited by the company that I wanted; that’s life-changing,” Marcus said. “Through the process, it really became clear that Ross wants us to succeed,” Marcus said. “These companies put a lot of energy and attention into recruiting at Ross because they know that we really understand business and management, how to transform and innovate, and work with other people.
Advice for Potential WMBA Students
When it comes to what he would tell other students who are considering earning their MBA while also working and having a family, Marcus offers this advice:
“I got married during the program; a lot of people got married. People are having children. Life events are happening, so it’s not like everything needs to change. I’m still able to lead a productive life; I just happen to be getting an MBA from one of the best universities in the world at the same time. Committing to Ross, committing to a weekend program that considers the life you already have going on and supports it as well, is just a good decision. It’s changing my life.”