Vanda Ametlli, OMBA ’24
Vanda Ametlli, OMBA ’24, describes herself as a lifelong learner. Her career journey since graduating from Wayne State University has been in the healthcare operations industry at Henry Ford Health, where she has worked for more than 10 years. But knowing there is always more to learn and wanting to elevate her understanding of business, Vanda realized that an MBA was the next step to further pursue her developing passion for healthcare strategy.
With a growing family and mounting responsibilities, Vanda wasn’t sure how an MBA would fit into her busy life. After being told by those close to her that she wouldn't regret it, Vanda decided to go for it and was determined to make it all work. But she knew she needed the right program to do it.
Exploring Michigan Ross
Vanda researched a number of MBA programs and discovered that the Ross School of Business met all of the criteria she was looking for — rigorous curriculum, action-based learning opportunities, and a strong network. With some positive influence from her husband, a U-M alum, and her brother, who is a current Ross student, her decision was becoming more clear. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when much of the world was transitioning online, her family relocated from Detroit, Michigan to Tampa, Florida, making the Michigan Ross Online MBA Program the perfect fit for her circumstances.
Experiencing the Michigan Ross community online and in person
After starting at Ross, Vanda was immediately impressed by the OMBA Program and its many offerings.
“The digital studio is a really cool and immersive experience,” Vanda said. “The professors can see all of us and call on us, just like in an on-site class. The high expectations from the faculty were also the same. They pushed us to do our best, but it was all done in a safe space.”
Vanda says that the three in-person residencies were among her most memorable experiences, and allowed her to gain actionable, usable skills and further build relationships with her fellow students.
Having all of the residencies in person was great because there was an energy that I felt being together. They are very well organized and something that I’ll always remember about the program. They are a differentiator that Ross is able to provide in comparison to other schools.
Being part of the inclusive community at Michigan Ross and learning from different perspectives was an unexpected benefit for Vanda.
“I initially went to Ross purely for the academics, but I felt like I left with a lot more understanding and openness to the different backgrounds of classmates,” Vanda said. “Ross really puts an emphasis on diversity and inclusion through activities and clubs. It was great to see it in action rather than just words in a brochure.”
Additionally, she feels the high caliber of her peers enhanced her learning experience.
“When you’re surrounded by really ambitious and highly motivated classmates, it really pushes you to do your best. I wanted to show up as my best self because my classmates were showing up as their best selves,” Vanda said.
Balancing home life and academics
Juggling a full-time job, raising two young children, going to school, and with her husband also having a demanding work schedule, Vanda appreciated the flexibility of the OMBA Program and the support of her classmates, many of whom were in similar situations.
“I was able to connect with some of my classmates who are moms and dads and were in a similar position of trying to prioritize their marriage, their kids, and school. It really helped to have people who were in the same stage as myself,” Vanda said.
Taking her career to the next level
Since graduating earlier this year, Vanda has been promoted to a new position as director of strategy deployment, already demonstrating a strong return on her MBA investment.
“The senior vice president of my company knew that I was going to Ross and understood the value of the curriculum and what I was learning,” Vanda said. “Getting a promotion definitely made all of my hard work worth it.”
Looking toward the future, Vanda looks to drive strategy to transform healthcare delivery and engage in volunteer positions for nonprofit boards.
“The Online MBA exceeded my expectations in terms of the curriculum and what I got out of it,” Vanda said. “I gained a lot from the frameworks that I learned in the strategy and finance classes that I didn’t have before.”
Offering advice
When it comes to her advice to future students on whether they should attend Ross, Vanda has this to say:
I think the Ross Online MBA Program has the best of all worlds — it has the flexibility to do it at your own pace, the high-quality professors, the high-quality connections from your classmates, and the in-person experiences that I don’t think you’ll find in a lot of programs.