How an MBA can help you build a career-defining network

Establishing a strong professional network is one of the most powerful drivers of career success. A robust network serves as a steady source of guidance, connections, and potential job opportunities that you can draw upon throughout your professional journey.

According to MyPerfectResume, 54% of US workers report landing their job through a personal or professional connection. This highlights just how valuable networking can be for your career.

To find out just what it is about an MBA network that can be so transformative, we spoke with three students from the Working Professional MBA programs at the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business who have each leveraged their MBA networks to shape their careers.

Building connections that open doors

Pursuing an MBA is one of the most effective ways to build a network. Beyond academic learning, an MBA connects students with peers, professors, and alumni across diverse industries and roles. These relationships can continue to accelerate professional growth long after graduation.

At McCombs, the school encourages students to form these relationships through a culture of curiosity and by running a range of team-oriented activities such as coffee chats, collaborative projects, and study groups. These are designed to inspire students to get to know one another and support each other’s growth.

“The coffee chats have been the most surprising to me—they’ve been a big catalyst for me professionally,” says Olivia Gonzales Barker (pictured right), a Weekend MBA student at the Dallas-Fort Worth campus and cloud account executive at Salesforce.

These informal conversations often spark meaningful collaboration. For Devin Riseman, an Evening MBA student at the main Austin campus and former senior manager of financial services at Oracle, her McCombs cohort has provided tangible support since being laid off from her role. 

“When I announced my layoff, I had about 100 messages offering referrals, help, and advice within 24 hours,” she says.

“Thanks to those who reached out, I can share that I’m now in the final stages of interviewing for a consulting role,” she adds.

A diverse and global community that broadens your opportunities 

Exploring and building connections outside of your own industry can be a great way to create new and exciting opportunities for yourself.

MBA cohorts are typically rich in diversity, comprising individuals from a wide range of professional backgrounds, industries, and roles. This mix offers countless opportunities to broaden your career options—or even pivot into an entirely new field.

“It is such a diverse group—a lot of people in banking, a lot of engineers, even executives,” says David, a member of the Weekend MBA program at the Dallas-Fort Worth campus and senior analyst at American Airlines.

Devin (pictured right) agrees: “I never would have thought to interview for a consulting role if it wasn’t for the out-of-industry connections I’ve built—they made it possible and gave me the belief that I could do it.”

Her experience is not unique. Among the Working Professional MBA class of 2024, 75% of students made a career change, highlighting how networking can open doors to new opportunities.

For Olivia, the program’s professional diversity and emphasis on networking gave her the confidence to make a major career move, transitioning from Qualtrics to Salesforce. 

“I actually made a career switch mid-program because of everything I learned about the power of networking,” she says. 

“The MBA gave me the courage and inspiration to reach out and ask for opportunities. I got in contact with a former manager who ended up referring me for my current job,” she adds.

Beyond professional backgrounds, business school classes also bring together people from around the world, giving students a global perspective and the chance to build relationships that can open doors internationally.

“It’s such a global network. For example, I visited Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia—and I ran into Longhorns (members of the UT Austin community) in all three places. It’s just invaluable,” shares Devin.

A community that keeps giving back 

Having a strong sense of community within your network is vital; it’s what empowers people to support one another and create new opportunities together.

At McCombs, this mindset is fostered through an emphasis on mutual support rather than competition. As Olivia notes, “I can’t imagine being in a group where people view you as competition—that’s the furthest thing from McCombs. The culture is phenomenal; people genuinely want to help you.”

The McCombs alumni network, made up of more than 100,000 individuals, plays a major role in maintaining this spirit of generosity and support. Students experience firsthand how valuable a network can be through alumni who are available to offer guidance and advice—whether that’s through mentorship, introductions, or peer referrals.

“Alumni have helped me with resume recommendations and interview prep. I’m so grateful,” says Devin.

For David (pictured right), this culture of giving back has already started to influence his own approach. Working at American Airlines, he actively looks for ways to help his classmates by sharing opportunities within his company.

“Anytime a posting comes across my email, I’ll drop it in our job chat—it’s nice to help,” he says.

Building a network that lasts a lifetime 

Most MBA programs last anywhere from one to three years, yet the value of the network you build extends far beyond the classroom.

Some may view networking as a transactional process—focused purely on what people can do for one another. However, relationships built on reciprocity alone tend to be fleeting and lack a genuine personal connection.

At McCombs, openness and friendship are encouraged to help students form authentic bonds that can support them throughout their entire career journey.

“I like to think of the network I’ve created as the iCloud—it’s always going to be there when I need it, even if I can’t see it,” says Devin

Likewise, David emphasizes the lasting value of the connections he’s made: “We even joke as a class that the network alone is worth every penny".