In this article:
- See why the prospect of intentional in-person programming was so important to Meredith Tierney-Beed when she chose the Kelley Direct Online MBA—and how she maximized the experiences.
- Learn about transformational leadership opportunities Kelley Direct students experience through Reaching Out MBA.
- Celebrate the discovery that “bringing my full, authentic self to my career is not just possible but advantageous.”
Meredith Tierney-Beed demanded a lot from an online MBA. Beyond academic rigor and flexibility, she wanted opportunities to really get to know her classmates and professors and a program that aligns with her values and passion for LGBTQ2+ advocacy, social justice, and health equity. A communications associate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Tierney-Beed plans to graduate in summer 2025. Read about her Kelley Direct Online MBA journey and the impact of her Reaching Out MBA fellowship.
Why did you choose Kelley Direct?
The Kelley Direct program offers the perfect blend of academic rigor, flexibility, and values alignment that I sought in an MBA program. It presented an opportunity to advance my career and become a leader capable of bridging the worlds of social impact and business strategy.
The Kelley Direct program’s emphasis on team-based learning and intentional in-person experiences also really appealed to me, since I’m such a people person.
Knowing that I would connect and network with my classmates, faculty, and staff in person during required residencies really was a deciding factor.
I knew that if I were to do an online program, I would need dedicated time to connect with classmates and faculty members in person to build strong connections. I never expected to meet people who I travel to, laugh and cry with, and know I will have by my side for the rest of my life.
How did your ROMBA fellowship impact your decision to join Kelley Direct and your experiences in the program?
I was one of the first two inaugural ROMBA fellows for Kelley Direct. Receiving the fellowship was absolutely a deciding factor in my MBA decision. I knew that I would have opportunities to be a leader for future LGBTQ2+ folks at Kelley Direct and establish a strong network of support that I could lean on during my MBA and afterward. This opportunity aligned perfectly with my commitment to LGBTQ2+ advocacy and leadership.
The fellowship provided financial support and represented the values I sought in a program. It also impacted my involvement in the Kelley Direct community and profoundly shaped my understanding of what it means to be an LGBTQ2+ professional in the business world. It’s shown me that bringing my full, authentic self to my career is not just possible but advantageous.
Initially, I viewed the LGBTQ2+ community and the business world as incompatible, like oil and water. I thought I’d need to hide aspects of myself to advance in my career. ROMBA events shattered this misconception, showing me a diverse spectrum of LGBTQ2+ professionals thriving in business. You can hear me talk about my love for ROMBA in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j35xad-9L5g&ab_channel=ReachingOutMBA
How has your ROMBA fellowship and Kelley Direct experiences contributed to your growth as a leader and change agent?
The fellowship provided the platform and motivation to step into a leadership role immediately—to found and lead KD Pride, the first LGBTQ2+ affinity group in the program’s history. As a ROMBA fellow, I’ve become a point of contact for prospective and current LGBTQ2+ students, offering guidance and support throughout their MBA journey. It is such a joy to gush about this program! I can advocate for and amplify the voices of LGBTQ2+ students and other underrepresented groups within our program.
The fellowship has given me a platform to work closely with the Kelley Direct administration on enhancing LGBTQ2+ inclusivity within the program. This has led to tangible changes in practices. The fellowship has positioned me as a bridge between Kelley Direct and the broader LGBTQ2+ business community. I’ve facilitated connections between our program and other MBA programs and with LGBTQ2+ business leaders.
The ROMBA fellowship has been transformative, not just for my personal MBA experience but also for allowing me to contribute meaningfully to the broader Kelley Direct community. It’s enabled me to foster a more inclusive, diverse, and vibrant student experience for all.
What connections have you made with fellow Kelley Direct students?
The blend of online learning with rich, in-person experiences has created a truly immersive and rewarding MBA journey. The Kelley Direct residencies are a highlight, allowing me to meet classmates face-to-face and engage in intensive learning experiences. The case competition during Kelley On Campus, where my team won first place among 35 teams, was particularly memorable.
While Kelley Direct is an online MBA program, it doesn’t really feel like one—connecting with classmates in person has been a highlight of my MBA experience. I have seen these friends get engaged, start new jobs, be promoted, have kids, watch their kids graduate from college, move cities, and win awards; it has been such a joy and honor to witness their journey alongside mine.
My experience with Kelley On Location in New Orleans, where we bonded through navigating a hurricane, powerful late-night discussions, pickleball battles, and impactful community service, solidified these relationships. We’re more than just classmates—we’re a community.
I have had friends in the program drive down to DC for a visit; I have visited Kelley Direct friends in their cities when I have traveled there (Minneapolis, LA); and we even jump on a quarterly call to catch up with some groups of friends in the program.
There have been so many opportunities to spend time with classmates. From happy hours in different cities (DC Global Connect night, Boston ROMBA happy hour), to pride events during residencies, to impromptu gatherings (including a Mystics vs Fever WNBA game) with LGBTQ2+ MBA students at schools near me, and even ROMBA events, I have grown my LGBTQ2+ MBA network, and even my Kelley Direct LGBTQ2+ MBA network, substantially.
This year at the 2024 ROMBA Conference in Los Angeles, Kelley Direct sponsored a happy hour, and we were able to connect with each other and students from the Full-Time +Flex MBA Program. Many ended up getting dinner together and sitting together throughout the conference. The discussions about shared faculty members and the Kelley connection were STRONG. It is so wonderful to know that we have not just the Kelley Direct network to lean on but the entire Kelley and wider IU community as well.
Share a little about founding KD Pride and how the community has evolved since its founding.
Recognizing the absence of groups focused on LGBTQ2+ students, I collaborated with ROMBA fellow Mark Salmon and former Kelley Direct Student Leadership Association (KDSLA) VP of Diversity and Inclusion Tyler Muirhead to found KD Pride in early 2023. Our goal was to create a safe, supportive space for LGBTQ2+ students and allies within the Kelley Direct program.
In founding and leading KD Pride, the first LGBTQ2+ affinity group in the program’s 25+ years of history, I have had direct exposure to the school’s leadership and incredible folks in the KDSLA and other Kelley Direct sub-association presidents. An especially memorable moment was traveling to Bloomington for a strategy retreat with KDSLA, Kelley Direct sub-association presidents, and the new Kelley Direct Alumni Advisory Board.
From its inception, KD Pride has provided a safe and supportive space for LGBTQ2+ students and allies to connect, lead, and share experiences. I’m particularly proud of how the group has evolved into an essential part of the broader KD Student Leadership Association and how we have shared input on increasing student value in the program.
We doubled our presence at ROMBA this year compared to last, missing some folks due to life scheduling conflicts. We have more engaged LGBTQ2+ people in the Kelley Direct program, and I always feel an immediate connection. At KD Pride, we have been intentional about leaning into the ROMBA in-person events to connect with geographically dispersed KD folks, and it is paying off!
I am excited that we are starting to build a bridge with alumni of the program, beginning with email outreach.
What has been your “magic moment” in Kelley Direct so far?
Some of my favorite “magic moments” include connecting with new friends at my Kelley On Campus experience in May of 2023. I worked with an incredible team on a case competition for the Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council. Our team, affectionately known as “Team 27,” was a microcosm of the diversity and talent within Kelley Direct: a tech professional from San Francisco, an energy sector expert from Texas, a government contractor from Florida, an accountant-entrepreneur from Ghana, and me, with a background in nonprofits and advocacy. And we won!
Presenting to the leadership of the National Minority Supplier Development Council and the Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council a solution to their business problem and winning the case competition was incredible! My team was a testament to the power of collaboration, diversity of thought, and shared purpose. You can read about the case competition and the bold, disruptive business model that we proposed in Poets&Quants.
My time in the KD program has been such a beautiful collection of magic moments!
Another standout moment involved serving as an organizer for the 2024 ROMBA Conference. Being part of such a transformative event, surrounded by talented and driven LGBTQ2+ professionals, was deeply inspiring and reinforced the importance of community in my MBA journey.
I also learned recently that I will be joining an AMAZING group of students for an immersive experience led by Kelley Executive Associate Dean Josh Perry in Costa Rica. The other student leaders on the trip are all in such impressive positions, and I am so excited to continue to learn from them in a global setting and lean toward a career in health equity. I am so excited to learn about Costa Rica’s healthcare system and how we can provide more equitable, inclusive care centering around access and sustainability in the US.
Learn more about the return on investment of the Kelley Direct Online MBA or schedule a one-on-one with an admissions staff member.