When Alee Khambounleuang’s boss suggested she consider graduate school, she was caught off guard.
As director of corporate development at LHC Group, she led multimillion-dollar mergers and acquisitions while balancing life as a mother and community leader. Adding MBA coursework to her already full calendar felt like a stretch.
But the more she considered it, the more the idea took hold.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s MBA with a concentration in Finance offered both the flexibility and affordability she needed.
As an LHC Group employee, she qualified for a tuition discount through the university’s employer partnership.
Plus, her peers in Leadership Lafayette, a program for developing community leaders, had plenty of great things to say about their own experiences with UL Lafayette’s online programs.
“I was like, ‘OK, it’s affordable, AACSB-accredited, has a great reputation — let’s do it.’”
Learning to Lead in the Digital World
Returning to school after two decades meant adapting to new ways of learning. Tools like shared online files or Zoom were second nature to her classmates but new to her.
“When I was in undergrad, the internet was just getting stable,” she laughs.
“It was an adjustment, but my classmates gave me pointers and showed me how to work with newer software. It really helped me develop skills needed in the workplace and to keep up with the new generation of professionals.”
Fitting coursework into her already busy life required careful planning. Her Outlook calendar became her lifeline.
“After I do my assignments, I make sure all my deadlines are on there for the next week,” she says.
Skills That Stick
Some of Khambounleuang’s most memorable experiences went beyond online assignments.
In her favorite course, IBUS 540: International Business, a 10-day study abroad in Costa Rica combined company visits with peer collaboration, offering an inside look at global practices.
“At first, I thought, ‘Hey, three credits and a break from work.’ But it turned out to be so much more,” she says. “Meeting classmates in person and learning from younger MBA students was such a great experience.”
Another standout course was QMET 510: Data Analysis, where she learned to frame problems, mine data, and evaluate results with tools like Tableau. Those lessons continue to guide her leadership approach.
“I use those skills every day, even if I'm not doing it myself,” Khambounleuang says. “Having that framework really helps me to move faster and better challenge my team. That's a key course; I'm glad it's a requirement in the curriculum.”
Moving Forward in Finance
The MBA in Finance online prepared Khambounleuang to step into her current role as vice president of financial planning and analysis at VieMed.
She credits the program with giving her both the technical tools and professional network to succeed.
“I’m using the tools; I still speak to my network of friends. I try to stay connected through the MBA Association,” she says.
She encourages those considering an MBA online to lean into collaboration.
“Be flexible and embrace the group work. I wasn’t a big group project person, but I learned so much from my classmates’ different life experiences. Those connections are invaluable.”
Level up your career with UL Lafayette’s 100% online MBA in Finance.