How Fletcher’s GBA Shaped a Career in Finance

When Kiran Borra entered the Fletcher online Master of Global Business Administration (GBA) program, she was already in the midst of a successful banking career, with "about 6 years of retail banking experience and 20 years in financial services, including about 15 years in global markets." A 2011 certificate program in financial risk management broadened her skill set, enabling her to "work in risk and controls in global markets, which allowed me to undertake global initiatives, including a swap dealer program implementation and projects related to market conduct risk."

So why add a GBA? Borra explains: "The primary reason I chose the Fletcher GBA was due to the global exposure I had to international financial markets through my job, which made me want to deepen my understanding of emerging economies, both economically and politically. I also wanted to learn about topics I didn't know much about. Around 2019-2020, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) was becoming a buzzword, and financial regulators were looking into developing rules around climate risk and sustainability reporting while buildings were becoming LEED-certified. The GBA curriculum offered me a perfect blend of training that complemented my professional experience and allowed me to be upskill in areas like these." While at Fletcher, she "pivoted from global banking to managing ethics and conduct risk management," where she "influenced a cultural shift in how revenue-generating professionals viewed compliance. I worked to ensure they were supported with the proper guardrails to operate so the firm had a good standing in the marketplace and continued building trust."

After graduating, Borra received an offer from Goldman Sachs in a role that "combines my global markets and ethics office experience. It perfectly blends what I learned in the GBA program and my professional experience."

Why a GBA Rather Than an MBA?

Borra notes some similarities between a GBA and an MBA but says that, in the final analysis, "they are quite different. My husband graduated from an MBA program a year before me, so we compared our programs. His program was very tailored, with pre-designed courses every semester.

"In contrast, the GBA program offers four tracks: Business Foundations, Global Context, International Law, and Analytical Tools. Students can choose the courses from these categories most relevant to their interests and career goals. For example, I did not take the International Macroeconomics course because I was already familiar with the topic through my work in the financial industry. I also chose not to take International Security because I wasn't planning to work in security or government.

"Instead, I focused on classes to help me gain new skills and benefit my career. Decision Analysis for Business helped build decision-making skills, while Starting New Ventures taught entrepreneurial and innovation skills applicable across professions and useful in daily life. It helped me view my job as having three parts: business as usual (BAU), innovation, and project space. I use the innovation component to improve efficiency in my BAU tasks. As a result, my innovation helps me minimize the time I spend on my administrative tasks and creates the capacity for me to take on something else, learn something new, develop new skills, or contribute to a different team that needs resources. This perspective was something I developed through my GBA program."

The Fletcher School Difference

In choosing a global business degree program, Borra sought a good fit for her interests and career goals. Fletcher checked all the boxes. She was initially interested in a program that could bolster her financial technology skills. She explains: "With the economy moving to a digital landscape, institutions are preparing to offer products for this new environment. Whether it is blockchain, cryptocurrency, digital currency, or digital assets, I wanted to understand these elements, how a fintech firm operates, and the foundational building blocks." The Fletcher online GBA not only covered fintech "but also provided a well-rounded education in many aspects of global banking, including supply chain finance, marketing for international brands, organizational behavior, leadership negotiations, and innovation from the micro to the macro level." The program positioned her well to transition to an ethics and risk management role; as she puts it, "The program's design, content, and training on organizational change and organizational behavior were phenomenal. The Starting New Ventures, International Strategy and Innovation, Negotiating Leadership, Sustainable Business Dynamics, and Global Marketing Management classes prepared me for my leadership role at Goldman by teaching me how organizations effectively establish new strategies and directions."

Borra also considered networking opportunities. She determined that the Fletcher GBA would enable her "to build a network beyond my industry vertical, building connections with professionals in insurance, the food industry, and the veteran community. I gained an excellent network of students who brought many different perspectives and significantly expanded my thought process." Tufts is "very connected to alums. Many schools forget about their alums once they graduate. At Tufts, it's the opposite. They care about their graduates and send emails offering support and career services. It is a kind gesture that makes Tufts standout."

Other personal touches in the program hit home. Borra loved the "small classroom sizes, classes taught by professors, and direct access to faculty. Having direct access to professors was a very important factor for me." Remote learning enabled her to "balance school with my full-time job. The virtual program made perfect sense."

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Managing a Career and an Online Degree Program

Balancing a busy career with family and professional responsibilities "was challenging," Borra concedes. She's "a mom of three—my older twins were in their first year of college when I started the GBA, and my youngest was in middle school. I also have my in-laws living with me, so there were a lot of family responsibilities. Additionally, I had a challenging full-time career at a new firm where I had to establish my credibility. Managing these three pieces took incredible discipline, focus, and juggling.

"What helped me was that the lessons and program content were so enriching that I would look forward to them—it made it so worthwhile. This discipline translated into many fronts in my life, from being organized in my personal life to meeting familial expectations and my own goals. To keep sane, I also exercised and took time for myself. As I finished the GBA program, my previous firm promoted me from vice president to director," reinforcing the wisdom of her decision to pursue the GBA.

Here, too, Fletcher provided personal touches that made a difference. The program offers "professional career coaches who provide individualized support. I am enormously grateful to my career coach, Melissa Palmer, who helped me throughout the program. I shared my concerns with her about being confused about professional progress, an outdated resume, and feeling like my skill set may not be marketable. She equipped me with helpful LinkedIn master classes and resources. As a dutiful student, I followed her guidance, read the recommended books, and implemented everything I learned. When I joined a new firm, I asked Melissa what I should do. She gave me a 90-day toolkit and told me to work through it and check back to see how I felt about it. These resources were very valuable, and to this date, I'm still in touch with her. Many of my classmates have also availed themselves of her services. They all rave about her; she has a big fan club."

Advice for Prospective GBA Students

According to Borra, incoming students can maximize the benefits of the GBA program by "engaging with classmates and professors outside of the classroom. Reaching out to professors and learning from their experiences can help you learn beyond the classroom. I participated in a case competition in the first semester of my GBA. I knew nothing about MBA competitions, but I pulled together a team of students with whom I felt I had synergy, and we worked with advisor Patrick Schena, who guided us through the project. It was the most fun project.

Group projects provide another "great way to form connections. If your classmates are in your area, you can get together in person. For one of my projects in my Leadership and Negotiation class, I reached out to an alum who had graduated a year before me. She was thrilled when I told her I wanted to do a negotiation project based on her organization, which became an excellent case study."

So, was the GBA program a worthwhile experience? Borra has no doubts: "Looking back, it was the best decision I've made."