Discover Fox

There’s never a perfect time to add graduate school to an already full life.  

Yet, business professionals across a variety of industries are deciding that now is exactly the right time to pursue an Executive MBA at Temple University’s Fox School of Business.  

The Fox School’s 16-month hybrid cohort program blends academic rigor with the flexibility working professionals need—and desire.

Participants complete 16 courses (48 credits) through a mix of 16 total residencies—eight in-person sessions in Center City Philadelphia and eight virtual experiences with asynchronous components—covering 12 core courses and four electives. It’s a program built for success at every level.

So how did a few of the current cohort of EMBA students—several of whom have not been inside a college classroom for 20 or more years—decide it was their time to enroll? 

Being inspired in an unexpected way 

Rich Venne, a senior manager in corporate financial planning and analysis at Comcast, had already built a successful path inside the Fortune 50 company.  

But success, he realized, includes growth. The Executive MBA at Temple University’s Fox School of Business seemed like a good fit. 

“I felt like I needed something to get to another level,” he said. “I was exploring the idea of going back to school for a while.” 

The nudge he needed came from an unlikely source—his 10-year-old daughter.  

After listening to her talk about how hard it is to be a student, Venne casually mentioned he was thinking about returning to the classroom.  

Her response? “You would never go back to school.” 

“That might have been the catalyst,” he admitted. 

Inspired, he began exploring MBA programs that would meet his professional and personal goals. After thoughtful consideration, Temple University’s Fox School of Business emerged as the right fit.

While it was a familiar place, having earned his bachelor’s degree there, his decision was driven less by history and more by the school’s commitment to its students, practical curriculum and strong leadership focus.  

What he didn’t expect was how much he would enjoy the EMBA experience and how quickly his fellow students would sharpen his perspective.  

In his cohort, physicians, entrepreneurs—even a published author—bring entirely different ways of thinking to the table.  

“It’s different intelligence,” he explained. “When you’re in an industry for so long, you can develop tunnel vision. This forces you to zoom out.” 

That broader lens couldn’t have come at a better time. 

In September, Venne stepped into a new leadership role at Comcast, overseeing a larger within an established organization.  

Rather than positioning himself as a technical expert, he focused on bringing a fresh perspective and strategic clarity to a group with deep institutional knowledge.

The EMBA coursework is helping him do exactly that, equipping him to challenge long-standing processes and add value in real time.  

“One of our professors said, you don’t need to be an accountant—but you need to understand it so you can interpret what you’re seeing,” Venne said. “That shift—from focusing on formulas to understanding conclusions—has been huge.” 

In his new role at Comcast, he finds himself building executive-level presentations, streamlining big-picture messaging and helping his team see beyond the details. 

“Now I can zoom out and articulate the vision more clearly,” he said. “That’s definitely helped me stand out.” 

Just as important are the leadership lessons unfolding inside group work.  

In one class, he helped a classmate navigate Excel; in another, a physician helped him break down complex medical case studies. The exchange goes both ways—and so does the growth. 

“It’s learning how to lead different personalities,” he said. “Not everyone clicks. But you still have a work product to deliver. How do we get there together?” 

For Venne, choosing to pursue an EMBA isn’t about checking a box. It’s about equipping him for the next step, whatever or wherever that may be. 

“You get what you put in,” he says. “But what you get out of it is extremely rewarding and impactful.”

Seeking a familiar path to a stronger future

For Vanessa Fernandez, the decision to pursue her Executive MBA at Temple University’s Fox School of Business wasn’t a sudden leap. It was more like collecting small pieces of information along the way and having them all come together at just the right time. 

Professionally, she had already built a long, impressive career at Johnson & Johnson working across many sectors—medical devices, consumer health and pharmaceuticals—and taking on increasingly complex roles. 

Her work in Quality Management System Monitoring strengthened her expertise in compliance, monitoring and systems performance, which she further broadened through her transition into Quality Governance & Strategy—an area focused on enterprise impact and strategic leadership.

“I started my career at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, a medical device company, and worked there for over 14 years in a wide range of roles,” said Fernandez, who earned her undergraduate degree in medical technology from Kean University.  

“I then worked in the consumer sector for a few years and later transitioned into pharmaceuticals—what we now call Innovative Medicine. 

“Working in different sectors is almost like working in different companies—different products, regulations and compliance requirements. I started in supply chain and manufacturing and moved through the ranks into different areas to where I am today.” 

Most recently, she’s taken on a new role as Decision Support Lead for J&J’s Vice President of Quality Systems. 

“I pursued an EMBA because I reached a pivotal moment in my personal life and career when I knew it was time to return to the classroom—where elevating my strategic impact wasn’t just the next step, it was the step I was ready to own.”

Earlier in her career, she focused on building both her professional growth and her family life with her husband and two sons. 

Now, her sons are older. One son is in the military. The other? He’s a current student at Temple’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality. 

Being on campus, seeing the energy, experiencing the culture through her son’s eyes—she found herself inspired to search for something new. 

Then she noticed something in the email signature of a colleague. It included the letters “EMBA.” What was that about, she wondered. 

She decided to explore her options. 

“I researched multiple programs, and between the program design, hybrid structure and my son’s experience, Temple aligned best with what I was looking for,” she said. “And that’s how I ended up here.” 

The first semester wasn’t without challenges, she said, but she felt well-equipped to navigate it all. 

“The program is designed to be supportive,” she said. “Professors are accessible and understanding of the realities we face as working professionals. 

“We are all adults juggling similar responsibilities, and we lean on each other. And the support I have at home is outstanding, and I’m very grateful for that.” 

She has some advice for professionals considering an EMBA. 

“As long as you are committed and take it seriously,” she said, “it’s a very rewarding experience.” 

Finding time and purpose 

If you ask Dr. Menachem Leasy if he has time to pursue an Executive MBA, expect him to laugh. 

“Absolutely, I’m just dying for homework and more work to do,” he said during a break from his workday as a clinical faculty member at Temple University Hospital. 

Leasy, who specializes in family medicine, oversees clinical affairs for the hospital’s Department of Family and Community Medicine and serves as vice chair of Academic Affairs. 

“I don’t think there’s ever a perfect time,” he said. “I have a 4-year-old at home, soon to be 5, and I could have waited. But I’ve learned that opportunities rarely come at a convenient time. There would always be another reason to delay. 

“So I talked it over with my wife, who was very supportive, and decided to move forward. It’s a lot of work, but in many ways, it feels like the right time.” 

But how does anyone really know when it’s the right time? 

For Leasy, that answer starts with purpose. 

A few years ago, he stepped into the role of interim department chair during a leadership transition.  

“At Temple, department chairs meet weekly with the dean and CEO,” he said. “I often felt overwhelmed. Conversations focused on business operations, finance and corporate strategy—areas I had never been exposed to.  

“I wanted to contribute more meaningfully, but I lacked the background.” 

That experience stayed with him. When a permanent chair was hired, he stayed on as vice chair.  

“I kept thinking that if I ever returned to a department chair position, I would want more tools and preparation,” he said.   

He learned about Temple’s Executive MBA program at the Fox School from a colleague he met while taking part in a teaching academy. 

“He said Temple had a strong program and that it was ideal for someone who already had a career and wanted to expand their skill set,” he said. “That’s what ultimately led me here.” 

Leasy has built a routine—one that is working well for him, his career and his family. 

“I’ve disciplined myself to study after my daughter goes to bed,” he shared. “That’s when I do the work. I still have the same 24 hours in a day; I just had to decide how to use them. I also study on weekends when I have downtime.” 

What keeps him motivated isn’t just career advancement. It’s a desire to learn from and engage with others who bring different experiences and expertise to the table. 

“The networking aspect has exceeded my expectations,” he said. “I’ve connected with mentors and professionals across many industries. The program has made me more confident and less risk-averse. 

“I feel more comfortable in business and leadership environments. That has been incredibly meaningful.”