After starting her career in a laboratory, Shannon Coulson earned her Iowa MBA to bridge two worlds—combining scientific expertise and business leadership.
Bridging two worlds
Shannon Coulson’s career started in a laboratory, developing shampoos, conditioners, and personal care products. She enjoyed the product development side of the work, but quickly realized something was missing.
“I found that being in the lab by myself was not exactly where I wanted to be,” she says. “I really wanted to work more with teams and people.” That realization sparked a bigger question about where she wanted her career to go next.
With a background in biology and mathematics, Shannon knew she had strong technical skills. What she wanted was a way to connect that scientific foundation with leadership, strategy, and collaboration. The Iowa MBA became that bridge.
Science meets strategy
As Shannon researched MBA programs, flexibility was top of mind. She was working full-time at Kemin Industries while looking for a program that could fit into her schedule and provide a significant boost to her long-term goals.
“I was really looking to bridge the gap between what I knew in science and the business side of it.” The Iowa MBA stood out to her for both its reputation and online format.
At one point, Shannon even took classes while traveling internationally.
“The flexibility of the Iowa MBA allowed me to take classes from anywhere and fit the program into my real life. I took one class from Europe and another from Mexico while traveling for work and vacation.”
This flexibility allowed her to continue growing professionally without stepping away from the life she’d created outside of the classroom.
Human chemistry
Before starting the Iowa MBA, Shannon expected a strong academic program. What surprised her most were the relationships.
“I was surprised by how personal and collaborative the online experience felt.”
Through small group projects, live discussions, and conversations with classmates across industries, Shannon built relationships that lasted well beyond the Zoom room.
“We actually still get together,” she says. “We’ll go grab food together or reach out to each other whenever we want a different perspective.”
The support from faculty and advisors also stood out. Coming from a smaller undergraduate institution, Shannon hoped the Iowa MBA would still feel personal despite being part of a larger university. Instead, she found professors who stayed after class to answer questions, advisors who helped her balance work and coursework, and a program intentionally designed around the realities of professional life.
“They not only helped me understand which courses would be really helpful in my career, but also made sure it worked for my life so that I could be successful.”
A career shift in motion
The impact of the Iowa MBA showed up quickly. Within her first year in the program, Shannon transitioned from a science-based role into a marketing-focused position—exactly the type of career move she’d hoped to make. Today, she serves as a project manager at Kemin Industries, working in the company’s pet food business unit and collaborating across teams to bring products to market.
The MBA helped Shannon build her confidence as a leader.
“It helped me develop skills and become adaptable.”
Through coursework and collaboration with classmates from different industries, Shannon strengthened her communication and leadership skills while learning how to navigate complex business challenges from multiple perspectives.
More than anything, the experience reinforced what now sets her apart professionally: the ability to understand both the technical and business sides of an organization.
The formula for what’s next
Looking ahead, Shannon hopes to continue growing into product management, marketing leadership, and broader organizational leadership. And she credits the Iowa MBA with helping her feel ready for whatever comes.
“The Iowa MBA gave me the undeniable flexibility to change careers and take on new leadership opportunities.”