Living Big - Kylie Broton’s MBA Adventure

07-15-2024

We get only one life – and Kylie Broton believes that not only should you live long, but you should also live big. Broton, a 2024 Daniels School of Business MBA graduate, first discovered Purdue University while pursuing her BS in electrical engineering. Her passion for that field ignited early in high school when she attended two Women in Engineering camps — one of which was at Purdue. With a knack for math and a love for various projects, choosing engineering felt like the next natural step for her. But she couldn’t rest there.

Living in Fort Worth, TX, at the time, she was pursuing her dream career in the U.S. Defense Department’s F-35 program. Working as a systems engineer on the F-35 program helped her realize that she wanted to be more than just a manager. She aspired to be a leader — and that's when she returned to Purdue. Before Broton began her online MBA, she debated which degree would bring the most value to her credentials.

“I already had a technical degree. I wanted to learn more than just engineering. I believe engineering is intuitive while business is a culturally learned specialty. I also loved Purdue so much from my undergrad that I wanted a second degree,” says Broton.

Since Broton had already earned her first degree from Purdue, she didn't have to take the GMAT or undergo formal testing, which made the transition smoother.

When most people consider a degree program, they often believe that their education will tie them down — preventing them from continuing their dream job, moving to their favorite city, or embracing life's adventures. An online degree path gave Broton wings.

“I found out what engineering was by being interested in a paper satellite in middle school,” says Broton. With her MBA, she realized, “I can finish my dream of having a second degree while also being able to gain experience in the aerospace industry.”

Midway through the online MBA program, she decided to transfer to Denver, CO, where she now works on satellite programs.

What she learned in her courses challenged her ways of thinking. She learned that the stock market is not primarily based on mathematical data but on the public’s presumption of future successes and failures. Similarly, she uncovered how communication and thinking styles vary drastically among individuals. By observing others in group projects and meetings, she gained tremendous exposure to how other people work and function.

Reflecting on her second degree, Broton recalls how much she enjoyed simulation-based activities in her classes, allowing her to step into new roles and explore various possibilities.

“I really loved the leadership and strategic management courses. One of the classes had a simulation where you had to convince the whole company of an idea, and you needed to find the best route from the instructions given. These actions could have been getting a few friends on your side, maybe a manager, or holding a press conference,” shares Broton.

While there may never be a perfect time to start a new chapter, life just happens. Broton started her MBA after completing yoga teacher training, getting a dog and even renovating her own living space.

“The last 4.5 years have fostered a lot of change, including moving states, changing jobs, selling and buying real estate, meeting new friends, and meeting my life partner. Being able to do my MBA online has allowed me to have a breadth of experiences while pursuing my dream of obtaining an MBA to understand both the engineering side of business and the business itself,” says Broton.

Broton’s advice would be to always choose a master’s based on something you want to learn or have a passion for — “don’t waste these years on something you don’t care about,” she shares. Her MBA experience taught her to recognize when business drives engineering choices and vice versa. Around the time she finished her last graduate class, she earned a new position at Lockheed Martin.