One MBA, Limitless Opportunity?

According to Catalyst, women earned nearly 36 percent of MBAs in 2012.

Coca-Cola Refreshments Vice President of Category Commercialization Bridget McCarthy was one of them.

Meet This Week’s Top Woman in our exclusive interview!

On May 14, 2012 she received a Master of Business Administration from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School – heeding to the best business advice she says she’s ever received.

“I went out to dinner with two colleagues, one of which was a mentor, and as we were discussing future plans – career and life – one of the men turned to me and said ‘You need to get your MBA this year.'”

It was something she considered, but hearing it from someone else made the idea more real.

“I was kind of faking it until I made it,” McCarthy admits.

With an undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University in special education, McCarthy gained most of her business experience on the job, starting her post-collegiate career at Coca-Cola as an Account Manager.

She entered Emory University’s MBA program while working full-time as the Director of Hydration at Coca-Cola and says the experience was nothing short of great for her.

“Being in a classroom with 35 people from different backgrounds and industries was eye-opening. It was interesting to discuss the business of health insurance and global issues with surgeons,” says McCarthy.

In addition to preparing her for increased responsibility in less developed skill sets, such as finance, she credits her MBA with enabling her to be a more valuable resource to other women she now mentors and supervises.

When it comes to trickle down feminism, McCarthy is says she’s committed to paying it forward.

Bonus PINK Link: Meet one of the top women in advertising, Deutsch New York CEO, Val DiFebo.

Do you think you need an MBA to be successful in business?

By L. Nicole Williams

Nicole is the Editor at Little PINK Book. Follow her on Twitter @iamnicwill.

“Obstacles are not exclusive to women.” Bridget McCarthy