Walton MBA

Please join us in welcoming Chelsea Ashworth as our new MBA Recruitment & Outreach Lead for Walton MBA!

Chelsea brings valuable experience in graduate education, most recently serving as the MSOM & MSEM Graduate Program Academic Advisor in the University of Arkansas Department of Industrial Engineering. She is also a recent Walton Executive MBA graduate, giving her a unique perspective on the student experience and the impact of a Walton MBA.

In her new role, Chelsea will lead recruitment and outreach efforts for both the Full-Time MBA and Executive MBA programs, helping prospective students explore how a Walton MBA can support their personal and professional goals.

Chelsea's passion for student success, relationship building, and higher education makes her a wonderful addition to our team. We are excited to have her on board and look forward to the impact she will make as she connects with future Walton MBA students and our broader community.

If you're considering a Full-Time MBA or Executive MBA, Chelsea would love to connect and answer your questions about the programs.

Welcome to the team, Chelsea!

Please join us in congratulating Olga Murcia on her new role as MBA Alumni and Employer Engagement Lead for Walton MBA.

Over the years, Olga has played an instrumental role in supporting our Executive MBA students, building meaningful relationships, and helping strengthen the Walton MBA community. In her new position, she will expand that impact by fostering deeper connections with our alumni and employer partners while continuing to create opportunities that support the success of our students and graduates.

Olga’s passion for relationship building, student success, and community engagement makes her an outstanding fit for this role. We are excited to see the connections she will continue to build across the Walton MBA network and the impact those relationships will have on our programs for years to come.

Congratulations, Olga! We are grateful for your leadership and look forward to this exciting new chapter.

The Walton Full-Time MBA Global Immersion trip to India gave students the opportunity to experience business, culture, and leadership through a global lens.



For Stella Myers, Walton Full-Time MBA graduate and future Insights Analyst at PepsiCo, the trip was one of the most transformative parts of her MBA experience. Across Delhi, Agra, Mysore, Kabini, and Bengaluru, Stella and her classmates explored India’s rich cultural history while engaging with organizations across sustainability, manufacturing, retail, technology, transportation, agriculture, and nonprofit leadership.



Visits to Goonj, Walmart India, Ather Energy, Ninjacart, Gokaldas, and the Akshaya Patra Foundation helped students see how culture, infrastructure, local needs, and global strategy shape business decisions across markets. Goonj especially stood out to Stella because of the way the organization connects dignity, sustainability, and community development, showing how business principles can be used to create meaningful social impact.



Reflecting on the experience, Stella shared:



“The Walton Full-Time MBA program gives you the tools and knowledge needed to prepare for a future in the business world, but the global immersion experience brings those lessons to life.”



As Stella prepares to begin her career supporting the Walmart beverage account at PepsiCo, she is carrying those lessons forward with curiosity, empathy, and a global mindset.



“I want to remember that behind every data point, business decision, and consumer insight, there are real people, cultures, and communities.”



For Stella and her classmates, the trip reinforced the importance of adaptability, cultural awareness, and learning from unfamiliar environments. It offered a powerful reminder that global business is shaped not only by numbers and strategy, but also by people, communities, and perspective.



Read more about Stella’s Global Immersion experience in India here:
https://walton.uark.edu/graduate-programs/mba-masters-degree-program/blog/stella_myers_reflections_on_the_mba_global_immersion_trip_to_india.php

Kabini gave our Full-Time MBA students a chance to experience India from a new perspective during their Global Immersion trip.



Students spent a weekend at Evolve Back Kabini and explored the region through both land and boat safaris. Surrounded by the Kabini River and landscape, the visit offered an opportunity to take in the natural beauty, wildlife, and ecological diversity that make the region such a memorable destination.



Kabini also created space for reflection and connection. Students spent time together as a cohort while gaining a deeper appreciation for the landscapes, communities, and environments that shape different regions of India.



Global Immersion helps our Walton Full-Time MBA students expand the way they see the world, not only through business and leadership experiences, but also through the people, places, and environments they encounter along the way.

Our Full-Time MBA students gained a firsthand look at innovation, operations, sustainability, and social impact through a series of business experiences in Bangalore.



During this part of their Global Immersion trip in India, students visited organizations including Ather Energy, Microplastic, Ninjacart, Gokuldas, and the Akshaya Patra Foundation. Together, these visits offered a wide-ranging view of how companies and organizations are responding to market needs, scaling solutions, strengthening supply chains, and creating impact in one of the world’s most dynamic business environments.



From electric mobility and manufacturing to food systems, sourcing, and nonprofit operations, students were able to see how strategy comes to life across industries. These experiences helped connect classroom learning to real-world decision-making while broadening students’ understanding of leadership in a global context.



We are grateful to each organization that welcomed our Walton Full-Time MBA students and shared insight into the work shaping business and communities in Bangalore.

Our Full-Time MBA students traded the classroom for the kitchen during a cultural experience at Slurp Studio in Bangalore.

As part of their Global Immersion trip in India, students participated in a hands-on cooking class that brought Indian culture to life through shared learning, teamwork, and conversation.

Students prepared traditional dishes together, learned about the ingredients and techniques behind the meal, and shared the final result around the table. The class offered a memorable way to experience local culture while building connection as a cohort.

Through experiences like this, students expand their global perspective in ways that are personal, practical, and lasting. From company visits to cultural activities, the Walton Full-Time MBA Global Immersion trip helps students better understand the people, places, and practices that shape business and leadership around the world.

Thank you to Slurp Studio for hosting our students and creating such a welcoming experience in Bangalore!

During their Global Immersion trip in India, our Full-Time MBA students visited Goonj in Delhi to learn how social innovation, sustainability, and community development can come together to create meaningful impact.



Goonj works across India to address material poverty by collecting, processing, and repurposing underused urban materials, especially textiles, into resources that support rural communities, disaster relief efforts, education, menstrual health, and local development initiatives. Their work is rooted in dignity, helping communities identify their own needs, and using available resources as a tool for action and change.



During the visit, students were able to see how donated materials are sorted, prepared, and transformed before being distributed through Goonj’s community-centered model. The experience offered a powerful look at circular economy principles in action and challenged students to think differently about waste, value, leadership, and impact.



Experiences like this are what make Global Immersion such an important part of the Walton Full-Time MBA journey. Students gain firsthand exposure to organizations solving complex challenges in innovative ways while expanding their understanding of business, culture, and leadership in a global context.



We are grateful to the Goonj team for welcoming our students and sharing their inspiring work!

Throughout their Global Immersion trip, our Full-Time MBA students experienced India through its vibrant culture, rich history, and everyday moments of connection.



From colorful markets and historic landmarks to shared meals, local traditions, and conversations along the way, students had the opportunity to engage with India beyond the business setting. Each experience offered a deeper look at the people, places, flavors, and perspectives that shape the country’s culture and communities.



These moments are an important part of global learning. They help students build cultural awareness, strengthen their curiosity, and better understand how business and leadership are shaped by the world around them.



We are proud to see our Walton Full-Time MBA students embracing each part of the Global Immersion experience with openness, reflection, and appreciation.

We are excited to celebrate recent promotions and new roles for members of our Walton MBA community! These professional achievements reflect the dedication, hard work, and leadership that define the Walton MBA community.

Alumni:

Molly Bombonato, now sustainability coordinator at First Quality

Marcus Burns, now group director, CTO Ops & Portfolio Strategy at Walmart International

Jess Devlin, now director, business development, strategic accounts & growth channels at Kraft Heinz

Zac Jones, now senior account manager at Google

Haley Owen, now senior manager, site merchandising at Walmart

Tarkeshwar Rahangdale, now senior software engineer at Walmart Global Tech

Katie Ditchkus Riggs, now Walmart business analyst at Henkel

Taylor Ruscoe, now merchandising director, toys at Walmart

Hailey Schneider, now senior customer development analyst at Kenvue

Oommen Thomas (OT), now senior vice president, Global Supply Chain and Commerce Acceleration at Walmart

Gannon Wright, now senior manager, Scintilla team at Walmart Data Ventures

Executive MBA Students:

Russ Fryar, now vice president, regional sales at Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries

Atticus Maher, now senior manager, corporate financial planning and analysis at Tyson Foods

Emily Martin, now senior director, merchandising at Sam's Club

We are proud of our students and alumni for making an impact in their industries and representing Walton with excellence!

Sometimes the best career paths begin with curiosity.

Congratulations to Hailey Schneider, who has been recognized as the 2026 Outstanding Graduate Program Scholar for the Walton Full-Time MBA!

After earning her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science, Hailey discovered a passion for understanding how businesses operate and made the decision to pursue her MBA. Throughout the program, she has applied classroom learning directly to her role as a Walmart Customer Development Intern at Henkel while building meaningful relationships with classmates, faculty, and mentors.

When asked what advice she would give future students, Hailey shared:

"Apply, apply, apply! This has been my favorite year of education by far... Don't be intimidated. I did not come from a business background, but the way these people pour into you and receive your questions eliminated all my worries."

Congratulations, Hailey, on this well-deserved recognition. We can't wait to see all you'll accomplish next!

Read more about Hailey's journey: https://walton.uark.edu/news/posts/graduate_outstanding_program_scholar_hailey_schneider_full_time_mba.php