How an MBA Helped Me Set Up My Own Consulting Business

By Darcy Bickham Updated Aug 24, 2018

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Introduction
Getting started
Why an MBA?
Life after the MBA
Start your own MBA journey

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Patrick Bonfrisco studied for an MBA at Mihaylo College of Business and Economics, California State University. Here, he speaks to us about his experiences as an MBA student and how his MBA has helped him accomplish his business goals.

Bonfrisco had always been interested in being his own boss and creating his own schedule, and through research found that an MBA is one of the best ways to build the skills needed to run a successful business and become an entrepreneur.

Bonfrisco also knew many people who had gotten an MBA through his involvement in Delta Sigma Pi (DSP). Delta Sigma Pi is one of the largest co-ed professional business fraternities in the United States. Currently, Delta Sigma Pi has 223 active chapters, providing a strong network of alumni across the country.

Getting started

Patrick joined DSP in 2002 while studying at Cal State-Fullerton and explains that through his involvement in Delta Sigma Pi, he was able to make strong networking connections after graduation and land a job at LendingTree.

He said: “When I was applying for a job post-graduation, being a Deltasig was seen as a big benefit. Employers knew that I was a hard worker and took learning seriously.”

After one year in the working world, Patrick decided that it was time to further his education so he could have more opportunities to progress in his career.

Why an MBA?

When looking for options on how to most effectively progress his career, getting an MBA seemed like one of the best ways to do so. Patrick researched a variety of MBA programs around the country and decided to return to his alma mater, Cal State-Fullerton.

When asked how he decided to return back to Cal State-Fullerton, Bonfrisco said, “It’s not easy deciding where to study. It’s important to take plenty of time to do your research and to discover which type of program will best suit your needs and help you accomplish the goals you have for after graduation.”

While completing an MBA was no easy task, it taught Patrick how to build leadership skills, learn more about the business world, and increase his networking opportunities.

Life after the MBA

After completing his MBA in two and a half years, Patrick went to work at Newegg in the HR department. After some time, Patrick decided it was time for a new challenge and went on to start his own successful consulting business.

Many people are concerned an MBA is too costly or takes up too much time, but Patrick assures us that an MBA is more than worth it in the long run: “After completing my MBA, I couldn’t have been happier! I learned so much more than I could have imagined, made great business connections, and am confident that the ROI for my MBA will be well worth it throughout my lifetime.”

Start your own MBA journey

Whether you’re just starting to consider an MBA yourself or have been thinking about it for a while, it’s time to take the next step on your journey. An MBA is a great way to invest in yourself. Don’t let any more time pass you by.

Get all your MBA-related questions answered at our QS MBA Fair in a city near you. Get more info on the event here.

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Written by

Darcy Bickham

Darcy Bickham is a graduate from Texas A&M University and has worked in education related fields for the past four years. Over the years she has developed experience writing on a variety of topics including business, local politics, transportation, and both primary and higher education.