Part-Time MBA concentration in global business pays dividends

Even before Andrew Plotkin completed his MBA at Rutgers Business School, the degree had helped him advance at Sony Music Entertainment.

“This is the big one!” Plotkin said of earning his MBA part time over the past three years. “It’s already made an impact on my career and positions me well for future growth.” He concentrated his studies in global business.

In June, Plotkin was promoted to director of global governance for Sony Music Entertainment. He manages risk mitigation and segregation of duties for finance and accounting services across the globe, ensuring compliance with generally accepted accounting principles. “My team and I serve as a front-line defense to prevent financial records material misstatement,” he said.

Plotkin said the MBA began paying off with his first RBS course in May 2019. “I left every class with information I immediately applied at my job,” he said. Plotkin will receive his diploma in October, graduating summa cum laude.

The 38-year-old had worked for 15 years in supply chain and business process management — including 7½ years with SME — when he was encouraged to pursue an MBA “to position me for a seat at the table,” he said. His SME hiring manager, a senior vice president, and the corporation’s chief financial officer all earned their MBAs from Rutgers Business School, he said.

Ranked the No. 1 public MBA in the New York Tristate by U.S. News, Rutgers Business School’s Part-Time MBA program is an excellent option for professionals wishing to advance their careers. The 49-credit MBA program can be completed in about 2-3 years with flexible course options in-person and online. Applications for Spring 2023 are due on December 15. Learn more about Rutgers Part-Time MBA program.

Working on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, Plotkin commuted to RBS-Newark for evening in-person classes, while taking other courses online. He gave RBS high marks for handling the transition to all-remote learning in March 2020 due to the pandemic. In-person classes resumed last September.

“School and work were both exceptionally supportive” in Plotkin’s efforts to balance a full-time career, graduate school, and his home life, he said. The Cranford resident and his wife Rebecca Salomon became parents in September 2019 as he started his second course.

Plotkin said the instructors, experts in their fields, provided real-world experiences that helped him understand concepts and learn how to apply them. He found Assistant Professor Yla Eason’s “Business Communications” class on sharpening writing and speaking skills extremely useful. “Part of my responsibility is breaking down regulations and the technology-based system controls for people who need to understand them, so this is a crucial skill for my job,” he said.

One standout course was “Financial Management,” offered online and taught by Professor Tavy Ronen, who also is the founding director of RBS’ Business of Fashion programs. “She is brilliant and brought an excitement to the material,” he said.

But perhaps Plotkin’s favorite course was “Managing Strategic Transformation.” Assistant Professor Jeremy Vogelmann used case studies on Best Buy, Starbucks and other global corporations, showing how leaders successfully dealt with crises. “It gave us a perspective and thought process I found really valuable,” he said. “I learned tools for making decisions, and confidence in myself to offer solutions to challenges,” he said.

Professor Ajai Gaur, who is acting chair of the Department of Management and Global Business, said students who focus their MBA studies in global business are prepared to take on leadership roles in companies that do business around the world.

“In today’s interconnected world, every business is a global business. Many organizations now perform much of their business activities – from acquiring parts and components to generating new innovations and knowledge – outside their home countries," Gaur said. "Having a deep understanding of issues such as diversity in consumer preferences, complex organizational structures, and the risks arising from the complexity and interaction of national and international environments becomes crucial in determining which corporate leaders and companies succeed in the global marketplace."

"The global business concentration equips students with these and other leadership skills that they need to emerge as the winning leaders of global companies in the coming decades," he said. 

Plotkin completed 49 credits, taking six most semesters. All the classes he took were offered evenings, except for one Saturday morning course. While the part-time MBA program was challenging, Plotkin said, “Rutgers Business School provided an inclusive and helpful environment. No matter how hectic things got, everyone made sure we were all supported.”

- Margaret McHugh