Pursuing success with purpose

For Mackenzie Cronin (BBA '22, MBA '24), pursuing an MBA at Loyola University Chicago’s Quinlan School of Business was about more than earning an advanced degree. It was a culmination of the Jesuit education that had shaped her personal and professional trajectory since high school.

Choosing Loyola

Cronin’s journey at Loyola first began as an undergraduate student, where she double majored in marketing and theology. She chose Loyola after graduating from St. Ignatius College Prep, a Jesuit high school located in Chicago that had sparked her passion for learning and service.

“I loved my Jesuit education at St. Ignatius, and I knew that I wanted to continue it in college. I liked that Loyola’s business school was literally in the heart of Chicago and has a great reputation. It checked all of my boxes,” she said.

While Cronin’s decision to attend Loyola as an undergraduate came easily, she was initially unsure if she wanted to continue on and earn an MBA. “I had applied and gotten into the MBA program and had taken a couple of classes my senior year, but I was hesitant to keep going once I started my career,” she said.

That all changed after learning about Loyola’s Returning Rambler Scholarship, which provides a 25% tuition discount to eligible Loyola graduates. “It was such a nice discount, and I knew earning an MBA would help me differentiate myself,” she explained.

Growing as an MBA student

As a graduate student, Cronin quickly recognized the many ways that the program enhanced her professional growth. Its flexible structure allowed her to balance coursework with the demands of her first full-time job, while learning alongside both recent graduates and seasoned professionals helped to broaden her perspective at a time when she was just starting her career.

“What's so cool about this program is that the skills are so transferable. We talk a lot about how creativity and curiosity are some of the most defining characteristics of leaders. It’s really helped me differentiate myself very early on in my career,” she says.

Beyond the classroom, Chicago itself became an extension of Cronin’s MBA experience. Loyola’s central location meant that she was able to walk directly between her office and class while also ensuring she had direct access to the many networking events and professional opportunities available across the city.

One of her most memorable experiences was touring Wrigley Field for a class project to learn more about the iconic ballpark’s recent redevelopment. Cronin and her classmates had an opportunity to meet with the engineering team and hear firsthand how the renovations successfully modernized the stadium while carefully preserving its historic character.

“It was so much more meaningful than just reading books and articles about the renovations,” she reflects. “There’s just something special about going to a business school that’s so close to downtown and having access to all of these different opportunities.”

Lessons that last

Today, Cronin works as a defined contribution retirement consultant at Capital Group, where she partners with advisors and other consultants across the country to bring retirement solutions to clients. She credits the education she received at Loyola for providing her with the skills she uses every day, from critically analyzing industry trends to communicating complex investment information to diverse audiences.

At the same time, Cronin continues to live out Loyola’s Jesuit mission by giving back to the community that shaped her. She frequently returns to campus to mentor students, speak in classes, and even hosts students at her office.

“Loyola does a great job at reminding us that it's never really about us, it's about who we're serving,” she says. “If you’re thinking about Loyola’s MBA program, you should absolutely do it. You’re going to get out of it what you put into it. I took it so seriously, learned so much, and had a blast.”

 

Learn more about Loyola’s MBA program and contact our Graduate & Professional Admission team with questions.