How an Auburn MBA helped this physical therapist make a bold career pivot

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Changing careers can be scary. But sometimes, taking that leap can pay off in ways you never expected—just ask Courtney Sprinkle.

After over a decade studying for and working as a physical therapist, Courtney found herself wanting to learn more about the business side of healthcare. That curiosity led her back to Auburn University to pursue a Full-Time MBA at the Harbert College of Business and ultimately led her to make a career pivot into marketing.

We met with Courtney at her new role as a marketing coordinator in Birmingham to learn more.

How Courtney Sprinkle made a career pivot

If you could invent a time machine, travel back to the moment Courtney Sprinkle earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Samford University and ask her what her job title would be five years later, “marketing coordinator” probably wouldn’t have been anywhere on her list.

So how did it happen?

After earning her degree, Courtney worked as a clinician in outpatient and acute care for five years. During that time, she was exposed to different parts of the business and realized she had an interest in the company’s finance and marketing strategy.

“I decided to lean into that new interest and learn more about the business side of things, which led to curiosity about how I could leverage that interest in a non-clinical, non-patient care setting. I started looking into the ways I could gain that knowledge, and the MBA seemed like the most appropriate option for me.”

Courtney Sprinkle

As an Auburn alumna and longtime fan, Courtney was already familiar with the university. But when she began researching MBA programs, Auburn’s Full-Time MBA quickly caught her attention.

“It immediately piqued my interest because I love Auburn so much. The more I researched the program and talked to the people on the admissions team, the more it felt like a great fit for me.”

Courtney Sprinkle

Finding a new direction with Auburn’s Full-Time MBA

During her time in Auburn’s Full-Time MBA program, Courtney had the opportunity to learn more about marketing and finance while building a foundation in business fundamentals.

“Each course had some practical element—so, not only were we learning the theoretical concepts, but we were able to take that knowledge and apply it in practical, real-world applications. As a hands-on learner, that helped me better understand the concepts and boost my confidence that this was something I could do!”

Courtney Sprinkle

However, the relationships she made within the program’s cohort-based curriculum were just as important as the lessons she learned in the classroom.

“Auburn’s Full-Time MBA brings together people of different backgrounds, both professionally and educationally. That diversity is one of the biggest strengths of the program; I learned just as much from my classmates as I did in the classroom! It’s comforting to know that those people are in my corner; whether I ever need a helping hand or they do, we have each other’s back.”

Courtney Sprinkle

Want to learn more about Auburn’s cohort-based Full-Time MBA experience? Click here to see how you can build your business knowledge alongside a diverse group of classmates.

How Auburn’s Full-Time MBA helped Courtney land a role in marketing

During her time in Auburn’s Full-Time MBA program, Courtney landed an internship at Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC), a Birmingham-based architecture and engineering firm. After graduating with her MBA, Courtney was offered a full-time gig with GMC as a marketing coordinator.

“Before I started the MBA, I was unsure if I could pull off a career pivot. It felt like a far-off dream. But once I got my feet wet and started applying the concepts, I felt confident that this was something I could do as a career.”

Courtney Sprinkle

Considering a career pivot? How to learn more about Auburn’s Full-Time MBA

If there’s one takeaway Courtney wants people to know about changing their career, it’s that a pivot doesn’t mean starting from scratch.

“A career pivot sounds very scary. When I started the process, I worried about wasting my time. What if it didn’t even work out?

My advice for others considering a pivot is just to recognize that you haven’t wasted your time. Your previous career has given you a very unique skill set, and when you change careers, you’re just using those skills in a different environment and context. Skills like problem solving, communication and being a team player never go out of style.”

Courtney Sprinkle

Thinking about making a career pivot of your own? Visit Auburn’s website to learn more about the Full-Time MBA at the Harbert College of Business and see how the program can help you build the skills, experience and connections for the next chapter in your career.

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