Balancing Act: Earning an MBA while working

As individuals, we constantly battle to obtain the perfect balance. We are in a perpetual state of calculation to achieve stability within our work life, social life, family life and school life.

Jarred Paurowski (MBA ’24) has a deep understanding of the vitality of this balance. In addition to his position at JM Family Enterprises in Deerfield Beach, Florida, he enrolled in the One-Year Online MBA program at the University of Florida, driven by a commitment to enhance both his education and career.

Born and raised in Coral Springs, Florida, Paurowski’s dedication to greatness began with his childhood passion for baseball. While cranking out home runs instilled in him the physical discipline of the game, growing up in team sports gave him a deep appreciation for the value of contributing to something larger than himself.

The University of Florida’s Online MBA program incorporates such aspects of community with its heavy integration of student-teacher and peer-to-peer involvement. This allows students to not only enhance their network but also gain teamwork skills that are highly valuable in the workforce. 

“Having a cohort that you work and grow with helps bring another level of support that many students may require in completing a fast-paced, rigorous program,” he said. 

Paurowski’s first exposure to business education came through his high school’s DECA program, where he excelled in a business plan writing competition. Although this experience ignited his interest in finance, he began his undergraduate education at Washington University in St. Louis as a pre-med student, with the goal of attending medical school. Parouwski eventually made the transition to the university’s business school, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. 

“I am truly grateful to the Coral Glades High School DECA program, and particularly to Ms. Jillian Berg, a UF alumna, for inspiring and motivating me to pursue my business education,” said Paurowski.

The MBA format, designed for professionals at the University of Florida, is distinguishable in that they are structured to specifically accommodate working individuals looking to advance their professional and academic careers. It remains rigorous while providing a level of flexibility that students receive with learning on their own schedule. 

This aspect of the program proves vital to Paurowski as he and his wife juggle their careers and education while also caring for their 10-month-old son and managing the needs of their five house cats. 

“Surrounded by our parents and siblings, my wife and I spend a lot of time with our family,” said Paurowski. “Truthfully though, most of our time is spent caring for our son and learning how to be parents.”

The University of Florida’s MBA program is deeply attuned to the needs of its students, providing a wide range of support resources tailored to their individual requirements. These resources include mental health support, personalized academic advising and career coaching.

“The Warrington Business Career Services (BCS) team is extremely helpful,” he said. “In fact, I got my current job through HireWarrington [the internal job/internship board for Warrington students]. [The BCS team] is proactive in providing a wealth of resources, including job postings, career events and networking opportunities.”

Moreover, the benefits of the MBA program extend beyond coursework and resources. It also fosters connections within a community of peers, professors, and alumni, offering invaluable opportunities for collaboration, mentorship and professional growth.

“What I believe to be the most valuable is the alumni network and peers you can build a connection with,” Paurowski said. “I think the power of the UF network is highly rewarding.”

Paurowski’s balance of work life, social life, family life and school life has been put to the test during the completion of his MBA. Resilience and time management have been the pillars of his success. 

“Having things to do outside of school and work has been crucial for keeping me motivated,” said Paurowski. “If anything, my time in school has honed my ability to manage my personal time effectively, which means I’ll be able to enjoy more of that time when it frees up come the end of next term!”