One year after enrolling in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s fully online Master of Business Administration program, Passmore Mudundulu, ’23, will earn his second Nebraska degree Saturday. After stretching his strengths in one of his first courses, the marketing graduate started a new career as an account strategist at Google in San Francisco.
"The Nebraska MBA program meets you where you are and allows you to move at a pace that fits your career and personal life,” Mudundulu said.
He noted how earning his MBA represents an investment he hopes to carry forward. It’s a lesson he learned from his mother, who earned three degrees while raising five children.
“Graduating from Nebraska with my MBA represents the cumulative investment of the faculty and mentors who made the decision to not just learn but pay it forward,” Mudundulu said. “My mom always taught me that education is a gift. Not because of the doors it can open for you, but because it is a reflection of the willingness of others to invest in those coming behind them to build the next generation of leaders.”
He began researching MBA programs across the country while working in sales at General Mills and Toast. Nebraska stood out for its emphasis on professional development and career-relevant coursework, and a scholarship helped finalize his decision.
"When I received a postgraduate scholarship from the University of Nebraska Department of Athletics, it was a reminder that Nebraska’s investment in student-athletes does not end when our athletic eligibility does,” said Mudundulu, who was a Huskers Track and Field athlete while earning his undergraduate degree. “It became a no-brainer to continue to grow in the community that had already invested so much in my development.”
During the first eight weeks of his MBA program, he took the Strengths-Based Leadership (GRBA 896) course taught by Tim Hodges, Joan Heiser Endowed Presidential Chair, executive director of the Clifton Strengths Institute and associate professor of practice in management. Mudundulu shared that learning how to identify and apply his own strengths changed how he thought about leadership.
"Passmore is an intentional, hard-working and focused leader. He started this class with strong self-awareness about his talent to identify and work on problems until they’re solved. The course content and discussions helped him see how these talents not only make a difference for him at work, but in all areas of his life," Hodges said.
He shared how his strengths also helped him stand out in interviews after taking the course.
“I loved learning about what energizes me and how leaders can build and nurture productive, engaged teams. I also added my CliftonStrengths to my resume, which came full circle for me when I was interviewing at Google,” Mudundulu said. “The hiring manager shared how showcasing my strengths helped me stand out and ultimately secure the role.”
As a member of the Google ads team, Mudundulu identifies digital advertising solutions for businesses to drive profitable growth. He has also seen those same concepts from Hodges' course become part of his team’s culture.
“Throughout the Nebraska MBA program, I learned how to collaborate effectively, lead boldly and approach business challenges with a strong understanding of industries and global trends,” he said.
After graduation, Mudundulu plans to continue applying what he learned at Google. He also hopes to become involved in professional and student development organizations at Nebraska to help mentor and guide future graduates, a goal reflecting the lesson at the heart of his Nebraska experience.
“Throughout the Nebraska MBA program, I learned how to collaborate effectively, lead boldly and approach business challenges with a strong understanding of industries and global trends,” he said. "The value of education extends past the opportunities it creates for you. It lives in the opportunities you can create for others. Graduating with this MBA is an opportunity and responsibility to carry forward the lessons and support that so many at Nebraska have shared with me,” he said.
That commitment to paying it forward is part of what Mudundulu hopes to carry with him as he graduates from Nebraska for a second time.
“It is an incredible feeling to be a two-time alum of Nebraska as the university shaped so much of who I am, personally and professionally. It’s where I met my wife, Hannah, during our junior year at the sand volleyball courts by the University Suites, and many of my friends," he sad. "It’s more than a university, it’s a place where leaders are developed, connections become lifelong relationships and passions are transformed into purpose.”
