Lenore Grant brings a decade of experience in higher education, serving as the Senior Director of Recruitment and Admissions for Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business (US). Her work has focused on attracting and enrolling a diverse and talented pool of students, contributing significantly to the professional landscape of Silicon Valley and beyond. Prior to her tenure at Santa Clara University, Lenore had a career in publishing. She holds both her Bachelor's degree and MBA from Santa Clara University.
What is the appeal of earning an MBA in the heart of Silicon Valley?
Earning an MBA in the heart of Silicon Valley offers unmatched access to the world’s leading hub of innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology. At Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business, students benefit from proximity to global tech giants, fast-paced start-ups, and influential venture capital firms. This unique setting enables real-time learning, relevant case studies, and industry immersion that simply can’t be replicated elsewhere.
The appeal of the Leavey MBA extends beyond the Bay Area. Our programmes attract students from across the United States, as well as from international markets such as India, China, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Vietnam, South Korea, and Germany. Many students are drawn to Leavey’s strong academic reputation, Silicon Valley location, and flexible programme formats that accommodate working professionals from various industries and backgrounds.
Is there a rising demand for flexible study formats? How do they ensure networking and team work?
Absolutely. The demand for flexible study options has grown significantly in recent years, particularly among mid-career professionals seeking to balance work, life, and education. Santa Clara University offers evening, weekend, online, hybrid, and executive MBA format to meet these evolving needs.
Despite this flexibility, the Leavey MBA experience remains highly collaborative. Students engage in group projects, live virtual sessions, in-person residencies, and immersive learning experiences that foster deep relationships. The programme also offers structured opportunities for networking through alumni panels, industry events, and corporate partnerships, ensuring that students build meaningful connections regardless of how they attend.
Who can benefit the most from part-time, hybrid and executive MBA formats and why?
Professionals who are advancing in their careers and seeking to expand their leadership skills, while continuing to work full-time, benefit most from part-time, online, or hybrid formats, and our executive MBA format. Our programmes are designed for experienced individuals who want to immediately apply what they are learning to their current roles. Our Executive MBA (hybrid) students, in particular, tend to be in senior positions or transitioning into executive leadership roles and are looking to gain strategic, high-impact business acumen without pausing their careers.
How does the STEM designation enhance the overall value and ROI of your MBA programme compared with a traditional MBA?
The STEM designation significantly enhances the value and ROI of the Leavey MBA. It signals a curriculum rooted in analytical rigour, quantitative decision-making, and technological fluency, all of which are in high demand in today's AI and data-driven economy.
For international students, the designation also extends Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorisation from 12 to up to 36 months, providing more time to gain US work experience here in Silicon Valley and boosting post-MBA career outcomes.
What types of roles or industries do your STEM MBA graduates typically pursue, and how does the designation influence employer perception or opportunities?
STEM MBA graduates from SCU typically enter roles in product management, data analytics, operations, finance, and strategy across industries such as technology, healthcare, fintech, and consulting. Employers recognise the STEM designation as a marker of strong technical and analytical skills, making graduates more competitive for high-growth, innovation-driven roles. The designation also appeals to companies looking for talent with both business insight and quantitative proficiency.
Can you share recent employment outcomes or salary trends for STEM-designated MBA graduates compared with non-STEM tracks?
Santa Clara University's MBA programme, ranked #1 nationally for Career Outcomes by Poets&Quants, prepares graduates to earn significantly more than the median MBA salary, on average 46% more each year. STEM-designated MBA graduates from SCU often experience faster career growth and enhanced professional mobility compared with their non-STEM peers.
While individual outcomes depend on factors such as prior experience and industry focus, the programme’s strong results, particularly in tech and consulting, reflect the high value placed on analytical expertise and the unique advantage of earning an MBA in the heart of Silicon Valley.
Are there specific admissions requirements to be considered for the STEM track within your MBA programme?
There are no separate admissions requirements for the STEM-designated MBA track. However, students should be comfortable with quantitative coursework, as the curriculum emphasises data analysis, decision modelling, and tech-driven strategy. A background in business, economics, engineering, or computer science can be helpful, but it’s not required. The programme supports students through foundational courses and academic resources to ensure success, regardless of prior technical training.
