Poets&Quants named University of Nebraska–Lincoln graduate Tiffany Huffman one of the Best & Brightest Online MBAs in the world. Honored among 2025 graduates in top international programs, Huffman excelled academically while advancing her career and expanding her family.
“Nebraska offered the ideal blend of flexibility, affordability and a strong, forward-looking curriculum. As a full-time working professional and new mom, I needed a program that fit my schedule without compromising academic rigor,” Huffman said in a Q&A for Poets&Quants.
Ranked the No. 1 Best Value MBA program in the United States by Financial Times for three of the last five years, the Nebraska MBA program provided Huffman with a strong return on investment. Its flexible format also allowed her to continue working full time.
“Leaving the workforce wasn’t an option for me financially or professionally," she said. "I needed a flexible program that allowed me to keep growing in my role while earning a meaningful degree, and UNL’s online MBA delivered exactly that.”
Originally from Fort Myers, Florida, Huffman earned her undergraduate degree in health policy and administration from Penn State. At the start of the MBA program, she was working as a project manager in health care.
“It’s made me a more strategic and effective leader. I now approach enterprise-level projects, like hospital openings and system-wide transformations, with greater insight into change management, innovation and cross-functional alignment. The program gave me the confidence and skills to lead with impact.”
She applied what she learned in real time throughout the program, which helped her advance professionally.
“While in the MBA program, I transitioned to a new organization and was promoted from senior project manager to director of the Enterprise Project Management Office,” Huffman said.
She also valued the community she found through the online format. She connected with peers across industries and life stages, gaining new perspectives along the way.
“Collaborating with peers from diverse industries, backgrounds and life stages challenged my thinking, broadened my perspective and enriched every discussion. It reinforced the power of inclusive leadership and learning from others.”
Huffman noted how the program integrated new technology, which prepared her to lead in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.
“We used AI tools in strategy and operations coursework for forecasting and decision-making. It taught me the importance of staying agile with emerging technologies and how to integrate them into practical, real-world applications,” she said.
After earning her MBA in May, Huffman began a new challenge, training for the Disney Half Marathon in January to benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital. She also continues to pursue long-term career goals.
“My ultimate long-term goal is to advance into a health care executive role overseeing project management or a service line I’m passionate about, ideally one that drives innovation and improves patient care,” she said.
Reflecting on her journey, Huffman shared that her greatest accomplishment wasn’t a title or a promotion. It was her ability to manage with resilience.
“I’m most proud of navigating one of the most transformative periods of my life—balancing the demands of an MBA program while becoming a first-time mom and stepping into a new leadership role,” she said. “The ability to adapt, grow and thrive across multiple life dimensions reminded me that success isn’t just measured in titles or outcomes, but in how you rise to the occasion and maintain balance.”
