Family business: Mother, daughter take on OSU’s MBA program together
Friday, May 9, 2025
Media Contact: Hallie Hart | Communications Coordinator | 405-744-1050 | hallie.hart@okstate.edu
When Lauren Reed received a brochure about Oklahoma State University’s MBA program, her mother asked to see it.
Curious about her daughter’s next steps, Monica Reed perused the pages. She excitedly pointed out one-course description, then another.
At that moment, in the fall of 2024, the Spears School of Business recruited an MBA student.
Lauren, a management major from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, didn’t need convincing. She already planned to take the 4+1 pathway, which puts her on track to obtain her undergraduate degree from OSU this December and add an MBA only a year later.
The new MBA applicant was her mom.
“I’m so pumped for her because I know this is something she’s wanted to do for years,” Lauren said.
Monica hadn’t taken a college course since obtaining her bachelor’s degree in 2002 from the University of Oklahoma. Over the past two decades, she stayed busy as a working professional and mom of two, setting aside her dream of a postgraduate degree.
Then, Lauren persuaded her to take the leap back into school.
“I’m 46, so the best time to start was yesterday,” Monica said. “Thankfully, I got in, and my first class was this semester.”
Monica and Lauren hadn’t always imagined their college careers overlapping at the same university, but they’re inspiring each other on different paths through OSU’s nationally ranked Master of Business Administration program.
While Lauren attends in-person classes as a full-time student in Stillwater, the Tulsa-based hybrid program is a better fit for Monica, who works in their home city as practice manager of OND Financial Solutions.
Although they haven’t taken a class together, it could happen if Lauren enrolls in a Tulsa course. Lauren said she would sit beside her mom under one condition.
“Just don’t ask to look at my notes,” Lauren laughed.
They’re business-minded, but the mom and daughter aren’t too serious to joke about their unique experience.
Lauren ribs her mom about her old-school resume, which was formatted in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet until Lauren helped update it. Monica says Lauren is her “tech support” for OSU’s Canvas learning management system, though adjusting to the online format isn’t too difficult since Monica spends hours behind a computer at work.
Monica probably wouldn’t be an MBA student without Lauren’s encouragement.
And Lauren wouldn’t be here without Monica.
Lauren grew up around business, watching her mom rise to leadership roles in one growing company over 23 years.
Monica, a first-generation college graduate, set an example for her family about education’s value.
Lauren took it seriously. At Union High School, she enrolled in a pilot program with Tulsa Community College, graduating with not only a high school diploma but also an associate degree in May 2023.
“To see her pursue excellence and have the passion for learning inside of her, I’m very happy for that,” Monica said. “As a mom, you want your children to do that, but you can’t force them. She’s always pushed herself.”
Although Lauren arrived at OSU with a jump-start on her bachelor’s degree program, she didn’t want to rush her years in Stillwater. She had new friends, and she realized the MBA program would give her more time and resources for discovering career options.
“I’m trying to figure out what I want to do,” said Lauren, who is considering a career in consulting. “That’s the biggest thing, finding connections and exploring in different classes what I like.”
She didn’t know her mom would take the journey with her.
Initially, Monica kept the good news to herself. After deciding to apply in the fall, she scrambled to meet the Nov. 1 deadline and received admission to the program.
She was waiting to hear from her daughter.
When Lauren found out she was accepted in December, her mom spilled the secret.
“We should have celebrated this before!” Lauren exclaimed.
Monica might not brag about herself, but Lauren proudly tells friends and professors her mom is an MBA student. Monica said she’s not doing it for a new job or a promotion.
The self-described lifelong learner is having fun.
“I’m a total nerd, and I own that,” Monica said. “I love it. I’m always reading leadership books, management books, always trying to grow and learn something that I can take and use. An MBA is more of a formality of being official about it.”
Monica’s first MBA course, Leadership Challenges with MBA director Dr. Matt Bowler, fits those interests. Lauren took Marketing Management with Dr. Marlys Mason this spring, where students simulated working for companies with competing products. This summer, it’s Monica’s turn in Marketing Management.
Housed in the Watson Graduate School of Management, OSU’s three distinct MBA programs meet the needs of students and professionals worldwide.
OSU’s in-person MBA, based in Stillwater, is U.S. News & World Report’s top-ranked full-time MBA program in the state. The professional MBA blends online curriculum with in-person Tulsa classes, providing flexibility for students who, like Monica, have full-time jobs. The fully online MBA keeps gaining prestige, standing at No. 11 nationally in U.S. News & World Report rankings.
“You do what works for you and what’s best for you,” Monica said. “The program is designed so well to be able to accommodate people from every walk of life in whatever stage you’re at.”
Monica and Lauren aren’t racing against each other. While Lauren plans to obtain her MBA in December 2026, Monica aims to have her graduate degree when she turns 50, taking a class at a time to avoid overloading her schedule. She said her husband and younger daughter offer support at home, taking on chores or having pizza delivery nights to give her free evening hours for homework.
Because of their family effort, the Reeds can anticipate multiple graduations over the coming years.
Lauren said she often teamed up with her dad to work on household projects as a kid, reporting their zany adventures to her mom. Now, it’s Monica’s turn to share a memorable experience with Lauren.
“It’s a blessing, and it’s a really cool opportunity,” Monica said. “I’m just very thankful that we get to do this together.”
To learn more about OSU’s award-winning MBA program, visit the website.