At a time when the banking industry was in a downward spiral, Mandy Passer saw an opportunity to make a difference. After holding a few manager positions at a small grocery store and a local call center, Mandy found herself looking for a change.

“I enjoyed my time in those positions, but I knew I wanted more,” said Passer. “I wanted my career to make a difference. I’m always looking for ways to move up the corporate ladder so that I can be someone who makes a difference within a company.”

She accepted a position at a local bank as a customer service representative and began to look up to banking executives who were leading the way through the economic crisis. She soon realized if she was equipped with the right education, she too could make a difference in the industry.

When Passer graduated high school, she decided to enter the workforce instead of going to college.

“I heard of kids going to college and changing their major a number of times or not even having a job in their chosen field, and I didn’t want to be one of those people,” said Passer. “If I was going to go to college, I wanted it to benefit my career and be something I enjoyed.”

After joining the bank, Passer decided she was ready to earn her degree. Passer enrolled at an online university where she earned her associate and bachelor’s degree while working 40 hours a week, maintaining a 3.8 GPA and taking care of her young daughter. How did she do it all?

“The best advice I can give to other moms is time management and online schooling,” said Passer. “With online schooling, you can fit it into the little holes you have in your daily schedule, and just keep in mind that school comes first.”

Earning her degrees paid off for Passer, as she was promoted twice within the bank. Passer is now working towards her MBA in operational management and project management.

“I know that in order for me to have the knowledge to be successful in an executive position, I need to continue my education,” said Passer. Thanks to her hard work and determination, she was recently awarded the American InterContinental University Online Working Woman scholarship, which will cover the cost of earning her MBA.

“This scholarship means the world to me,” said Passer. “It gives me such encouragement, and it shows me that others have faith in me that I will succeed.”