As one of the Top 50 Online Master of Business Administration (MBA) Programs determined by Online MBA Report, Boise State’s online MBA program nominated students Elaine Fredriksson and Tyron Hensel for the Business Leaders of Tomorrow list. It highlights the most talented and hardworking online MBA students across the U.S., as well as the online programs in which they attend. Learn more about Fredriksson and Hensel below.
A “flower of the sun” pursues an MBA
Elaine Fredriksson is a Boise local, an accomplished entrepreneur, a philanthropist and a Boise State alum. Fredriksson completed an associate of science in health information management in 2008 and a bachelor of business administration in 2011.
In 2017, she founded Flor De Sol Boutique that’s named after the nickname her father calls her: “my flower of the sun.” The shop sells apparel, jewelry, candles, phone accessories and other products from both a storefront in Eagle, Idaho, and online. Fredriksson sold the Eagle store in October and will be opening a new location in Sarasota, Florida, next year.
Fredriksson uses her business as a vehicle to give back to her communities and empower women in the business industry. She donates a percentage of sales to Project KidsQuest, a local non-profit that gives foster children real-world experiences.
She attributes her success as a business leader to her education, wise decision making, self-motivation and strong communication skills. Fredriksson has not only applied her strong desire for excellence in her career, but also in the classroom and in her personal life.
“My online MBA experience was the most valuable decision I have made to advance my career in entrepreneurship and my life,” she said. “The flexible, online format allowed me to run my business while taking classes and collaborate with fellow classmates. The professors and advisors are devoted to my success and were available to guide me to my needed resources.”
After completing the program, Fredriksson plans to continue her career path in entrepreneurship and philanthropy while pursuing further expansion of retail stores across the U.S.
“This program will inspire you and give you the tools to help you pursue your passions as it brings leadership to life.”
From rural South Africa to the Las Vegas Strip
As a small-town boy from rural South Africa, the chances of going to a university were slim to none for Tyron Hensel. He never dreamed he would work for a prestigious entertainment company let alone live in the U.S. to pursue an MBA. However, hard work and perseverance paid off.
Hensel worked his way through college employed by a local restaurant and earned his bachelor’s degree in theater arts from Stellenbosch University in Stellenbosch, South Africa. In 2009, Hensel met his now-husband Nathan, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Space Force. Hensel moved to the U.S. in 2013 to work for the Cirque Du Soleil as a tour services director. He is now the associate company manager for the production “O” at the Bellagio in Las Vegas and will graduate from Boise State’s online MBA program next year.
“My MBA with Boise State has been perfect,” he said when referring to the seven times he’s had to move in eight years. “The online program allowed me to attend one of the nation’s best regarded MBA programs while navigating two cross-country moves all without missing a beat.”
Hensel was looking for a graduate program that allowed flexibility in coursework, asynchronous classes and one with an excellent reputation.
“Boise State checked all of those boxes and more!” said Hensel. “I didn’t know what would happen with my work during the pandemic and the asynchrony allowed me to work in multiple time zones across the world. After much research, Boise State was an obvious choice.”
Upon graduation, Hensel intends to build on his experience in the arts, live performance and entertainment industries while leveraging his MBA to pursue opportunities in business development, consulting and senior leadership positions. Because people are the foundation of any organization, he is focused on building new and strengthening existing human capital-focused cultures to enable organizational success by supporting individuals and their vital contributions.
“Boise State’s program introduced me to people from across the country and in a variety of industries who all share a passion for personal and professional development. The program strengthened my personal and professional management and leadership skills, expertly preparing me for the next chapter in my career,” Hensel said.
You can learn more about the 2021 Business Leaders of Tomorrow here.