A part-time job in the insurance business straight out of high school became a successful career for California native Lyndsay Smith. She is now a senior client manager for the San Diego-based Marsh McLennan Agency and lives in Caldwell, Idaho.
After her company rearranged some of the compensation programs in exchange for different wellness and benefit options after the pandemic, she “looked into some of the alternative programs they offered to make up that difference. One of them was a reimbursement program for school,” she said.
Smith, who started an undergraduate degree in theatre 20 years ago, returned to school and graduated with Boise State University’s online Bachelor of Business Administration in Management in December 2024.
“The company gave me full approval when I applied for tuition reimbursement, so I picked Boise State because it’s local,” she said. “I wanted to go to school somewhere that had more of the values I prefer. Boise State offered a really good online program that was well within budget.
“It made sense to choose Boise State in multiple ways. The accelerated program made more sense to me, rather than having it take longer at other schools. They also found ways to transfer almost all of my credits.”
The flexibility of the online format worked out well for Smith’s busy schedule. She completed the program in 18 months while working full-time.
“There were a couple of classes that were harder than others, but I liked the accelerated pace because it kept it more interesting,” she said. “In a world where I am used to working, if some of those classes would have been a full semester format, I would have been bored stupid.”
To be continued
Smith was born in Pacifica, California, in the Bay Area, but relocated to Hollister, then graduated with an associate degree from Gavilan College in 2003.
“I transferred to California State University, Monterey Bay in theatre, of all things, because I was being a rebel,” she said. “Theatre was my rebellion in my first round of college.”
Fortunately, she had her work experience in insurance to fall back on. Smith began her insurance career working for a State Farm agent who was a friend’s father.
“I went back to school after being in the business for 20 years, so I am not naïve, green and new,” she said. “A lot of classes were about things I already know from years of doing commercial insurance.
“There were some really good things, though — especially the communications classes. They factored in a lot of the newer stuff, like what’s going on with AI. I liked the format of the capstone and the final entrepreneurial class. The way that professor set up the groups, it made more sense than how the groups had been set up in some of the other classes.”
Because of her experience, Smith brought more valuable insight and perspective to the online classroom to share with her professors and classmates.
“For the entrepreneur class, I would have liked to have learned something like how to secure funding,” she said. “Even an online simulation to teach people how to write grants or loan docs to have a legitimate business plan would be good.”
Smith also adjusted well to learning in an online environment, including the development of good study habits.
“Some of the classes are harder, some of the classes are easier, but they’re all worth it,” she said. “You should structure your schedule for what works best.
“For me it was late at night. For some people, it’s early in the morning. Do it when your house is quiet. There were a lot of adult students in the program. Block out your time. Lock yourself in a room, and put your phone on ‘Do not disturb.’”
Crossing the finish line
Even though she had not planned on returning to school to finish a bachelor’s degree, Smith is happy with the way her journey culminated.
“You don’t know who you will be sitting by at graduation, but we made it fun,” she said. “I was probably double the age of everyone else there. I enjoyed the experience.”
Smith appreciates the love and support of her family and friends along the way to completing the online Bachelor of Business Administration in Management.
“They are happy for me, but a lot of them were surprised and thought I was overdoing it; they always think I overdo it,” she said. “The ones who know me well know I was smart enough to make it happen and get it done. They’re all pretty supportive.”
Having a bachelor’s degree adds a new dimension — along with greater marketability — to Smith’s insurance career.
“There’s talk of me moving more toward a director role as people start to retire,” she said. “If it doesn’t pan out with the company, it gives me a chance to go for director roles outside of it. There are some discussions about maybe going back and having the company help pay for my master’s degree, as well.”
Smith, who spends her free time with husband, nine chickens, two cats and two dogs, is proud to have finished what she started.
“I am graduating almost exactly 20 years later than I’d originally planned, and with a different degree, but I’m very much happy about being able to do so,” she said. “I absolutely got good value out of Boise State’s program.”
Learn more about the business administration program
Earning an online Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Boise State University can open doors to new opportunities and a brighter future — and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re exploring if an online degree is right for you or need help transferring credits, connecting with a student success coach is the perfect first step.
Ready to learn more? Attend one of our online information sessions or contact a student success coach today.