From engineering to the business world: Meet Jide Wintoki

Jide Wintoki's path to becoming the associate dean of graduate programs at the University of Kansas School of Business wasn't a straightforward one. Like many professionals considering an MBA, his career began in a different field entirely.

"I actually started off life as an engineer," Wintoki explains. "[But] even though my undergraduate degree was engineering, I've always been interested in business."

This early interest in business shaped his career choices even during his engineering days. While his colleagues subscribed to engineering journals, Wintoki found himself drawn to publications like The Economist and Businessweek. After several years working in engineering roles at companies including ExxonMobil, Procter & Gamble, and NLNG, Wintoki made a decision to pursue his business interests more directly. That decision led him to an MBA program, which would become the first step in his remarkable career transformation.

Today, as the associate dean of graduate programs in the School of Business and Capitol Federal Professor of Finance at KU, Wintoki provides academic leadership for all master's programs and the business doctoral program. His research focuses on corporate finance, international finance, and corporate governance.

His journey from engineering to business education equips him with a unique perspective on the value of an MBA, especially for those looking to pivot their careers or enhance their business acumen—insights he brings to his leadership of KU's graduate business programs.

The transformational power of an MBA

Wintoki is a strong advocate for the power of a business degree because he’s experienced the transformative value of an MBA firsthand.

"One of the reasons why I'm very passionate about graduate business education and the MBA in particular is that it's been very transformational in my life," Wintoki shares. "Starting that journey is a big part of why I'm where I am now and what I do now."

His MBA journey began with the intention of moving into the commercial side of business. However, during his studies, faculty members recognized his aptitude for finance and encouraged him to consider pursuing a doctorate and potentially a faculty position.

"There were faculty who I met who said we think you'll be good at this," he recalls. "Best decision I ever made."

This personal experience fuels Wintoki's enthusiasm for the MBA program at KU. "I'm a big believer in all the benefits and good things that can flow from getting an MBA," he says. "It's also been, without going into too much detail, been transformational in the lives of many people that are close and dear to me as well."

When asked about the return on investment for MBA students, Wintoki points to both quantitative and qualitative benefits. Beyond the well-documented financial advantages—higher salaries and more opportunities post-MBA¹—he highlights the value of joining the Jayhawk community and building a powerful professional network.

"You're joining an alumni base that's broad, vast, it's national, it's international. You become part of that community," he explains. "KU alumni are very proud of being Jayhawks. So you build a new and a fresh network."

For professionals considering an MBA, Wintoki's message is clear—the transformation goes far beyond spreadsheet calculations of salary increases. An MBA is about fundamentally changing your career trajectory, expanding your professional network, and opening doors to opportunities that might otherwise remain closed.

Research excellence: Bringing cutting-edge knowledge to the classroom

A distinctive feature of KU's online MBA program is its research-focused faculty who bring the latest business insights directly to students. Wintoki embodies this commitment to research excellence, with extensive experience investigating critical business questions.

"The University of Kansas is a research university," Wintoki emphasizes. "A big part of our identity and our mission is to be a research university. Which means you have unique faculty."

His own research spans corporate finance and international finance, with particular focus on corporate governance—examining how boards of directors, executive compensation, and legal environments affect firm value and decision-making. This research isn't conducted in isolation from real-world business challenges; in fact, Wintoki took a yearlong leave in 2017 to work at the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, DC.

"I thought this would be a great opportunity to learn a little bit more about not just what the SEC does, but about businesses in general and how my research can further help address business problems," he explains. His experience at the SEC has informed his recent research on insider trading and regulatory policies.

This commitment to research with practical implications extends throughout the faculty teaching in KU's online MBA program. Wintoki is passionate about ensuring that online students have access to the university's most distinguished faculty:

"I'm a big advocate of having our best instructors be the instructors that we have in the online MBA program," he states. "Our faculty are not just instructors. More often than not, every faculty member that you will encounter also does cutting edge research in understanding business problems."

For students, this translates to a curriculum that reflects current business trends and prepares them for future challenges. "You're getting faculty that are at the cutting edge now," Wintoki notes. "It's things that are going to matter 10 years, 15 years down the line."

This research-focused approach distinguishes KU from many other MBA programs. "It's not the case for every university that offers an MBA program," Wintoki points out. When students choose KU, they're connecting with faculty who aren't just teaching business principles—they're actively shaping business practice through their research.

Why choose KU's online MBA: A faculty perspective

When asked what makes teaching MBA students special, particularly those in the online program, Wintoki's enthusiasm is evident.

"I think the diversity and the variety of backgrounds is something that I've always enjoyed," he shares. "You get people who have all kinds of different experiences. MBA students are almost always people [who already have] their undergraduate degrees [along with] some work experience."

This diversity creates a rich learning environment that benefits everyone involved. "I always find it fascinating to interact with and to teach people with such a different variety or diversity of backgrounds," Wintoki explains. "It just makes for a very rich and energizing environment."

Beyond MBA students’ varied backgrounds, Wintoki points to the commitment level of MBA students as something that distinguishes them. Unlike undergraduate education, which might be seen as "the next step" after high school, pursuing an MBA represents a deliberate choice even with some significant personal costs.

"MBA students, it is a self-selected group. People are choosing," he notes. "They're investing time. Some people leave their jobs if they're full-time students. Even if you're an online student, you're taking time away from family, you're taking time away from other things you could be doing to pursue this degree."

This investment creates a classroom dynamic that's particularly rewarding for faculty. "It's always so energizing to teach students who are really genuinely interested in understanding businesses and organization and leadership, who challenge you and more often than not, actually do the reading," he says with a smile.

“And that's part of the beauty of this, is that within a two- or three-year period, you will get a sound grounding in finance, in accounting, in marketing, in organizational behavior, strategy, information systems and analytics,” Wintoki says.

For those considering a career change from a non-business background, Wintoki offers reassurance, "If you want to pivot, you can absolutely pivot. My own life story is a testament to the fact that you can pivot and go on to have a great career in business."

He specifically recommends the MBA pathway for career changers. "Part of what makes the MBA special is that those of us who teach and set up these programs, we basically assume that you do not necessarily have business experience in the particular classes we're going to teach," he explains. "The MBA is especially a good way to learn about business, even if you don't have any business experience at all."

Wintoki emphasizes that the MBA isn't just for corporate careers—its applications extend to nonprofit management, university administration, hospital leadership, and even military roles. "It's a great platform for any kind of organizational leadership or management position, not just in the corporate world," he explains.

His advice for prospective students? "If you're thinking about a career change, about a pivot, it's almost impossible to go wrong with an MBA."

Building success stories through education

Wintoki's passion for education isn't abstract—it's rooted in the tangible outcomes he's witnessed throughout his career. When asked about KU's online MBA graduates, his face lights up as he recounts their success stories.

"We've had students who have connected with me on LinkedIn while they were students who I have had the chance to [follow over] their careers," he shares. "Many students have gone on to management roles within their industry and are thriving as managers."

The program's transformative power is particularly evident in stories of career changers. "We've also had students who've changed careers," Wintoki notes. "I've talked to online MBA students who started as engineers, but then they've gone on to work as financial advisors and have built great businesses as financial advisors."

One particularly memorable story involves a student from an early cohort who, like Wintoki himself, transitioned from engineering to finance. "There's actually a student who was in one of our early classes, one of the first few MBA classes who was an engineer and kind of like me, wanted to work on the commercial side of the business," he recalls. "After the MBA program [this student] transitioned into a financial analyst role and now works and is now a chief financial officer."

These success stories reinforce Wintoki's belief in the power of the MBA to change lives. "Stories like that are stories that they kind of fill me with yeah this is a good thing. We kind of helped transform this person's life and help them make that change in their lives," he says.

As associate dean of graduate programs, Wintoki's commitment to student success extends beyond the classroom. He's focused on ensuring that the online MBA program maintains its high standards, particularly regarding faculty quality. "We've worked very hard to improve the quality of our program and improve the ranking of our program," he explains. "A big part of that is focusing on ensuring that we have high-quality faculty and high-quality business students as well."

This commitment to excellence has contributed to the program's impressive rankings, including its position among the top 10 online MBA programs nationally.² For Wintoki, these rankings reflect the program's ability to transform careers and build a powerful network of successful alumni.

"If you are admitted to the program, [it’s] in part because we think you have a lot of potential," he tells prospective students. "We want to make sure you have very smart classmates because we want to make sure you have really, really great alumni when you join that network."

Wintoki's journey from engineering to business education has come full circle, as he now helps guide others through similar transformations. His story—and the stories of KU's successful MBA graduates—stand as a powerful testimony to the life-changing potential of the online MBA program.

"The beauty of business education, especially through the MBA, is that we provide that platform," he concludes. "We provide that platform for you to pivot, for you to potentially explore a career change or for you to seek a different role in your current industry."