Emily Marks Foley (MBA '26)

Name: Emily Marks Foley

Hometown: Newtown, PA

Program: Master Business Administration

Concentration or Specialization: Strategy/Marketing Specialization, Business Analytics Specialization

Following graduation, what’s on the horizon for you professionally?

I will be returning to work for the United States Coast Guard as an active-duty officer. I recently received orders to Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where I will serve in the Business Process Analysis (BPA) Office. In this role, I will help analyze internal business controls and work across financial systems to identify and resolve systemic workflow issues between business areas. The office focuses on improving coordination and efficiency across functions, ensuring that different groups operate more effectively together.

I’m really excited about this opportunity to apply the strategic principles I’ve learned during this program while also gaining a broader understanding of my organization.

Who was your favorite business professor and why?

My favorite business professor is Sherif Ebrahim. I had the opportunity to take both his Mergers and Acquisitions and Management of Technology and Innovation courses. I especially enjoyed exploring the many high-profile mergers I had followed in the news, and more importantly, gaining a deeper understanding of the strategic rationale behind them, why they made sense in some cases, and why they ultimately did not in others.

His classes have strengthened my ability to analyze business decisions more critically and think about them on a deeper, more strategic level. I also appreciate the clear structure of his courses, along with his genuine engagement with students. He creates an environment that encourages meaningful discussion and makes complex topics both accessible and engaging.

What was your favorite business course? Why was it your favorite?

My favorite course was the Impact Capstone, led by Carmen Weigelt and Joseph Samaniego. For our capstone project, I was part of a team that partnered with the Port of New Orleans to develop targeted tenant recommendations for its waterside real estate. This project was exactly the type of work I had hoped to engage in during my time at Freeman and was important to my own professional development as well as to upholding the strong reputation of the school. I’m especially grateful for the school’s relationship with the Port and for the time and engagement the Port dedicated to our team, which made the experience both impactful and professionally meaningful.

What’s the most important thing you learned at Freeman?

While I learned many important business principles during my time at Freeman, the most meaningful lesson was how to balance my personal and professional life. I initially thought I had a strong handle on this from my prior work experience, but becoming a parent during my first year of business school required me to adapt and develop an entirely new approach to finding that balance.

I could not have done this without the support of my incredible husband and our family, especially our moms. I’m also grateful to my professors for their support along the way. Learning how to navigate this balance during business school has given me a strong foundation as I return to the workforce—this time as a mom.

What’s your favorite New Orleans memory?

Although I am not originally from New Orleans, I have experienced some of the most meaningful moments of my life here. This is where I met my husband, where we were married, and where my son was born. I will always be deeply grateful to this incredible city for the role it has played in building my family. We are looking forward to our move to Washington, D.C., but we’re already counting down the days until we return.