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Butch M. Sarma shared thisClasses just started for your part-time or weekend MBA — but the “deal” you struck with your employer and family before you enrolled was still theoretical. Now it’s real. And week two or three is exactly when small mismatches between the plan and the reality start to show up: the “flexible Friday” nobody enforces, the study night that keeps getting bumped, the paperwork deadline you forgot existed. In my latest post, I break down how to renegotiate that deal properly — with your manager and with the people you live with — before those small frictions turn into real stress: ✔️ Confirming tuition reimbursement deadlines before they sneak up on you ✔️ A short, low-drama check-in script for your manager ✔️ How to set boundaries around study nights that actually hold ✔️ Why naming an end date (“18-24 months”) makes the sacrifice easier to sustain If you’re a current or incoming MBA student, this is worth 5 minutes before your next class. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/eCajAtJUBalancing MBA, Work, and Family Once Classes Start - Butch M. SarmaBalancing MBA, Work, and Family Once Classes Start - Butch M. Sarma
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Butch M. Sarma shared thisEvery fall, I get some version of the same message from a brand-new student: “Is it too late to change my mind?” It’s not cold feet about the program — it’s first-week panic. The syllabus, the portal logins, the parking pass, the Slack invite all landing in your inbox at once. If you’re starting a part-time or weekend MBA this month, that feeling is completely normal. Every cohort goes through it in week one. So instead of a pep talk, I put together a week-by-week checklist for your first 30 days — the logistics to lock down in week one, how to actually start building your cohort in week two, finding your rhythm in week three, and the check-in questions worth asking yourself by week four. Read it here: https://buff.ly/rDHaC7Y #ExecutiveMBA #MBA #HigherEd #PartTimeMBA #GradSchool #NewStudentYour First 30 Days: A New MBA Student Checklist - Butch M. SarmaYour First 30 Days: A New MBA Student Checklist - Butch M. Sarma
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Butch M. Sarma shared thisExcited to join Christopher Reina at the October 2026 EMBAC Conference to co-present "From Buzzword to Backbone: Implementing AI Learning in Your EMBA Program." As AI continues to reshape business and leadership, we'll discuss how EMBA programs can move beyond the hype and thoughtfully embed AI learning into their curriculum, pedagogy, and student experience. Hope to see many colleagues there! https://lnkd.in/exu7HjGQ
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Butch M. Sarma shared thisIf you've been sitting on the fence about applying to an Executive MBA program this fall, here's my honest advice: skip the deliberation. You don't need a fully polished application to start. You need to start. I wrote this week about who's actually in an EMBA cohort — and why late applicants belong in that room just as much as anyone else: https://lnkd.in/eHvsNgJe If you'd rather talk it through first, I'm glad to do a quick 15-minute call. No pitch — just a real conversation about whether this cohort, this fall, makes sense for you. Don't let "I'm late" be the reason you're not in the room this time next year. #ExecutiveMBA #MBA #ApplyNow #CareerGrowth #HigherEdWill You Fit In? Who's Really in an Executive MBA Cohort - Butch M. SarmaWill You Fit In? Who's Really in an Executive MBA Cohort - Butch M. Sarma
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Butch M. Sarma shared this"Everyone else has had months to prepare — I'll be behind before I even start." That's the objection I hear most from people applying late to an Executive MBA cohort. I understand the instinct. It just doesn't match how these cohorts actually form. The healthcare administrator doesn't know finance. The finance person has never managed a union shop floor. The veteran hasn't sat in a boardroom pitch meeting. Everyone is behind on something — that's exactly why the group works. Applying in August instead of February doesn't change any of that. It just means you decided a little later. The room doesn't check timestamps. More on who's really in that room here: https://lnkd.in/eHvsNgJe #ExecutiveMBA #MBAAdmissions #CareerDevelopment #LifelongLearning #LeadershipWill You Fit In? Who's Really in an Executive MBA Cohort - Butch M. SarmaWill You Fit In? Who's Really in an Executive MBA Cohort - Butch M. Sarma
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Butch M. Sarma shared thisI've watched this play out most vividly on our international trips — Japan, in particular. Put a hospital physician, an engineering manager, and a state government administrator in the same room in Tokyo, working through the same unfamiliar problem. The industry lines that felt so important back home stop mattering. What's left is just how each person thinks. That's the real curriculum of an Executive MBA — not the case study, the person across the table. I broke down who's actually in a typical cohort, and why the mix matters more than the résumé, in this week's post: https://lnkd.in/eHvsNgJe #ExecutiveMBA #GlobalBusiness #Leadership #MBALife #ProfessionalDevelopmentWill You Fit In? Who's Really in an Executive MBA Cohort - Butch M. SarmaWill You Fit In? Who's Really in an Executive MBA Cohort - Butch M. Sarma
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Butch M. Sarma shared thisEvery fall, on the first night of class, I watch the same thing happen. Twenty-some strangers sit down at the same table. Within an hour, someone points across the room and says, "Wait — you run supply chain for a hospital system, and you're sitting next to a guy who just sold his company?" That moment of surprise is what an Executive MBA cohort is actually built out of. Healthcare administrators next to plant managers. Nonprofit directors next to federal contractors. MDs, veterans, a lawyer or two, and someone still running the business they started in their garage. Nobody in that room got there the same way. That's not an accident — it's the point. If you're wondering whether you'd fit in, I wrote about who's actually in the room this week: https://lnkd.in/eHvsNgJe #ExecutiveMBA #MBA #HigherEducation #Leadership #GraduateSchoolWill You Fit In? Who's Really in an Executive MBA Cohort - Butch M. SarmaWill You Fit In? Who's Really in an Executive MBA Cohort - Butch M. Sarma
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Butch M. Sarma shared thisWhy write out the “shortcut” instead of letting people assume an MBA application takes longer than it does? Because I’ve watched hundreds of part-time and Executive MBA students turn this into promotions, industry pivots, and fresh starts — and it usually started with just deciding to move this week instead of “someday.” If Virginia Commonwealth University’s Executive MBA is on your radar, rolling admissions means seats are still open right now. Get the full 7-day plan and start today: https://lnkd.in/d69zrkrc #ExecutiveMBA #MBA #VCU #BusinessSchool #MBAAdmissions
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Butch M. Sarma shared thisThe objections I hear most about a 1-week MBA application timeline — and the honest answers: “What if my recommender can’t respond in time?” → Submit anyway. The admissions office flags it as pending. “What if my essay isn’t polished enough?” → The interview matters more than a perfect paragraph. Specifics beat polish. “What if my employer won’t give me time off?” → Check your PTO balance and accrual pace before assuming no. “What if I need more funding than my tuition benefit covers?” → Ask about a payment plan — most universities offer one for a modest fee. None of these are reasons to delay submitting. Full context: https://lnkd.in/edKZD5n4 #ExecutiveMBA #MBA #HigherEd #MBAAdmissionsMBA Application in a Week? The 7-Day Plan - Butch M. SarmaMBA Application in a Week? The 7-Day Plan - Butch M. Sarma
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Butch M. Sarma liked thisButch M. Sarma liked this10 governors. More than three decades of trusted economic insight. We’re proud to share that Governor Abigail Spanberger has appointed Chmura CEO and Chief Economist Christine Chmura, Ph.D., to Virginia’s Joint Advisory Board of Economists. This marks the 10th Virginia governor to appoint Christine to the board, spanning 4 Republican and 6 Democratic administrations. That continuity speaks to something we value deeply at Chmura: objective, unbiased economic research that can stand on its own. Please join us in congratulating Christine! 👏 #Chmura #Economics #Virginia #EconomicResearch #Leadership
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Butch M. Sarma liked thisAnd they are officially underway. 🎓 This past weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting and working with the VCU School of Business EMBA and MDA Classes of 2028. Their journey is just beginning, and I had the opportunity to help them start with something that will shape the entire experience: how they connect as human beings and how they work together. Because strong teams do not happen simply because you put talented people in the same room. They are built through trust, intention, communication, and a shared commitment to how the team wants to show up. It was exciting to watch those first connections begin to form. Welcome, Class of 2028! I cannot wait to see where this journey takes you! #VCUSchoolofBusiness #ExecutiveEducation #LeadershipDevelopment #Teamwork #EMBA #MDA #SparkWisdom
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Butch M. Sarma liked thisButch M. Sarma liked thisLast week I made the familiar morning drive to Snead Hall, but not for 8 hours of classes. It was to speak with the Class of 2028 as an alumna. The room was filled with familiar emotions that I experienced in 2023 - excitement, anticipation and a whole lot of nerves. While nothing can truly prepare you for the 2 years they have ahead of them, I hope the new cohort found our stories and advice to be encouraging. I may not have said it, but I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. Best of luck to the Class of 2028! 💛🖤 #vcubusiness #executivemba
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Butch M. Sarma liked thisButch M. Sarma liked thisI’m so honored to serve as a planning committee member for UPCEA #MEMS2026. Designed by and for higher education professionals, this event brings colleagues together to share ideas, build connections, and explore innovative approaches to marketing, enrollment management, and student success. Higher ed “marcomm” friends, join me in Orlando! Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4vLMfYo
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Butch M. Sarma liked thisI'm splitting our AdOps team and looking for a strong fresh Person for our Social adops postionButch M. Sarma liked thisWe are Hiring! Senior Paid Social Strategist – Meta, Snapchat & TikTok 📍 Remote/Hybrid | 5–8 Years Experience | IMMEDIATE JOINERS WILL BE PREFERRED Orbit Interactive is hiring a Senior Paid Social Strategist with strong hands-on expertise across Meta, TikTok & Snapchat Ads. What we’re looking for: 5–8 years in Paid Social / Performance Marketing Proven expertise across Meta, TikTok & Snapchat Full-funnel campaign strategy, optimization & scaling Strong understanding of ROAS, CPA, CPL & conversion optimization Creative testing and audience strategy Experience with GA4 & GTM Ready to build and scale high-performing social campaigns? We’d love to hear from you! What We’re Looking For 5–8 years of paid social experience with proven, hands-on expertise in all three platforms: Meta, Snapchat & TikTok. You should have experience managing full-funnel campaigns, scaling performance, optimizing creative, and making data-driven decisions. If you live and breathe Paid Social, Performance Marketing, ROAS, Creative Testing, and Campaign Scaling, we’d love to hear from you. 📩Send your resumes to bobby@orbitinteractive.com - with the role in subject line #Hiring #PaidSocial #MetaAds #TikTokAds #SnapchatAds #PerformanceMarketing #DigitalMarketingJobs
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Butch M. Sarma liked thisButch M. Sarma liked thisOften the hardest part of needing help is the part where you have to say it outloud. “What if they are busy.” “I dont want to bother anyone”. I should be able to do this myself.” LovEntourage takes that step away. Add your trusted circle of people who already said ‘let me know if you need anything’ - then just tap. Meals. A ride. Company. They wanted to help, now they know how. 💜 Explore more here: https://lnkd.in/eHBzWY8w
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Butch M. Sarma liked thisButch M. Sarma liked thisJared Pugh is #hiring. Know anyone who might be interested? https://lnkd.in/g76JqK-p
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Butch M. Sarma liked thisButch M. Sarma liked this17 years with one client will teach you things no brief ever could. We started working with Walmart in 2008, helping build their in-store digital signage network from the ground up. What began as a single initiative has grown into something that now reaches 140 million shoppers a week across nearly 4,000 stores and 17 channels. The work spans practically everything: custom content strategies by channel, tens of thousands of assets created and produced, playbooks built from real experience, and the ongoing discipline of managing campaigns across one of the most complex retail environments in the world. What we've learned is that when someone is already in the store, already in motion, the content that works is the most relevant. Clear, direct, and genuinely useful in that moment. Our longest-standing client relationship is also our most complex. https://lnkd.in/etxWGf5s
Experience & Education
Licenses & Certifications
Publications
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Marketing Principles from the River City
VCU Publishing
See publicationFree and open source textbook for MKTG 301 at Virginia Commonwealth University. I wrote the digital marketing chapter.
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Getting your First Marketing Job: A Practical Guide for New College Graduates
See publicationDid you just graduate and want an awesome marketing job?
A guidebook for new college graduates looking for their first marketing job. Whether you want to for an ad agency, news media, non-profit, or an in-house brand this guidebook will help you. Easy to read and includes links to recommended digital marketing software tools. This is a value-priced guidebook that will amplify the job search that you are doing at your college’s career center.
The author is a longtime adjunct…Did you just graduate and want an awesome marketing job?
A guidebook for new college graduates looking for their first marketing job. Whether you want to for an ad agency, news media, non-profit, or an in-house brand this guidebook will help you. Easy to read and includes links to recommended digital marketing software tools. This is a value-priced guidebook that will amplify the job search that you are doing at your college’s career center.
The author is a longtime adjunct faculty teaching digital marketing with over 30+ years of marketing industry experience.
Follow these tips to improve your chances of landing that great first marketing job! -
Digital Marketing Checklist 2nd Edition
eBookMarketingPlus.com LLC
See publicationNew for 2017! A Top 10 checklist for anyone in digital marketing. Whether you are a student, entrepreneur, starting a new job in digital marketing, or an experienced practitioner, this checklist is here to help. Includes a list of digital marketing links. Based upon Mr. Sarma's ten years of digital marketing and consulting experience.
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Digital Marketing Technology Stack: 25 tools to get you started in digital marketing
Ebookmarketingplus.com LLC
See publicationDo names like Trello, Zapier, and Balsamiq make you feel like you’re reading the street signs in a foreign country? Then let Digital Marketing Technology Stack: 25 tools to get you started in digital marketing bring you up to speed in the world of “MarTech,” and help you craft a stellar marketing calendar to keep you on track. The marriage of marketing and technology, or MarTech, is here to stay, and this eBook is your guide to staying current. Use these 25 tools to get your marketing strategy…
Do names like Trello, Zapier, and Balsamiq make you feel like you’re reading the street signs in a foreign country? Then let Digital Marketing Technology Stack: 25 tools to get you started in digital marketing bring you up to speed in the world of “MarTech,” and help you craft a stellar marketing calendar to keep you on track. The marriage of marketing and technology, or MarTech, is here to stay, and this eBook is your guide to staying current. Use these 25 tools to get your marketing strategy back on track, collaborate more effectively, and finish projects ahead of schedule. Don’t be the last marketing director to hear about the latest SEO and CRM tools, or the ad agency intern mindlessly scrolling through Pinterest for hours everyday. Download this eBook today, and get on your way to becoming a MarTech Guru.
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The Source Book of Hindu Mythology
Ebookmarketingplus.com LLC
This book describes the figures of the Hindu Mythology, why they came and what they have done. It is not the author’s intention to offer any commentary or explanation. That is the philosophical part and it is not attempted here. This work is primarily intended for the second generation of Indian-Americans who may not have the ready accessibility of Indian mythology as their parents had, through stories, narratives and even actual reading of the Purānas during their youth in India.
Other authors
Patents
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Crimping tool for connecting a modular plug connector
Issued US US7040007 B2
See patentProduct Manager support to Engineering on this new tool family. New ergonomic handles and tool frame design were based upon customer feedback. Handles were designed to have a soft "sticky" grip with a harder section for durability.
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Punchdown tool with light
Issued US USD475593 S1
See patentProduct Manager to support this new product. Concept began from customer feedback and personal experiences in US Army. In night operations, I would use a red lens mini maglite to review maps. In new commercial buildings, technicians are wiring the structure in low light conditions. Finding a bulb color that would allow all the wire colors to show was a challenge.
Projects
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Getloaded Corp.
See projectTransportation industry loadboard SaaS application encompassing web applications, a bespoke CRM, mobile site and smartphone apps development.
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VCU Digital Marketing MKTG 675
Since 2012, I have been teaching digital marketing with experiential learning activities such as website building with WordPress, launching and optimizing FaceBook display ads and SEM(Google Ads), creating and launching Social Media campaigns, Google Analytics, automation, and AI for marketing. I have shared this course structure with other Marketing educators.
Honors & Awards
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2014 Top Performer
DAT Solutions LLC
Issued by group company with Getloaded Corp., part of the Roper Technologies [NYSE:ROP] group.
Languages
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English
Native or bilingual proficiency
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German
Limited working proficiency
Organizations
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American Marketing Association
member
- Present
Recommendations received
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