Bridging business strategy and mission-driven leadership

Carla Walloch’s career has always been shaped by both her ambition and a strong sense of service. After more than a decade in legal and nonprofit leadership, Walloch pursued the Baumhart Scholars MBA program at Loyola University Chicago’s Quinlan School of Business to bridge her legal expertise with business leadership, drive responsible mission-driven outcomes, and play a larger role in organizational strategy.

A foundation in leadership and service

Walloch’s instinct for disciplined leadership took shape early while attending high school at the Chicago Military Academy. A first-generation college student, she went on to participate in ROTC while studying political science and pre-law. After evaluating the legal profession firsthand, she chose to direct her expertise toward mission-driven work rather than a traditional law career.

For the next 12 years, Walloch served as a director at the national education nonprofit Teach for America, overseeing compliance and legal strategy across the organization. During her tenure, she recognized that legal and compliance considerations were often introduced late in the decision-making process, leaving her to respond rather than play a meaningful role in shaping decisions. Seeking to contribute more strategically, she began exploring MBA programs that could enhance her ability to integrate business strategy with purpose-driven leadership and ethical responsibility.

Choosing Quinlan

Walloch evaluated MBA programs against clear criteria: intellectual rigor, ethical leadership philosophy, and a structure that would allow her to apply what she learned in real time alongside her professional and personal responsibilities. She selected the Baumhart Scholars MBA program at Quinlan for its emphasis on ethical leadership, strategic business education, and a commitment to balancing organizational performance with social responsibility.

“I wanted an MBA experience that would support my mission-driven aspirations while also helping me become a more conscious, ethical leader,” Walloch says. “Someone who understands both the tangible outcomes businesses need to deliver as well as their broader impact.”

A classroom built for ethical leaders

Walloch entered the program with a clear objective: to develop strategic leadership language that would allow her to shape decisions, not just inform them. Courses such as Corporate Social Responsibility and Decision Strategy challenged her to look beyond traditional business frameworks and understand how ethical leadership, risk awareness, and long-term value intersect, as well as how business decisions create ripple effects across stakeholders.

“The program helps you define your north star as an ethical leader,” she says. “You’re going to face moments in your career where the facts are clear, but the real challenge is understanding the consequences of your decisions. It pushes you to focus on long-term value instead of short-term outcomes.”

Equally impactful was the program’s cohort format, which brought together a diverse group of ambitious professionals from nonprofit, corporate, and entrepreneurial backgrounds. This environment created opportunities for thoughtful, often challenging dialogue that broadened her perspective and encouraged her to engage with diverse viewpoints on complex business and social issues.

“The ability to learn in a critically engaged space and hear from others with opposing points of view is incredibly valuable,” Walloch says. “After being in the workforce for so long, you forget how powerful it is to be in an academic environment that challenges your assumptions and deepens your understanding of others’ perspectives.”

Finding the through line

After completing her MBA, Walloch transitioned from the nonprofit sector into work that sits at the intersection of legal expertise and business strategy—the very space she set out to explore when she entered the Baumhart program. She now serves in a strategic role, bringing together risk insight, operational expertise, and responsible business practices to build resilient operations across a global business landscape.

“Baumhart really prepared me to find the through line for the career I want,” she says. “If you’re someone who feels a call to action, who wants to serve and lead in a way that addresses market challenges and considers our environmental and social responsibilities, this program will guide you, shape you, and connect you with the right leaders to advance your career.”

 

Learn more about Loyola’s Baumhart Scholars MBA program and contact our Graduate & Professional Admission team with questions.