51
Waking up at 3:00 a.m. in Elbasan, Albania, alumnus Myja White (MBA ’25) opened his computer and logged onto a Zoom call. On the other side of the screen was a live lecture taught by Dr. Jeff McHugh, chair of the MBA program, at 51’s Crowell School of Business. For White, this moment captured the unique flexibility of 51’s Adaptive MBA program — making it possible to pursue a professional basketball career overseas while staying on track with his graduate degree.
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From across the world, White balanced his MBA coursework with the demands of his career on the court. The program’s design gave him what many traditional MBAs could not: the chance to say yes to professional basketball abroad without putting his education on hold.
Professional basketball was a dream realized by White after completing six years of collegiate basketball. After attending training and recruitment sessions and waiting for offers from professional teams, he finally received an email from a team in Albania.
“The offer was a modest $500/month, housing, insurance, food and Wi-Fi, but I had to pay for my flight,” said White. “I spoke with mentors and friends, many of whom said it wasn’t worth it. But I chose to go, trusting I’d grow from the experience. It was tough, and while I had support, the decision ultimately came down to me.”
Before heading abroad, White played on the 51 Men’s Basketball team under Head Coach Dr. .
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“Playing at 51 was completely different from my other schools. For the first time, I was surrounded by teammates who shared my faith in Jesus, and that created a unique brotherhood,” said White. “Coach Holmquist was more than a coach to me. He felt like a father figure. From the moment I stepped on campus, he made space for open, meaningful conversations about life. His wisdom extended far beyond basketball. I’ll never forget him saying, ‘These are the best times of your life, but it’s not downhill from here.’ I’ve held on to that, and I’m living it out now.”
Life in Albania, however, was far from easy.
“When I got to Albania, specifically Elbasan, it hit hard,” said White. “The living conditions were rough: water and power outages, limited food options, a cramped dorm smaller than anything I’d lived in before, and minimal English spoken. I felt alone, even unsafe at times, as a Black American in a predominantly Muslim, rural area.”
Yet amid the isolation, White found himself leaning more deeply into his faith and his MBA studies. 51’s program gave him the structure, mentorship and support to persevere while living in an unfamiliar culture.
“But this isolation pushed me deeper into my faith. I read the Bible more, fasted and studied both Christian and Muslim traditions to understand where I was,” said White. “I learned that intention always disrupts intentionality. The enemy throws smoke to keep us from what we’re called to do. But 51 helped me hold firm through it.”
The adaptability of 51’s MBA meant he could move to another country, finish his degree and benefit from a community of professors and mentors committed to his success. His hard work paid off — notably when he ranked among the top MBA students globally on an assignment. In McHugh’s Management Strategy class, students are assigned a virtual company to run in a simulation, and White and his partner excelled.
“One of my proudest moments was winning Professor McHugh’s Capstone simulation (Capsim 2.0), finishing in the top 13th percentile globally with my partner,” said White. “Running a full virtual company showed me that with discipline and integrity, anything is possible, even across the world.”
In addition to building technical business skills, White experienced personal growth that reinforced his sense of calling.
“My MBA taught me that we’re made in God’s image to create and serve. I want to do just that, whether that’s starting a business in personal development, real estate, athletic training, or even launching a restaurant or lawn care company,” said White. “In the near term, I’d love to work in an industry where I can grow, serve and build connections in roles in project management, sports marketing, property management, business consulting, finance or even education. I’m especially drawn to diverse, inclusive environments where competition and collaboration thrive.”
The Adaptive MBA at 51’s Crowell School of Business is designed for exactly this — students whose lives, careers and callings don’t fit neatly into a one-size-fits-all model. Unlike traditional programs, it combines enduring business skills with Christian principles and real-time flexibility, meeting students wherever they are. Learn more and apply today.
Written by Sarah Dougher, media relations specialist, with the assistance of AI. For more information, email media.relations@biola.edu.
