KU Business student finds intersection of tech, business with dual master's degrees
Analytics have always intrigued Trent Gould, a dual-degree master’s student in KU’s full-time MBA and master's in business analytics (MSBA). After completing his undergraduate degree in computer science last May, Gould set out to bridge the gap between technology and business.
Gould chose KU less because of his Kansas residency and more for opportunity, especially as a Self Engineering Leadership Fellow (SELF). This competitive program is offered to ambitious engineering and computer science undergraduates who have the drive for leadership and business innovation.
During his junior year in the program, Gould stepped into his first major leadership role as the project manager for SELF on the Road, a program in which Fellows travel to a major U.S. city to network with executives and alumni. Guiding a group of 40 other students through a seven-day trip in Portland, he coordinated the travel, meals and the day-to-day agenda, giving him the chance to feel the pressure of authority in real-world conditions.
“This is a $60,000 project with real impact, and if I mess this up, there are going to be some very uncomfortable meetings,” Gould said. “I learned a lot on how project management actually works, how things go wrong, and how to have tough conversations.”
With an emphasis on exploring business studies, the SELF program also introduced Gould to the MBA engineering bridge program, an opportunity for engineering students to begin their MBA during the last year of undergraduate coursework. Looking to gain a broader web of knowledge, he decided in his senior year to pursue dual master’s degrees in business administration and business analytics.
“I want to position my career at the intersection of technology, data and business,” Gould said. “I have the computer science foundational backing, and I am working to get the technical expertise from the MBA and the data side from the business analytics.”
The transition of computer science to business has been enjoyable for Gould. With a lighter workload and a more application-based work style, he has appreciated the personable environment the business school has offered.
“It was nice having that small class where you can actually connect with the professor, and they understand my goals and my background and what I am looking to get out of it,” Gould said.
He has also benefited from the support of the school’s MBA and Master of Science programs staff and faculty. Their guidance ensures that students like Gould have the resources they need, knowledge of the job market and growing connections. With an environment centered around professional growth, he has the opportunity to have adult-to-adult conversations while fostering a strong business foundation and tone.
“You have some people straight out of undergraduate, a lot of people that have two, three, four years of work experience, and some people that have 10 plus,” Gould said. “With classes that are a lot more discussion-based, all those experiences come out.”
While pursuing both graduate programs was an ambitious decision, compiling a 20-credit-hour schedule wasn’t a new concept to him. Gould’s high-achieving grades and strong work ethic were recognized, with him receiving the 2025-2026 Madison and Lila Self Memorial Scholarship. He is one of four graduate students in the KU School of Business to receive the award for this academic year.
The scholarship provides recipients with financial support, access to groups of interdisciplinary graduate students and career development training. Importantly, this acknowledgment also provided Gould with the reassurance that his immense amount of time and effort was worth it to push him in the right direction.
“I failed a test, but it all shakes out, and you survive,” Gould said. “It’s really about how you are pursuing that end goal of a career and are you making good steps towards positioning yourself five, 10, 15 years in the future.”
Gould’s blend of academic pursuits has positioned him to excel in a variety of work fields. For his current five-year plan, exploring consulting is his top interest. However, more importantly, he wants a role where he can be a leader and integrate his diverse background of knowledge.
“If I’m in a room full of tech people, I want to be the most business-savvy person in the room, and if I’m in a room full of business people, I want to be the most tech-savvy person,” Gould said.