About MByAy!^™

Hi, I’m Laura Billingsley-Green, the founder of MByAy!

I’m a first-generation college graduate who learned to navigate higher education largely on my own. That wasn’t because my family didn’t care; they simply had no personal experience with college to share. As a result, I made plenty of mistakes, from switching majors repeatedly to choosing financial aid packages that weren’t the right fit.

When my own children were ready for college, I was able to offer them more guidance than my parents had been able to offer me. Even so, I still had a great deal to learn. I often wished I had understood earlier how to help them choose a major, explore career possibilities, and make informed decisions about their futures.

I know from experience that the road to a degree is rarely a straight line. Throughout my academic career, I balanced the joys and challenges of marriage and parenthood, navigated the complexities of divorce, and faced the uncertainty of a layoff after 20 years with one employer. I also fought—and won—a battle with cancer. Despite these hurdles, I remained committed to my goals, starting with my associate degree from Tulsa Community College, then earning my BBA in Marketing (cum laude) from Northeastern State University, and completing my MBA and JD at Syracuse University (Go Orange!).

Through every challenge, I looked to my mother for inspiration. She became a quadriplegic after an accident caused by a drunk driver—an event that changed her life in an instant and through no fault of her own. Her strength became my fuel, and whenever I struggled, thinking of her gave me the resolve to keep moving forward. My mother’s own academic ambition was a testament to her spirit, as she pursued an associate degree despite her limitations. While she passed away before she could finish, Tulsa Community College will honor her legacy by posthumously awarding her an Associate of Science degree in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Each of those chapters could have been a reason to stop. But my passion for learning never wavered because I understood that education was something no setback could take away from me. Every credential opened a door, and every door led to the next opportunity.

I created MByAy! because I want you—and the families supporting you—to have what I had to discover on my own: a clear understanding of your options and the confidence to know that your circumstances do not disqualify you from pursuing your goals.

Whether you’re considering a college degree, skilled trade, or professional certification; whether you’re fresh out of high school, raising a family, starting over, or rebuilding after a difficult experience—there is a path forward for you.

The name says it all. MByAy! is a play on “MBA,” with a “yay!” at the end, because every step forward deserves to be celebrated. I’ve celebrated a few of my own, and now I want to help you celebrate yours.

Find your path. Earn your yay.

Laura Billingsley-Green, MBA, JD
Founder, MByAy!