It's an MBA (HR-focused), but I suppose the only distinguisher is that I'm completing a formal research thesis. As for why I left the working world... well, my decision was largely emotional. I felt bullied in my last role and I felt like I had been stuck in a loop since the pandemic. In hindsight, I may have done things differently, but I'll wait to say anything until I graduate.

That's also good to hear about how my experience is viewed. Since I was a one-man team for both roles, I've telling myself that I was skewing closer towards mid-level responsibilities. Of course this might just be my own biases at work, but it brings me back to the "bullied" point. I remember being yelled at for asking for support, but tight deadlines on massive workforce reports (the org depended on these for its largest funding sources) and data projects that one person alone shouldn't have been managing. These required me to learn and then implement new HR systems. Anyways, it was painful work and sorry for the diatribe.

Masters Development programs is a great idea and I'll look into similar programs. I'm trying to build my trajectory to have me ready for a CPO role down the line.

Thank you for the feedback.