Indeed, when the Economist Intelligence Unit asked prospective MBA students why they were considering the degree, opening new career opportunities was the most popular reason given.

ECONOMIST: Which MBA?

Russell, who was raised in Connecticut and has a bachelor's degree from Cornell University and a master's from New York University, was in the 1987 opening cast of "Perfect Crime" and followed it as it hopscotched the city nine times.

WSJ: Behold: Catherine Russell the off-Broadway force