2016 Best MBAs: Samantha Grant, Carnegie Mellon
Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business
“More than her accomplishments, the way Samantha conducts herself and the example she sets for her classmates have led to the community’s universal respect and admiration. She leads with a steadfast yet humble confidence. Rather than seeking praise or acknowledgement for her many achievements, she is quick to recognize the contributions of her team. Samantha’s service and positive energy have enriched our community and provided a lasting influence on those around her.”
Age: 25
Hometown: New York City, NY
Undergraduate School and Degree: Middlebury College – Bachelor of Arts (Major: International Politics and Economics; Minor: Sociology)
Where did you work before enrolling in business school? JPMorgan Chase & Co. – Business Analyst
Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? GE Healthcare (Milwaukee, WI)
Where will you be working after graduation? GE Healthcare, Human Resources Leadership Program
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:
Consortium for Graduate Study in Management Fellowship Forté Foundation Fellow Christian Business Association, President Organizational Leadership Club, VP of Education Black Business Association, VP of Alumni Relations Forté Ambassador Admissions volunteer Organizer for the Tepper Women in Business Conference Volunteer at the Pittsburgh National Food Bank Organizer for two month long food driveWhich academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? In February, we organized and held the Tepper School’s inaugural Women in Business Conference. The idea for a women’s conference was conceived by myself, my fellow Forte Ambassador, Megan O’Rourke, and the Tepper Women in Business president, Madhura Kale, during our first year in our leadership roles. We shared a desire to bring women MBAs from business school programs around the country together for a weekend of workshops designed to address challenges specific to women aspiring to serve in leadership roles. We had a vision for a two-day conference with more than 500 attendees, inclusive of a household name keynote speaker, overnight accommodations, and at least 10 professional speakers to lead workshops.
As we began to draft a proposal for the conference, we also began doing some self-assessments. I was serving as a leader for four campus organizations and, just two days after our meeting, I had accepted my admissions to the Heinz College School of Public Policy. As a second -year student, I would have leadership commitments and be completing coursework at both the business and public policy schools, in pursuit of two graduate degrees – MBA and Masters in Public Policy and Management. The three of us concluded that, as passionate as we were about hosting a women’s conference, we would not have the capacity required to execute our dream conference.
However, with the guidance and support of staff from Admissions and Tepper’s Accelerate Leadership program, and first-year students eager and ready to take on leadership positions, our dream was not deferred. We were able to dedicate our efforts to organizing and hosting Tepper’s Inaugural Women in Business Conference. We had over 200 women in attendance as participants, workshop leaders, panelists, and power-circle mentors. The event received media coverage and praise from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Participants included: Tepper women MBAs, Pittsburgh women professionals, prospective women MBAs, and female students from nearby graduate schools. The energy of the conference, remarks of appreciation for the content shared, inspiration felt, and relationships formed on that day made me feel like I was not only giving back to the Tepper and Pittsburgh community that has invested much in me, but also living out my purpose in life.
Servant leadership has been a guiding principle in my life and, as I watched and listened to these women engage in conversations and glean insights that would prepare them to take on their next leadership role with confidence and competence, I could not be more proud. The conference was not the dream myself, Meg, and Madhura had discussed, but it was a great foundation for the future. I am grateful that this is part of my Tepper School legacy.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? It’s a tremendous source of price that I served as a founding member of a global team at one of the largest and oldest financial institutions in the U.S., JPMorgan Chase. I had the privilege of contributing to the team’s growth and visibility. I helped in streamlining and automating processes so that other employees could not only be more productive throughout the workday, but also finish tasks more promptly, allowing them to attend their children’s activities and have dinners with their families. My experiences training new hires, engaging with senior management, and going through iterations of organizational change have contributed to my success in transitioning into a career in human capital development.
Who is your favorite professor? My favorite professor is the legendary and witty, Dr. Jeffrey R. Williams. In my first semester at the Tepper School, I took his Corporate Strategy course and enjoyed every minute of it, despite its unfortunate late-day time slot – 3:30-5:15 pm. At the start of every class, we discussed current events and company struggles in various industries. Some classes we spent more than half the class time discussing Wall Street Journal articles, Apple releases, and the happenings of companies we hoped would hire us. Throughout these discussions, he introduced and reiterated course concepts, which was the greatest way for me to learn. From Day One, he had told us that his goal was to “make us sound smart.” As I found myself eloquently analyzing companies’ competitive advantage to recruiters and casually using terms like fast-cycle market, isolating mechanisms, laws of renewal, chasing the Red Queen, the need to “eat one’s own children,” and so on to describe both actual and fictional companies (i.e. House of Card’s SanCorp), I knew Professor Williams was something special.
Favorite MBA Courses? Corporate Strategy, Developing Star Performers, Financial and Managerial Accounting II, and Optimization
Why did you choose this business school? I came to attend the Tepper School because of its size and dedication to both rigorous academics and leadership development. With a class of approximately 200 students, I knew I would be able to develop strong, genuine, lasting relationships with my classmates. Having attended a small liberal arts for undergrad, I came to value the attention and freedom that comes along with small classes.I believed attending a school with rigorous analytics and quantitative courses would complement my liberal arts degree and challenge me in new ways. Lastly, and most importantly, the Tepper School’s Accelerate Leadership Center was a key reason I chose to attend Tepper. The opportunity to create my own personal leadership development plan and receive individual leadership coaching was a key reason for me deciding to attend business school, so Accelerate aligned perfectly with my goals.
What did you enjoy most about business school? Flexibility. I really created my own path and had people supporting me along the way. Ideas popped into my head and classmates, faculty, and staff helped me improve and execute them. When I arrived at school, I wanted to continue along a career in Operations, pursing operational excellence in supply chain management or process improvement. As I began recruiting and reviewing various job descriptions, I realized my true desire was to transition into human capital development and HR positions. Doing this was seamless. Without missing a beat, I pursued a concentration in Organizational Behavior, was elected to serve on the board of the Organizational Leadership Club, and secured an internship and full time position in a reputable HR leadership rotational program. I was able to do what sounded and felt right to me. I did not feel like I was checking off boxes or following a prescribed path.
What was the most surprising thing about business school? The people. I worked in classes with people from all around the world, with expertise in fields I never knew existed, and changing lives in a ways I had never imagined. It was amazing to see how people on different paths in life ended up at the same school, in the same class, in the same group, working on the same problem, and going through the same struggles to complete an assignment. As amazing as all of my classmates are, we all came into our program owning our shortcomings and doing our best to create better versions of ourselves. The humility of some of the students and professors I have gotten to know astounds me.
What was the hardest part of business school? Managing schedules. Everyone has their own priorities and responsibilities; scheduling meetings and keeping everyone on the same page is a challenge.
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I was less than impressed with my performance on a stretch assignment and thought, “There has to be a way for me to develop my management skills, without ruining a career in the process.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…working with the same team, in the same (or very similar) role, for the fourth year.”
What are your long-term professional goals? In the long-term, I plan to focus on human capital development, augmenting and leveraging my organizational design and talent management expertise to execute corporate strategies.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I would thank my family for setting high expectations and never letting me believe in the word ‘impossible’ (Ph. 4:13). While there are many people and programs that have been instrumental in my success, without the support and encouragement of my family, I would have never thought to take on new challenges or pursue greater opportunities.
Fun fact about yourself: I’ve been to over 20 countries and visited six of the seven continents…I plan to make it to Antarctica before age 35.
Favorite book: The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Favorite movie: Love and Basketball
Favorite musical performer: Jay-Z
Favorite television show: Law and Order: SVU
Favorite vacation spot: South Beach, Miami
Hobbies? Traveling, volunteering, and brunching
What made Samantha such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?
“Samantha is a true servant leader. Her contributions to the Tepper School will last far beyond her two years because of the tireless effort she invested in improving the student experience for her peers and future students. Samantha cares deeply about mentoring underrepresented minorities and women in business to encourage their passion and help them succeed. As a founding leader of the Tepper Women in Business Conference, and as a board member of multiple student organizations, she has encouraged countless peers and community members by her example and her actions. She listens carefully, offers honest and valuable feedback, and confidently advocates for the missing perspective in the room. Samantha is such a reliable student that she is regularly called up by peers, and faculty and staff who know she will go above and beyond to help the community.
Despite being among the busiest student leaders, Samantha is quick to say yes to opportunities that will positively influence the future of the Tepper School. She knew the Tepper Women in Business Conference would be a huge time commitment and she was short on extra hours to give, but she could envision the long-term impact of the conference on future women students and the community. She rallied support, organized volunteers, spoke to the press, and helped execute a high quality professional development conference that exceeded expectations. More than her accomplishments, the way Samantha conducts herself and the example she sets for her classmates have led to the community’s universal respect and admiration. She leads with a steadfast yet humble confidence. Rather than seeking praise or acknowledgement for her many achievements, she is quick to recognize the contributions of her team. Samantha’s service and positive energy have enriched our community and provided a lasting influence on those around her.” — Emily Archambeault, Associate Director, Masters Admissions, Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business
DON’T MISS: CLASS OF 2016: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST GRADUATING MBAS
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Emory University, Goizueta Business School
“Her charisma, organization and management skills, and the respect that she showed and demanded of her peers easily makes her the best student leader that I have worked with in my nearly 12 years at Emory University.”
Age: 28
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
Education: University of Virginia, BA in Psychology and History
Where did you work before enrolling in business school? Teach for America Corps Member – lead Kindergarten teacher and eventually becoming an administrator (Instructional Coach) at Excel Academy in Washington, DC.
Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? PepsiCo Frito-Lay, Dallas
Where will you be working after graduation? PepsiCo Frito-Lay, Associate Marketing Manager
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:
Graduate Business School President
Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK)
Consortium for Graduate Study in Management Fellow (full scholarship)
Dean’s List (Spring 2015, Fall 2015)
Inside Goizueta Logistics Chair
Goizueta Marketing Strategy Consultancy Team Lead
Teaching Assistant (Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016)
Marketing Club
GWIB
Black MBA Association
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am the most proud of my work as the Graduate Business Association (GBA) President who serves over 400 business graduate students and oversees a 15-person board. I knew I had to make a lasting mark since I was the first Black female in this role.
When entering the position, I saw that the GBA could be more efficient and valuable to the business school. We just need to revamp the strategy and structure to ensure a solid foundation for future GBA boards. Instead of having one executive vice president in charge of 40+ organizations, I organized the groups under their respective VPs. For example, the Marketing Club would report to the VP of Career Development. This provided more communication between clubs and the GBA which serves as the umbrella organization. Next, I developed how we determine our calendar that the new GBA board used. We begin by collecting feedback from classmates through focus groups and in-depth interviews. We synthesize our findings and develop programs and events for the upcoming year. Lastly, I created a thorough transition between the outgoing and incoming board members that included mentoring discussions, handbook that detailed all decisions and positions, and a retreat activity that highlighted the pressures and pulls of GBA positions. This year ended with an increase in engagement, events, and communication because of these changes.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? When I was a kindergarten teacher, one of my students who had special needs could not even spell her name when 98% of my students entered Kindergarten with the ability to spell their name. I had her in my writing and reading group which consisted of two other children with special needs. Daily, we would work on letter sounds and writing. By the end of the year, this student was able to write a full length story about her day (with periods and question marks!) Nothing can really compare to teaching a child how to express herself.
Favorite MBA Courses? Groups and Teams, Negotiations, Entrepreneurship, Product and Brand, and Multinational Firms
Why did you choose this business school? I wanted a business school that would know my name, had results, and that was in a major city. As a career switcher (moving from Education to Corporate America!), I needed a business school that had results in successfully placing students for internships and full-time positions. Emory is #1 in providing this. I wanted personal attention so I could find the right internship/full-time position. It was simple – Emory fit my needs and wants.
What did you enjoy most about business school? I enjoy that you can take risks and build your confidence. Also, it does not hurt that you have many opportunities to travel the world. I just returned from Israel and Mexico City.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from business school? The biggest lesson I learned is that despite my background as an educator, I had something to offer. I always thought those who are really good at numbers should take the lead. I learned through my core team and other group experiences that people with backgrounds like me can take the lead and successfully deliver.
What was the most surprising thing about business school? I did not know what to really expect, so I was ready for anything!
What was the hardest part of business school? Knowing when to say no. There are always many events or organizations to get involved in, but you have to focus on what is important to yourself.
What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? For applications: make sure your application gives a 360 degree view of yourself. Think through your stories and make sure you are highlighting stories that are unique and make you stand out.
When selecting between schools: Look at the other students who are visiting the school…can you imagine a class with them? Do you feel that you fit in? Also, pay attention to how students interact with each other. That gives you insight into what your community will be.
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…bad decisions were being made for our students based solely on finances and I needed the business acumen to provide me with the credibility to be heard.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…a principal of an elementary charter school.”
What are your long-term professional goals? In 20-25 years, I would like to return to education in a different way – as the dean of a school. But before that, I plan to sharpen my strategy and marketing skills at a Fortune 500 company while continue my fight for quality education through serving on school board.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? May sound cheesy, but my mother. Growing up in Detroit, Michigan, you often get bogged down by negative images and stand against terrible statistics. My mother ALWAYS encouraged me to push for something more. She showed me that persistence and confidence is everything.
Fun fact about yourself: I have an irrational fear of sunflowers…
Favorite book: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (series)
Favorite movie: The Matrix
Favorite musical performer: Haim
Favorite television show: 11.22.63 – with James Franco
Favorite vacation spot: South Beach…feeling the heat! J
Hobbies? Meme Creator, music festival lover, volleyball, softball
What made Lauren such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?
“Lauren’s impeccable leadership, academic excellence, and service to the community make her second to none for this honor. She has been a phenomenal and idyllic representation of our community and is deserving of this recognition.
I had the opportunity to witness Lauren’s leadership first hand as the advisor to the Graduate Business Association (GBA). Lauren is currently President of the GBA serving over 400 students. Her charisma, organization and management skills, and the respect that she showed and demanded of her peers easily makes her the best student leader that I have worked with in my nearly 12 years at Emory University. Lauren’s vision and the professionalism in which she executed the vision speak to her detail orientation and to her commitment to get the job done! Lauren’s leadership is not only recognized by us at Goiuzueta, but also by the Graduate Business Forum (GBF) which is a global network of student leaders. Lauren’s leadership impacted this group in such a way last year as she represented us in China that she has been asked to be a session lead at the global conference this April in Switzerland to other attendees.
Rigor is one of our Core Values at Goizueta. For many reasons, Lauren is the living embodiment of this Core Value. Her rigorous approach to academic pursuits is consistent with those of her leadership style. In both areas, Lauren demanded the best of herself and of her team. As such, she continues to excel academically and has consistently been part of the Dean’s List which recognizes the top 15 percent of her class. Additionally, Lauren received a fellowship from the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management.
Lauren has served the Goizueta community and positively impacted the Atlanta community during her two years as a student. From meetings with our Dean about the student and academic experience to working with student organizations to serve those in need in Atlanta, Lauren has been and inspires her peers to be a change agent for our community. I am proud to note that her combination of expertise has afforded her with a full-time job opportunity with PepsiCo.” — Corey M. Dortch, PhD, Director, Student Life and Engagement, Emory University, Goizueta Business School
DON’T MISS: CLASS OF 2016: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST GRADUATING MBAS
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Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business
“I thought that business school was going to be transactional, that I would not change much, and that it was only for career advancement. I am surprised by how much I have grown personally, as a leader, and how my world orientation has expanded.”
Age: 26
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
Education:
A., University of Virginia, double majors in Political & Social Thought and African American & African Studies, minor in Middle Eastern Arabic S., Johns Hopkins University, Urban EducationWhere did you work before enrolling in business school? Teach For America, corps member | Baltimore City Public Schools, Middle School Educator
Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? General Mills, Minneapolis, MN
Where will you be working after graduation? TBD – Weighing Offers
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School
Co-President, Black & Latino MBA Organization (2015-2016) Coach K – Center on Leadership & Ethics Fellow, and Fellowship Diversity Chair (2015-2016) Fuqua on Board Fellow | Ex-officio non-profit board member (2014-2015) Treasurer, Black Graduate & Professional Student Association (2014-2015) Dean’s Working Group on Diversity, member Section 2 Service Chair (2014-2015) Executive Director, Black & Latino MBA Organization (2014-2015) Teaching Assistant/Tutor (2015) Managerial Economics Management Communications Julian Abele Student of the Year Award (2016) The Lagrant Foundation Scholarship (2015)Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? As I entered business school in August 2014, Michael Brown laid slain by a Ferguson cop. Time passed, protests grew, other incidents arose, “black lives matter” became a rallying cry, and on April 1, a noose was found hanging from a tree on Duke’s campus.
Many in the Fuqua and broader Duke communities were floored by this hateful act that ripped the band-aid off of unspoken campus racial issues. This moment demanded attention and action. As co-president of the Black & Latino MBA Organization and a concerned community member, I organized a day of solidarity for Fuqua students to wear Duke Blue in a show of unity against hatred and fear. One-quarter of the nearly 900 daytime MBA students participated. I then organized an event, “dialogues on diversity,” to discuss race, gender, sexual orientation differences/biases, microaggressions and how these manifest themselves at Fuqua. I then took proactive steps to continue diversity conversations and improve cultural competency among Fuqua students. I formed a working group on diversity with Dean Bill Boulding and a small group of students. Through the working group, we have initiated institutional efforts to improve cultural competence at Fuqua, from surveying students to identify knowledge gaps to mandating a lecture on diversity competence as part of the first year experience. My actions will ensure that Fuqua lives up to its core value of “collective diversity” and produces students who are better equipped to lead across difference.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I influenced the lives of over 250 students as a 6th and 7th grade science teacher in Baltimore (and Teach For America corps member), providing excellent instruction to all, and leading my students to exceptional mastery of state standards. My impact extended beyond my classroom. I started my school’s gay-straight alliance, combating bullying and homophobia, to create an inclusive and positive school environment.
Who is your favorite professor? Unlike most business school students, I am a former educator and earned a master’s degree in education. Therefore, I am equipped to recognize (and appreciate) excellent teaching, and I know what it is like to be an instructor. Kim Wade-Benzoni has distinguished herself as my favorite professor. It is clear that Kim prepares exceptionally for every class. She well manages classroom discussion and provides students with thorough and constructive feedback – no easy feat. This led me to take two classes with her, Power & Politics and Negotiations.
Favorite MBA Courses? Power & Politics, Negotiations and Decision Models rank as my favorite MBA courses. Decision Models, notoriously the most difficult statistics course at Fuqua, challenged me and boosted my quantitative analysis skills. Negotiations, perhaps the most engaging and fun Fuqua course, as it often involves much acting, perfected my ability to have “courageous conversations.” Power & Politics, about how to gain and use power, is the most useful and applicable course of all time.
Why did you choose this business school? I chose Fuqua for three primary reasons. First, its reputation and programs in social entrepreneurship, hosted by the school’s Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship. Second, the international orientation of the school, from the student body composition to the abundant international programs. Third, the sense of collegiality that pervades the school as experienced during my visit – ‘Team Fuqua’ is real.
What did you enjoy most about business school? As with anything, the people make or break an experience. I have most enjoyed building and sustaining new relationships with classmates, professors, administrators and alumni.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from business school? In the end, I learned much about others. However, I have learned the most about myself. In particular, I learned the importance of fortitude, and reaffirmed that I am a very strong person, as the experience (particularly the first year) stretched me.
What was the most surprising thing about business school? I thought that business school was going to be transactional, that I would not change much, and that it was only for career advancement. I am surprised by how much I have grown personally, as a leader, and how my world orientation has expanded.
What was the hardest part of business school? Balancing (or finding your own personal ‘balance’) for the competing priorities of academics, professional recruiting, and personal life.
What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? Reflect deeply on what you seek from your business school experience prior to entering, and to thine own self be true.
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I met Lloyd Blankfein as a Goldman Sachs intern.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…principal of a school most likely.”
Which executive or entrepreneur do you most admire? Tristan Walker, founder of Bevel and CEO of Walker & Company Brands. The most high profile black start up founder, Walker is my hero. I also aim to innovate within a legacy industry, just as Walker is innovating within the health and beauty space.
What are your long-term professional goals? I want to combat food injustice by launching fresh-focused grocery stores in food desert neighborhoods.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? My mother, Marcia Herbert. A single mother with only a high school diploma, she raised me to be good person. She took me to the library when I was young, encouraged my creativity, and told me to reach for the stars. We sometimes struggled, but through adversity I built character. Her sacrifices enabled me to succeed and eventually become the first person in my family to graduate from college, and now earn two master’s degrees.
Fun fact about yourself: I have an ear tag.
Favorite book: The Bluest Eye – Toni Morrison
Favorite movie: Star Trek
Favorite musical performer: The Temptations
Favorite television show:
Current: Empire
All time: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Favorite vacation spot:
Urban: Paris
Relaxation: Jamaica
What made Reggie such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?
“Reggie Benbow is the type of leader who seems to consistently pop up and provide leadership everywhere at Fuqua. He is a COLE (Center on Leadership and Ethics) Fellow and a co-president of multiple clubs. One of the ways Reggie has left us better is through his help in guiding us to better recognize and leverage our diversity as a member of one of our task forces. In response to some behaviors on the broader Duke campus, Reggie and others led sessions with students and administration to help us better understand the climate for inclusiveness and also provide behavioral actions for all members of our community to take. For me, those activities and others organized by Reggie demonstrate the hallmark of Reggie’s leadership – he takes initiative. While many people wait for others to take action, Reggie takes initiative, provides leadership, and is a positive partner around joint student-administration activities.
Another theme in the leadership I have seen from Reggie is his commitment to education. Prior to Fuqua, Reggie was with Teach for America and then received a Masters Degree in Education. While at Fuqua, Reggie has served on the nonprofit board for the Durham Nativity School, an organization he specifically sought to work with in order to give back to marginalized populations in the area of education. This passion for education is impressive in itself, but all the more impressive when recognizing that Reggie is the first in his family to go to college.” — Russ Morgan, Associate Dean, The Duke MBA – Daytime and Master of Management Studies, Professor of the Practice of Marketing, Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business
DON’T MISS: CLASS OF 2016: THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST GRADUATING MBAS
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Cambridge Judge Business School
“I want to create and run a social-retail platform that could help rural entrepreneurs back home in India. I have been a journalist and travelled to some of the remotest riot-torn, militant affected and poor regions of India. I have also volunteered extensively for over seven years, working with some of the most marginalised sections of society and have witnessed and appreciate the difference that self-employment can make for people in these areas.”
Age: 33
Hometown: Pune, India
Education: Pune University, STEM, First Class Engineering degree in Computers Science
Where did you work before enrolling in business school? Fosho, Chief Creative officer and co-founding member
Where did you intern during the summer of 2015?The Cambridge MBA is one-year program and we started in the fall. In the summer of 2015, I left work early and travelled across the Italian countryside and Scottish islands.
At the moment, I am working with L’Oréal Uk (as a part of our Global consulting project).
Where will you be working after graduation? Amazon, UK as a Senior Manager within their Retail Leadership Program.
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:
Awarded the highest bursary for leadership potential President of the Women’s Leadership Initiative President of the Retail Club Leadership series speaker events student interviewer and school blogger Mentor for social startups at Cambridge Social innovation incubatorWhich academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am the only MBA from my class who has been elected to lead two different clubs (Retail and Women Leadership Initiative), this is an achievement that I am proud of as it reflects the trust and belief my class has in me.
The fact that I have been able to make the transition from being the co-creator of two very successful, award-winning retail start-ups in the UK, to being a Cambridge MBA candidate who is able to excel at studies, to being a mum of two little girls, as well as lead clubs and contribute to the Cambridge Judge Business School community is something I am proud of.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? To raise the first $1.5 million for my first start-up, FlatClub, from investors in London was not easy and this is an achievement I am proud of. It was a challenge because I had no previous experience or expertise in this particular sector, country or even with start-ups.
To be able to implement an idea, prove its success with numbers, bring on board the initial customers and close deals and then go about winning awards and raising the first series of funding was tough and exciting and an accomplishment I am very proud of.
Favorite MBA Courses? Corporate Finance and Negotiations.
Why did you choose this business school? MBAs here believe that the way forward to success is to collaborate and not compete. The culture of the school and its ethos fits my beliefs.
What did you enjoy most about business school? Learning from amazing cohort — people with diverse cultural and professional backgrounds — innovators, social entrepreneurs and future CEOs who are brilliant and talented, yet friendly.
What was the hardest part of business school? Choosing how to spend your time is one of the hardest decisions you have to make at business school. Studies, sports, societies and social life are all very attractive, but to prioritise what you want to get out of your time (and stick to that plan) can be hard. Expect hours of classes, with brilliant, engaging lecturers and a set of smart, brilliant and well-read colleagues, and then facing the dilemma of which school clubs, recruitment events, skill-enhancing workshops, lectures, social events, sport activities, debates and competitions would you like to devote your time to is tricky.
What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? Be yourself, be confident, and please be original. Your application is read by real people so please be interesting and answer questions honestly. The stereotypical MBA applicant story is often not true.
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I saw how my friends who went to top business schools benefited from the social and professional networks they created. Also, the luxury of taking out so time relatively early in my career to study, learn and re-equip my skills sounded fantastic.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…still building an early-stage businesses and volunteering as a mentor for social entrepreneurs.”
Which executive or entrepreneur do you most admire? Anita Lucia Roddick: an original entrepreneur who could build socially-conscious, profitable firms from scratch.
What are your long-term professional goals? I want to create and run a social-retail platform that could help rural entrepreneurs back home in India. I have been a journalist and travelled to some of the remotest riot-torn, militant affected and poor regions of India. I have also volunteered extensively for over seven years, working with some of the most marginalised sections of society and have witnessed and appreciate the difference that self-employment can make for people in these areas.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? My amazing, inspirational parents, my superstar husband and chatty little girls for their support, patience and the occasional kick in the butt.
Fun fact about yourself: I am professionally trained in 5 different classical Indian dances and teach fun yoga+dance workouts.
Favorite book: To Kill a Mockingbird, Gone with the Wind
Favorite movie: American Gangster, Love Story and The Godfather
Favorite musical performer:
Favourite band: Metallica
Favourite artist: Adele (for her sheer energy)
Favorite television show: I have been watching Sherlock; it’s funny and thrilling. A great adaption of the original stories.
Favorite vacation spot: Leh. Its surreal, peaceful and an amazing place to plan a bike trip to.
Hobbies? Yoga and Swimming
What made Dipika such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?
“Dipika is an extremely active member of the 2015/16 cohort, embracing the many opportunities there are to develop personally and professionally, at the same time as bringing up a young family. She consistently demonstrates how to leverage the opportunities that the Cambridge MBA has to offer, tackling unique challenges such as interviewing two of the female CEOS from our Leadership in Action series for podcasts.
Dipika has demonstrated excellent leadership skills in co-chairing the Women’s Leadership Initiative, a student-led group, which forms a large part of the School’s marketing efforts in recruiting women. She is also a considerate and collaborative team member – fundamental values of the Cambridge MBA – and has regularly shared her experience through the Cambridge MBA blog.
Dipika brings a much needed and unique perspective to the MBA and we value her contribution immensely.” — Carla Keen, MBA Marketing and Communications Coordinator, University of Cambridge, Judge Business School
DON’T MISS: CLASS OF 2016: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST GRADUATING MBAS
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University of Chicago, Booth School of Business
“An admired and beloved leader in student government, Emily drives cohort life at Booth and works tirelessly to create programming and opportunities for “Boothies” to fulfill their potential.”
Age: 30
Hometown: Edwardsville, IL (a small rural town outside of St. Louis, MO)
Education:
College of William and Mary, B.B.A., Finance (2007)
Harvard University, Graduate School of Education, Ed.M., Technology, Innovation, and Education (2014)
Where did you work before enrolling in business school? I am actually in the third year of my “create your own dual degree” program. I negotiated with Booth to defer my enrollment to accommodate both an M.B.A. and an Ed.M. from the Technology, Innovation, and Education program at Harvard. I completed the degree at Harvard first and am now finishing up the degree at Booth. Between degrees, I worked in the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) as the Education Stakeholder Strategy Lead for a visual programming language called App Inventor.
Prior to starting at Harvard, I worked at Grant Thornton LLP in the Global Public Sector Consulting Practice just outside Washington, DC. I was a Manager and supported law enforcement clients within Homeland Security. Simultaneously, I founded and served as CEO of Beltway Tutoring, a tutoring company that specialized in academic support and college prep for high school students who were matriculating to colleges as NCAA athletes, especially female lacrosse players. Beltway Tutoring grew my passion for education, and I became very interested in the possibility of leveraging technology to inexpensively accommodate personalized learning needs.
Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? I interned at McKinsey & Company in Boston, MA. I worked on two projects (one in high tech and one in clean tech).
Where will you be working after graduation? Immediately after graduation I’ll return to McKinsey & Company in Boston.
My ultimate goal is to launch another company in the ed tech sector. My research at Harvard was in adaptive algorithms/machine learning for K-12 mathematics education, that is, teaching computers to teach kids math. I want to eventually launch a company to do just this, but I feel I need more practical experience in technology strategy and also that the education industry is still a few years away from the sweet spot of robust data on student learning and algorthmic sophistication.
To work toward this goal, I plan to focus my time at McKinsey on growing my strategic and operational understanding of the technology industry while staying involved in the thriving ed tech community in Boston (this community was the key driver in my office choice).
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: I use my extracurricular time at Booth in four key ways: 1) to explore education technology from multiple lenses; 2) to push myself as an entrepreneur both through hands-on experience with ventures and getting a new perspective as an intern with VCs and PE funds; 3) to help create a fun, engaging, and supportive community for everyone at Booth to enjoy, and 4) to contribute to the Booth brand of the future.
Exploring education technology Chair, First Annual Booth-Yale Education Business Plan Competition, April 2015 One of two teams selected for the Booth Sterling Partners Investment Thesis Challenge in Education Technology (a 4-month private equity internship) Advised three venture capital ed tech funds through independent internships Won 2nd Place, 2015 Kellogg Education Case Competition (week long business plan competition) Polsky/Graduate Council grantee to attend SXSW edu 2016 Challenging myself entrepreneurially Active member of Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital (EVC), Booth Hacks, and Booth Technology student groups Co-Chair, SeedCon 2015 Napkin Pitch Competition (quick pitch competition at the annual EVC hosted start-up conference SeedCon) Director of Technology Partnerships, RiviterRiviter is a B2B retail technology start-up that offers a full suite of recommendation software tools powered by computer vision (image processing + deep machine learning). We allow retailers to recommend clothing items to customers based on actual visual similarity to other items they’ve looked at, not human-entered descriptive data on those images.
Incubated in Plug and Play in Silicon Valley in Summer 2015 Won 1st Place in the 2016 SXSW MBA Pitch Competition Won a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant through NSF’s Innovation Corps program at the Chicago Innovation Exchange (Winter 2016 cohort) Currently a semi-finalist in the 2016 Kaplan New Venture Challenge, finals are in June 2016 Product Development Advisor, cStyle Bracelets, PinkThinkPinkThink is a start up making STEM tools (hardware and software) targeted at K12 girls. The first tool was an online simulation game to teach girls the entire design and manufacturing process for nail polish. I came in to help with the second product – a physical bracelet that girls can program to light up, buzz, etc. with different sensory triggers using visual programming languages. This team also won an NSF grant through the Innovation Corps in the Winter 2015 cohort.
Team Mentor, Catapult Advisors 2015 Chicago CohortThis was one of my most rewarding experiences at Booth. Catapult Advisors is an accelerator for high school students’ start-ups. I was one of 10 Booth students selected to mentor one of the student ventures through the three-month accelerator process. It was amazing to help them learn and practice design thinking concepts and actually build a functioning product. I loved it so much I’m going back as a judge this year for the end-of-program pitch competition April 4th.
App developer, EnerLetEnerLet is currently a semi-finalist in the 2016 Social New Venture Challenge. They are launching an app that allows users to see and assess the carbon footprint of their transportation options so they can make eco-friendly decisions.
Supporting the current Booth community Student Government Vice President of Student Experience, Booth Executive Council (cabinet of six elected leaders of the Booth student government) Executive Council Lead of the Graduate Business Council (student government) Cohort, Facilities, Winter Formal, and Spring Fling committees Booth Representative, University of Chicago Graduate Council Social Committee Active member of Management Consulting student groupThis was another of my absolute favorite activities at Booth. As a first year, consulting recruiting seemed very daunting, ambiguous, and exhausting. As a second year, I loved being able to help the new first years navigate the process through coffee chats, coaching, case prep sessions, and, finally, offeree celebrations. The giving back culture is one of the best parts about being a Booth student.
Random Walk Leader. Led Random Walk China 2015 (a seven day trip for 16 first years and led by four second years pre-Orientation to help them feel welcome, excited, and prepared as well as make friendships in both classes) Actor and Singer, Booth Follies (This is our comedy skit show each Spring) Active member, Ski and Snowboard Club (fun fact: learned to ski on my first Booth ski trip and was so bad that ski patrol gave me a day of free private lessons – now I can safely say I’m intermediate and addicted!) Shaping the future Booth community Co-editor, The Booth Experience Admissions Blog Admissions Interviewer, prospective Class of 2018 Group Leader, multiple events for prospective and admitted students (we call them “First Day” and “Booth Live”) Dancer, First Day 2016 Flash Mob!Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I’m most proud of finding a way to attend both of the masters programs I felt I needed to fullfill my future goals. Cliché as it is, I feel I have to constantly remind myself of the old mantra “you don’t get what you don’t ask for.” When I was admitted to both programs, I thought I was going to need to decide between the two. The education degree is a “must have” to prosper in the industry, but after I attended the weekend for admitted students at Booth I knew I had to come here as well. I petitioned the school to defer, and my request was ultimately granted. The complement of the two degrees has exponentially increased the value I’ve gained from both. Throughout my MBA, I’ve relied on the education industry contacts, design principles, and education-specific entrepreneurship insights I gained at Harvard. The Harvard degree gave me amazing frameworks for thinking about the education industry; at Booth, I get to apply and practice those frameworks.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I feel I’ve taken full advantage of these three years to fully experiment across the ed tech sector, and especially in ed tech investing. I majored in finance in undergrad, but I hadn’t used much of my degree in my work in the public sector. As an aspiring entrepreneur, I believe that it is important to understand how investors value your company before they invest and interact with your company after. I came to Booth barely able to articulate the difference between private equity and venture capital and with a distinctly limited understanding of what investors do other than invest. To learn more about these investor roles, I applied for every education-specific internship I could find with private equity and venture capital funds. I’m most proud of the initiative I took to find not one but four internships with funds, both in sourcing and growing portfolio companies. I’m still nervous at the outset of each internship about my qualification and toolset, but I feel I’ve left each project unfathomably more knowledgeable about both investing and ed tech than I when I started it. I now have an in-depth understanding of what drives investment decisions, which has transformed the way I structure pitches and think about attracting investors.
Favorite MBA Courses? Sports Analytics (I’ve waited five quarters for this class to be offered and so far it’s even better than expected), Big Data, Taxes and Business Strategy, Managerial Cost Accounting (another surprise to me, chiefly due to another amazingly engaging professor: Joseph Gerakos)
Why did you choose this business school? Flexibility and people. I value flexibility above most else in a curriculum for two reasons: 1) selection and 2) sequencing. I attended an undergraduate business school and had already had the suite of core introductory business classes through that. There were certain areas in which I knew I needed an introductory refresher (e.g., competitive strategy) and others where I wanted to jump immediately into the more advanced topics (algorithmic marketing couldn’t come soon enough). That’s a unique advantage of the Booth model.
Sequencing is even more key. I was able to sequence my courses to take intermediate classes in my first quarter that were specifically relevant to my recruiting tracks. Thus, I could go into my internship interviews in the beginning of my second quarter with a more advanced understanding of relevant subjects.
The second reason is the people. Since my admitted students’ weekend in Chicago in 2013, I’ve continued to become more and more impressed with the students here. I think Booth attracts students who are academic, intelligent, passionate, and helpful – all excellent qualities to have in one’s classmates. A bonus is that the because of the sequencing flexibility at Booth, it’s possible to interact with 1755+ students in your classes, groups, and social events (that’s three classes of students).
What did you enjoy most about business school? Exploring different areas and activities. I’ve been able to experiment in many ways – from classes outside my comfort zone to student government which I’d never participated in before to my private equity internships. I feel like I’ve never had such an amazing opportunity to explore with such limited risk.
What was the most surprising thing about business school? The involvement of my classmates. I was really surprised by everything Booth students do. I feel more busy now than when I had a full-time job and a start-up, and I don’t think I’m unique. Every student I know seems to always be participating in a case competition or planning a conference or organizing a trek.
What was the hardest part of business school? Interest management. One downside of a flexible curriculum and an involved student body is that it is very hard to curate and manage your commitments and experience. It’s been difficult to make choices to balance the fun of exploration and a commitment to what will really help me in the future.
What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? Know “why Booth” before you apply. Booth takes a very different academic approach to the MBA than many of the other programs, and it’s important to understand what that would mean for you.
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I realized I wanted to transition to the private sector and I’d never had a client with a competitor.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…Working in my lab at MIT or designing curriculum to teach kids in K12 to code.”
What are your long-term professional goals? As mentioned above, I want to create ed tech solutions that use ever-improving artificial intelligence to improve the quality, efficacy, and affordability of after school learning.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? My paternal grandmother. My father passed away when I was little and my mom is legally blind and had some trouble dealing with my father’s death. The oldest of four children, I would call her in Florida every morning for advice on how to cook, clean, plan my goals, think about my options, and generally care for my siblings. She’s an accomplished and amazing woman, who went to college in a time when few women did and ended up a leader in the “Meals on Wheels” organization (while simultaneously raising five children). Now she coaches me through difficult professional situations, and we still talk every day.
I would also need to thank my friend Tom McGinn. He’s the first person who pointed out to me that I wouldn’t get anything if I didn’t ask.
Fun fact about yourself: I sing opera.
Favorite book: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
Favorite movie: The Sting (Paul Newman and Robert Redford)
Favorite musical performer: Taylor Swift
Favorite television show: Sherlock (BBC)
Favorite vacation spot: Melbourne Beach, FL (my grandmother’s house)
Hobbies? Fishing, running marathons (this year’s Chicago marathon was my 5th), app and web development, tutoring (especially K-12 math), home bartending, and cheering for the St. Louis Cardinals
What made Emily such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?
“An ed-tech innovator turned consultant, Emily brought her experience from MIT’s Artificial Intelligence Lab and HarvardX to the education community insider Booth (“BoothEd”) and led the first Education Business Plan Competition at the School. An admired and beloved leader in student government, Emily drives cohort life at Booth and works tirelessly to create programming and opportunities for “Boothies” to fulfill their potential.” — Stacey Kole, Clinical Professor and Deputy Dean, University of Chicago, Booth School of Business
DON’T MISS CLASS OF 2016: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST GRADUATING MBAS
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Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
“Joseph acknowledges much has been given to him and this comes with great responsibility. He is an integral member of the Tuck community, recognized for his humility, integrity, kindness and inspired leadership. He is the consummate team player in everything he does.”
Age: 34
Hometown: Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Undergraduate School and Degree: Coastal Carolina University Double major Computer Science & Mathematics
Where did you work before enrolling in business school? Professional Soccer player with: Los Angeles Galaxy, Columbus Crew, Houston Dynamo, DC United (Major League Soccer – USA) Austria Karnten – (Bundesliga, Austria), Antalyaspor (Superlig, Turkey), etc
Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? Barclays Capital, NYC
Where will you be working after graduation? Barclays Capital, NYC – Investment Banking
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School Grassroot Soccer – charity which uses the power of soccer to help curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Learning how to swim with the help of one of my classmates, who is an ex-Navy Seal.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? 2 MLS Cup Championships in the U.S. and getting the opportunity to train with the likes of Bayern Munich, Getafe and Hamburg SV in Europe.
Who is your favorite professor? Praveen Kopalle because he made a course as dry as Statistics engaging and fun.
Favorite MBA Courses? Global Economics for General Managers, Innovation Execution, Statistics, Managerial Economics and Structuring M&A
Why did you choose this business school? My interactions with Tuck and Dartmouth alumni who hold roles ranging from founding members to Board members of Grassroot Soccer made the Tuck School an easy choice to make.
What did you enjoy most about business school? The close knit culture of the school & community along with the supremely talented student body from which I learned a lot.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from business school? The importance of surrounding oneself with individuals smarter than you cannot be overstated.
What was the most surprising thing about business school? How many lifelong relationships can be made by attending a school as inclusive as Tuck.
What was the hardest part of business school? Balancing academics with recruiting, and having fun (which is important).
What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? Visit the school and experience its unique culture.
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I decided I wanted to change careers.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…involved with professional soccer in some capacity.”
Which executive or entrepreneur do you most admire? Warren Buffett mainly because of his longevity and the way he has consistently created value for his shareholders.
What are your long-term professional goals? I would like to somehow leave a mark in the Africa growth story. Professionally I see myself helping manage a leading Africa-focused investment fund of some sort but most importantly, my long term goal is create a sustainable vehicle aimed at helping Zimbabwean youth get the same opportunities that got me to where I am today.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? My family, friends and the Tuck community because I wouldn’t have had this opportunity without their help and unwavering support.
Fun fact about yourself: My Mom gave birth to me in a kraal (an enclosure for cows).
Favorite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favorite movie: Shawshank Redemption
Favorite musical performer: Jay Z, U2 and Dr. Dre
Favorite television show: Breaking Bad
Favorite vacation spot: Maldives & Cabo San Lucas
Hobbies? Anything that resemble/ involves sports
What made Joseph such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?
“Joe is a remarkable individual. From Bulawayo, Zimbabwe to playing soccer for Bayern Munich to scoring a goal in the MLS Cup championship for the Houston Dynamo (they won!) to Tuck to a career in investment banking, Joseph Ngwenya has made an impression on everyone he’s met along the way. He has lived in five different countries, working in four of them. He is truly multi-national and multi-cultural with an incredible array of personal and professional experiences that have given him a real world perspective. He is determined and resourceful, graduating from Coastal Carolina University in just 3 years. He was an academic All-American, the most decorated and successful Division 1 soccer player in the university’s history.
Perhaps Joseph’s most important on-going contribution has been as an ambassador and volunteer for Grassroots Soccer (GRS), an “international adolescent health organization that uses the power of soccer to educate, inspire, and mobilize youth in developing countries to overcome their greatest health challenges, live healthier, more productive lives and be agents for change in their communities.” Growing up in a country where at least 14% of the population is living with the HIV/AIDS, Joseph felt compelled to use his status as a former Zimbabwean national soccer team member and US professional soccer player to be a catalyst for change. He underwent an HIV test and had the results announced publicly, in a country where the stigma associated with the virus is paramount. Showing courage and dignity, his actions were inspirational to the community. Through such actions, he hopes to continue to be an advocate for positive change in his country and community, wherever he is.
Joseph acknowledges much has been given to him and this comes with great responsibility. He is an integral member of the Tuck community, recognized for his humility, integrity, kindness and inspired leadership. He is the consummate team player in everything he does and we know he will continue to be that catalyst for change, managing life’s challenges whenever they converge while helping others to do the same. He is amazing.” — Sally Jaeger, Assistant Dean and Director of the MBA Program, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth
DON’T MISS: CLASS OF 2016: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST GRADUATING MBAS
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Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth
“When Pete Mathias asked a question from the back row in our first class of the Entrepreneurial Thinking course in January 2015, I mistook him for a harsh analyst. Must be a Quant. With clarity, he asked for more insights into the business model of the new venture pitched by a Tuck alum. His voice deep. His question pointed. His bespectacled look serious.
I was wrong. Pete’s not an analyst, and he’s not harsh. He’s a Poet. A Classics major. Drummer in a hot rock band, touring the world. Co-founder of a music label. A passionate entrepreneur and MBA student.”
Age: 29
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Undergraduate School and Degree: Undergraduate: Dartmouth College (BA, Classics), Graduate School: University of Oxford (MSt, American History); Harvard Kennedy School (MPA)
Where did you work before enrolling in business school? As the drummer for Filligar, a touring American rock band. I also started a label Decade Records which brought me to b-school with my bandmate and brother Johnny, who’s also at Tuck with me.
Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? At Kin Community, a series C media company (Los Angeles).
Where will you be working after graduation? At Decade, the music/media venture I co-founded.
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:
Selected by multinational media company Bertelsmann as “a creative shaping the future of the media landscape” and invited to advise senior executives at “Talent Meets Bertelsmann” in Berlin and Madrid Founded Heartstring, a mobile music app bringing the soundtracks of the world’s finest composers to social videos (won two campus pitch competitions: Founders Grant and ‘The Pitch’) Appointed a “Student Fellow” by leading Boston VC firm .406 Ventures, a program for exceptional entrepreneurs, and subsequently serve as a business-building resource for Dartmouth startupsWhich academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? On the tour bus or in the recording studio—that’s where I was before b-school. I had virtually no business mechanics, only instincts. So when, after only a year in b-school, I was invited to give strategic guidance to senior executives at the entertainment powerhouse Bertelsmann (including the CEOs of BMG, RTL Group, and Penguin Random House), that was special for me.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Serving as a U.S. Cultural Ambassador. For the past few years the U.S. State Department has sent me all over the world with my band Filligar as representatives of American music and culture (I actually missed a week of class this winter to tour Russia).
Who is your favorite professor? When you schedule office hours with a professor and they teach you not only a Discounted Cash Flow but also the must-listen jazz drummers, that’s a special professor. Anant Sundaram (Corporate Valuation)
Favorite MBA Courses? Entrepreneurial Thinking. Private Equity Field Study. Managerial Accounting.
Why did you choose this business school? I wanted a place that would bring out the best in me—and Tuck has been exactly that. Here, I can talk to any professor, any time without appointment. I can join a Fortune 100 CEO for lunch, find funding for my startup idea, consult a leading venture capitalist on my business model, study with world-class faculty in world-class facilities, all while getting to know my entire class. It was also very important to me, as someone who has toured every American city and many more globally, to be at a business school looking outward, intellectually and strategically, to the rest of the world.
What did you enjoy most about business school? Knocking on any professor’s door and inviting their perspective on my latest ventures. At school, I have regularly met with faculty—from expert marketers, to organizational development geniuses, to venture capitalists, to corporate strategists, to data miners, to accountants and economists—who have helped elevate and inform my own enterprises.
What was the most surprising thing about business school? The tempo. Applying, two years in the classroom seems like forever. But business school flies.
What was the hardest part of business school? I started a new venture in business school, Heartstring. Time is business school’s scarce resource; if you start something like I did, difficult tradeoffs (coursework, ice hockey, formals etc.) are required.
What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? Visit. Or if that’s not possible, Skype with a current student.
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I saw the limits of venture building through trial and error. I wanted to learn business from the best and brightest faculty, the equivalent to training with a master musician rather than trying to teach myself.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…still playing music as I am now, but without any architecture supporting my long term vision of building a media institution.”
Which executive or entrepreneur do you most admire? Ryan Spaulding. He started a blog and grew it into one of the world’s best brands in music: The Outlaw Roadshow.
What are your long-term professional goals? I come from a world of making something from nothing. Being around like-minded people, focused on transforming ventures into their exciting possibilities, is a professional requirement for me.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? People who have shared their time, their attention with me over the years. You can’t be a band without an audience; you can’t be a student without a teacher. I would be anywhere without the time others invested in me.
Fun fact about yourself: I am a twin, one of five kids and we’re all in the arts/film/tv/music/media.
Favorite book: Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead. The life of a band is rich with business lessons; this text is living proof.
Favorite movie: It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Favorite musical performer: We toured with Counting Crows and watching those guys play every night was transformational. It’d be like thinking you understand global economics after an MBA macro class and then sitting down at a Federal Reserve board meeting.
Favorite television show: Portlandia
Favorite vacation spot: The recording studio.
Hobbies? Ice hockey. Freestyle skiing.
What made Peter such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?
“When Pete Mathias asked a question from the back row in our first class of the Entrepreneurial Thinking course in January 2015, I mistook him for a harsh analyst. Must be a Quant. With clarity, he asked for more insights into the business model of the new venture pitched by a Tuck alum. His voice deep. His question pointed. His bespectacled look serious.
I was wrong. Pete’s not an analyst, and he’s not harsh. He’s a Poet. A Classics major. Drummer in a hot rock band, touring the world. Co-founder of a music label. A passionate entrepreneur and MBA student.
In two of my courses during his first year, Pete demonstrated a remarkably unique combination of collaboration and conviction.
Collaboration: Pete gladly joined on to the team of a classmate’s new venture called Fliq for the Tuck First Year Project (FYP). I was the Faculty Advisor for the team, meeting with them for several hours each week for three months and iterating on their prototype development and customer tests. Working as second fiddle with a founding entrepreneur is not easy. Pete’s experience as a drummer in a band clearly paid off. He helped the Fliq founder and team keep pace and execute several experiments, leading to important changes in the app and top scores for the Fliq FYP team.
Conviction: Pete was eager to start something himself. He was eager to learn about investing, yet clear that he did not want to be just an investor. Riffing off of his passion for music, by the start of his second year, he co-founded Heartstring with his talented bandmate brothers, Teddy and Johnny, and landed a coveted two-year fellowship at venture capital firm 406 Ventures in Boston (the only MBA student accepted into their program). So often, we see MBA students expect outcomes to magically appear on their doorsteps. Not Pete. He has the vison to see opportunities and capacity to execute on them. And, by the way, Pete is simultaneously pursing a Master in Public Administration degree from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.” — Trip Davis, Executive Director, Office of Entrepreneurship & Technology Transfer, Dartmouth College
DON’T MISS: CLASS OF 2016: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST GRADUATING MBAS
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