The Fuqua School of Business video 10156841152765705
"Diverse teams end up getting to better outcomes"TIAA CEO Roger Ferguson spoke to our students about the importance of diversity and inclusion.
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth
“Whitney has a passion for creating an inspiring, inclusive, and supportive community for all. She is the “unifier” everyone wants on their team regardless of what their mission is. Her ability to listen to, organize and motivate her peers, her ability to learn and assimilate new ideas, her great sense of humor and total lack of ego make her a highly sought after teammate, mentor and colleague.”
Age: 31
Hometown: Anchorage, AK
Education: Dartmouth College, BA in Biology and Evolutionary Ecology, 2007
Where did you work before enrolling in business school?
Sequoia Capital, Strategic Marketing Lead, Spring and summer 2014 Stanford Graduate School of Business – Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, Assistant Director for Student Programs, 2011-2014 Stanford University – Alumni Relations, Marketing and Programs Officer, 2010-2011 Patagonia, Sales and Partnerships Manager, 2007-2010Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? Pete and Gerry’s Organics, Monroe, New Hampshire
Where will you be working after graduation? I am still considering several options. I am focused on mission-driven organizations in consumer products, regional economic development, and education.
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:
Tuck Centennial Award, Recipient
The Tuck Centennial Student Award, determined solely by the student body, is awarded to one first year student and one second-year student who exemplify the spirit and character of the Tuck School. The recipients are chosen based on their contemporaneous contributions to the entire Tuck community over the past school year. Nominated students should embody extensive involvement in serving both the Tuck and Upper Valley communities, firm commitment to the traditions and principles of Tuck, outstanding leadership and integrity, and selflessness in everyday actions.
Dean’s Fellow, Committee Chair on Enhancing Inclusiveness at Tuck
Selected as one of 12 second-year MBA fellows, working in partnership with the Deanery, to analyze key strategic issues with an eye toward offering insightful, actionable recommendations.
Leadership Fellow, Center for Leadership
Coach undergraduate and first-year MBA student on becoming more effective leaders through acquiring greater self-awareness, developing emotional intelligence, understanding individual biases, and practicing leadership competencies in real-time roles.
Co-Chair, Elevate Tuck Initiative
Student-led movement to enhance the diversity and inclusion of the Tuck student community through academic, extracurricular, recruitment, and communications efforts.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Over the past two years I have spearheaded Tuck’s efforts to enhance our inclusive culture. This involved recruiting key student and staff leaders from across campus, first to foster awareness, then to promote ownership, and finally to inspire action. Our initiative – known as Elevate Tuck – includes a team of 25 students have engaged allies in every corner of campus life. Working together we have ushered in a new era for Tuck. Our onboarding experience for new students has evolved, faculty are discussing new content integration, and the Deans created a strategic working group on enhancing inclusiveness.
I am most proud, however, when I see the first-year students who now take as a given their responsibility to create an inclusive experience for students of all backgrounds and interests. This work tested my creativity and dedication on a daily basis and I am grateful to my Tuck classmates who continuously gave me their time, talents, and trust to make Elevate Tuck a success.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? While working at Stanford University, I led the multi-year effort to launch the Stanford Venture Studio. This collaborate workspace for student entrepreneurs became the go-to community for graduate student entrepreneurs campus-wide, from business, engineering, medicine and education. This was a transformative leadership opportunity for me. Not only was I tasked with developing the proposal for real estate and resources, I oversaw our marketing, admissions, and programming efforts.
While my role started as workspace facilitator, it evolved into cultural architect. My focus shifted to empowering students to set Studio norms, model desired behavior for new members, plan educational events, and lead peer-to-peer support programs. One student shared, “I cannot imagine a more inspiring, supportive community than the Venture Studio” – a sentiment her peers echoed. This experience helped me realize both the importance of a strong community for the success of any new program, as well as my ability to proactively create such a culture.
Favorite MBA Courses? Leadership Out of the Box, The CEO Experience, Tools for Improving Operations, and Negotiations (the professors are key!)
Why did you choose this business school? Tuck was my top choice because of its rural setting and the people this setting attracts. Thanks to my undergraduate years at Dartmouth, I knew first-hand the impact of living within a mile radius of my classmates. Tuckies are 100% invested in the community, resulting in a tight-knit family of students, staff, and faculty. This intimate, immersive culture is precisely what I was looking for, and have found in my Tuck MBA experience. I was also excited to share my passion for the people and places of the Upper Valley with my classmates as Hanover become a part of their journey too.
What did you enjoy most about business school? The gift of time is incredible. I only spend 3 hours in class, four days a week, and the rest of the week is mine to spend how I like. Now, there are endless demands on my time – class preparation, quality time with my husband, Elevate Tuck meetings – but the choice is always mine. Once I learned that I didn’t have to let a calendar of events rule my life I was liberated. Business school is all about the opportunity to decide what is most important to you, and you alone, and go after it for two full years. This is incredibly empowering for me.
What was the hardest part of business school? Saying “no” to activities, assignments and people who you genuinely want to give your time to (emphasis on the fact that you do want to do these things!) Carefully selecting what you give your most precious resources (your time) to is essential in business school, and indeed in general management as well.
What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? Bring a good pair of hiking boots and a warm coat. Not because you’ll definitely need them to get to classes (although you might), but because they will enable many of the most meaningful memories you’ll have with you classmates – sharing new experiences together in the woods and mountains of New Hampshire!
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I realized the experience is as much, if not more about leadership than it is about any particular business discipline.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…learning on the job with a small, growth-stage company.”
What are your long-term professional goals? I am committed to working with mission-driven organizations. Through my 7 years of work experience prior to Tuck, I have learned that culture and organizational fit are by far the most important factors for my career satisfaction, drive, and success. This means that I can be flexible on the industry and the function. Indeed, that is what my Tuck MBA has prepared me for – exercising my versatile skill set in a variety of roles throughout my career. Bring on the journey!
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I have tremendous gratitude for my husband, Andrew. His steadfast support in the face of late nights, piles of family chores, and never-ending demands on my time is nothing short of heroic. He followed me back to New Hampshire for business school and I couldn’t have survived, let alone thrived in this experience without him.
Fun fact about yourself: After I accepted my Tuck offer I spent the month of February rafting 277 miles through the Grand Canyon on a self-guided trip with a dozen college friends. Life rarely hands you chances for adventures like this – you have to create them.
Favorite book: This year, Endurance about Ernest Shackleton’s voyage to cross the Antarctic continent. It combines my love of wilderness adventure with a tale of teamwork in the most trying of circumstances.
Favorite movie: The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
The one thing you needed to stay sane in business school: Eight hours of sleep, every night (almost). This meant saying “no” to a lot of late night activities, but this allowed me to be the best version of myself each day.
Favorite musical performer: Chvrches
Favorite television show: Currently Aziz Ansari’s Master of None.
Favorite vacation spot: Anywhere that the mountains meet the sea – Alaska (home state), Chile, New Zealand, Norway.
Hobbies? Cross country skiing, cycling, paper crafts, hiking through the woods with my dog Ueli, baking my way through the King Arthur Flour cookbook.
What made Whitney such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?
“Whitney has a passion for creating an inspiring, inclusive, and supportive community for all. She is the “unifier” everyone wants on their team regardless of what their mission is. Her ability to listen to, organize and motivate her peers, her ability to learn and assimilate new ideas, her great sense of humor and total lack of ego make her a highly sought after teammate, mentor and colleague. I hear time and time again from the T’17s “Whitney is absolutely amazing” or “Whitney is incredible” or “Let’s ask Whitney what she thinks.” Her leadership style is such that she consistently enables others to strive and do great things. It is not about her accomplishments, it’s all about how others are able to experience success.
She brings her extraordinary background to everything she does. She’s experienced wilderness travel to 36 countries/7 continents. She grew up in Alaska and was a member of Dartmouth College’s NCAA championship Nordic ski team. She created Stanford University’s first on-campus incubator for student entrepreneurs called The Venture Studio. Once at Tuck, she brought her passion for people to “Elevate Tuck.” our premier student initiative to foster community and inclusion throughout the school. Her thoughtful leadership and humble approach to asking tough questions of herself and others led her to being named a Dean’s Fellow, leading a student, faculty, and staff task force on diversity and inclusion.
In my 23 years at Tuck, I have encountered few students who have been able to galvanize and inspire the Tuck community on such important issues as Whitney has done. She is so highly respected by her peers and it is for this reason she was awarded the Tuck Centennial Student Award at the end of her first year. The Centennial Student Award is the only award at Tuck determined solely by the student body and is given to one first year and one second year student who exemplify the spirit and character of the Tuck School. They embody extensive involvement in serving both the Tuck and Upper Valley communities, firm commitment to the traditions and principles of Tuck, outstanding leadership and integrity, and selflessness in everyday actions. This is Whitney Flynn. She is awesome.” — 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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University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School
“Brittany Gulledge is one of those rare individuals who works as many hours on extracurricular leadership activities as she does on her academics – and does a stellar job on both.”
Age: 27
Hometown: Mooresville, N.C.
Education:
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.S. in Chemistry and Biology
University of California at San Francisco, M.S. in Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Where did you work before enrolling in business school? Biogen Idec, Associate Scientist II
Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? GlaxoSmithKline, Durham, N.C.
Where will you be working after graduation? GlaxoSmithKline, Esprit Associate
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:
2014-2016 Having it All Summit to Guide Women from Surviving to Thriving, Director of Logistics
2014-2016 Dean’s Fellows Program – Honor reserved for select fellowship recipients
2014-2016 Carolyn and Harold Anderson Premier Fellowship – Full tuition and stipend
2014-2016 Fortѐ Foundation Fellow
2014-2015 UNC Kenan-Flagler Marketing Fellow
2014-2015 Healthcare Club, Learning & Development Liaison
2014-2015 International Business Association, Learning & Development Liaison
2014-2015 UNC Kenan-Flagler PRIDE Club, Learning & Development Liaison
2015-2016 Healthcare Club, President
2015-2016 International Business Association, Vice President of Learning & Development
2015-2016 UNC Kenan-Flagler PRIDE Club, Vice President of Corporate Relations
2015-2016 Business Communication Center, Consultant
2015-2016 Career Mentor
2015 Teaching Assistant for Data Analytics and Decision Making
2015 Tillman Legacy, Karaoke Lead
2016 Beta Gamma Sigma Member – the premier honor society recognizing business excellence
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am most proud of my role as the Healthcare Club president. I have been able to lead our 11 VPs and Directors, 26 Liaisons, and more than 130 club members in exploring the healthcare industry and preparing for recruiting and work within the industry. This has been my favorite leadership position at UNC Kenan-Flagler because it has allowed me to grow as a leader and impact many students who want to dedicate their lives to saving the lives of others. I am extremely passionate about the healthcare industry, and it has been an absolute joy to work with others who share my passion. During my term, we have had the opportunity to launch six new programs to further healthcare education and recruiting within our school. I absolutely could not have accomplished any of this without my dedicated team.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am most proud of receiving a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF-GRF) because it was my biggest failure and greatest achievement. This extremely prestigious academic award is given to the top scientific graduate students in the country with $130K in funding. Graduate researchers qualify to apply for an NSF-GRF for three years. I applied for this fellowship three years in a row and failed twice. When I failed the first year, I was determined to do everything that I could my second year to get the fellowship. I worked harder on that application than I had on any application in my life. When I was not awarded the fellowship my second year, I went a step further and asked for advice and help from two colleagues who had received the award, who I did not have access to the previous year. Then, I pushed my own personal boundaries to work even harder on my application the third year. I was awarded the NSF-GRF on my third application cycle. I am most proud of this achievement because of the hard work I put in to achieve it and that I refused to give up.
Favorite MBA Courses? Corporate Reputation Management; Smart Leaders, Smarter Teams; Leading in the Middle; Sales; Negotiations; Gender in the Workplace
Why did you choose this business school? I wanted a place that aligned with my own values and I really like the core values at UNC Kenan-Flagler. Meeting with the MBAs here and hearing about their experiences are what sold me. Everyone at UNC Kenan-Flagler really loves it here. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to be surrounded by students who want to be successful not only for themselves but to make a positive impact in the world.
What did you enjoy most about business school? I knew that I wanted to make an impact in the school by helping in whatever ways I could. I asked my husband recently to define who I am as a person. One thing he said is, “You love to help others and will help anyone who asks for it.”
I’ve found a few ways where I have been fortunate enough to contribute to our school, and these have been the most rewarding experiences of my time at business school. Noticing the cultural divide between domestic and international students, I launched UNC Kenan-Flagler Sunday Dinners, a program that provides opportunities for international and American students to meet outside of school to share a meal and learn about other cultures. I also had the opportunity to serve as a mentor, coach, and teacher through my leadership positions of Business Communication Center Consultant, Career Mentor, and Data Analytics and Decision Making TA. Every week, I spend about 12 hours providing feedback to students, whether that is through meetings about networking, interviewing, resumes, cover letters, business writing, or presentation skills, through giving career advice, or through grading. The help that I provide students through these leadership positions gives me so much energy and enthusiasm for my time here at UNC Kenan-Flagler! I receive a thank you note for my feedback almost every day, which gives me so much joy for the impact I am able to have!
What is the biggest lesson you gained from business school? The biggest lesson I have learned at UNC Kenan-Flagler is how to be a better leader. I have focused my classes on learning soft skills to develop myself as a better leader, and I can already see it paying off. I am a much better leader than I was last year and a much better leader than I was three months ago. I am on a mission and a journey here at school to get as far as I can in my development as a future leader. In our Elected Leaders course, we were presented with four things a good manager provides his/her employees: compassion, stability, hope, and trust. I want to be a leader that provides all of those qualities to employees. In addition, I want to be an empowering leader who inspires and motivates those around me. I was very lucky to have a manager just like that during my summer internship at GlaxoSmithKline, and her manager was the same way. It was a fantastic summer, and I am working diligently toward that goal of becoming that kind of manager myself. My next step is the Leadership Immersion Capstone, an intense six-week course that offers a unique opportunity to synthesize and deepen your mastery of the core leadership principles through intensive application, experiential learning, individualized feedback, and reflection. I know it will be a long journey to continually push myself to improve and grow as a leader throughout my career, and I will continue to strive for it.
What was the most surprising thing about business school? The most surprising thing about business school is the amount of learning that happens outside of the classroom. I have been fortunate to hold many leadership positions at UNC Kenan-Flagler and by seeking feedback, and mentoring others through their personal and work challenges, I have learned about myself, communication, crisis management, stress, life, happiness, community, and so much more. I am a different person than I was when I entered into business school. I used to be proud of who I am, but I could never have imagined how much I would grow and evolve over the last two years. I have pushed myself beyond my limits into someone that I never thought I could be, and I am so proud of that.
What was the hardest part of business school? The hardest part of business school is also the most rewarding. It is the hard work that each of us does to learn more about what makes us tick: our strengths and weaknesses, our likes and dislikes, how we learn and grow. This is a critical part of becoming a business leader. It is hard to examine yourself so closely and take a hard look at your weaknesses and flaws, but the reward is priceless.
What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? At UNC Kenan-Flagler, we pride ourselves on our culture, which is defined by our core values: excellence, teamwork, integrity, community, and leadership. Make sure you spend a lot of time showing who you are and what you value in your essays and interview. It’s all about the right fit.
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when… I was halfway through my PhD program at UCSF and saw that, as a business leader in healthcare, I could use my scientific knowledge and business acumen to improve the communication between scientists and business executives to have a huge impact on patients’ lives.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be scuba diving around the world and volunteering at healthcare non-profits.”
What are your long-term professional goals? My long-term professional goal is to become a leader in the field of healthcare so that I can save and improve the quality of as many people’s lives as possible.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I want to thank my husband, Matthew Gulledge, for his unwavering support of me for over a decade. He has moved several times for my career and believed in me more than anyone else. He would never let me give up on my dreams.
Fun fact about yourself: I love learning about other cultures and have had the opportunity to travel to 23 countries around the world so far with many more to come.
Favorite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant
Favorite movie: I Am Sam
Favorite musical performer: Cam
Favorite television show: Friends
Favorite vacation spot: Blackbird Caye, Belize
Hobbies? Scuba diving, dancing, basketball, swimming, and traveling
What made Brittany such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?
“Brittany Gulledge is one of those rare individuals who works as many hours on extracurricular leadership activities as she does on her academics – and does a stellar job on both. She is passionate and enthusiastic about bringing together people of different cultures and fostering learning about the changing field of healthcare. She has worked tirelessly to accomplish both in her two years at UNC Kenan-Flagler. As a soon-to-be “double Tar Heel,” Brittany was the valedictorian of her undergraduate UNC class, scored a 770 on the GMAT, and became a Dean’s Fellow at UNC Kenan-Flagler based on her strong admissions application. (The Dean’s Fellow Program was established for the 10 percent of a class and offers leadership and service opportunities that enable them to give back to the School.).
Coincidentally, five years ago, a team of Dean’s Fellows served on a consulting project team that developed a strategy for increasing the pool of talented women applying to UNC Kenan-Flagler. After months of extensive research, the team presented three primary takeaways, the most significant being that UNC Kenan-Flagler should create a healthcare concentration given student interest (particularly among women), the number of healthcare companies recruiting at UNC Kenan-Flagler, and UNC’s overall expertise in healthcare. Brittany Gulledge was just the type of student that UNC Kenan-Flagler was looking to attract.
During her first year, Brittany took on many projects for the Healthcare Club and the International Business Association (IBA). She became president of the Healthcare Club and VP of the IBA, one of the few domestic students to take on such a role.
As Healthcare Club president, she planned and executed on a very successful Healthcare Conference, grew club membership to nearly 200 members, and co-coordinated a Healthcare Development Program to prep students for internships and full-time positions in the field. Her many successes as president of this club earned her a MBA Student Association Leadership Award.
As IBA vice president, Brittany created a Sunday Night Dinners Program that connects domestic and international students to learn about each other’s cultures over a relaxed dinner. This idea came out of her hosting a number of holiday dinners during her first year and finding that it was one of the best ways to get to know other students and their cultures. This program will be one of Brittany’s lasting impacts at UNC Kenan-Flagler.” — Sridhar Balasubramanian (Dr. B), Associate Dean of the MBA Program, University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School
DON’T MISS: CLASS OF 2016: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST GRADUATING MBAS
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University of Michigan, Ross School of Business
“Ross just wouldn’t be Ross without Lily. She has been a champion for groups of students and has rallied to get new programs to make the student experience even better. She is passionate about social impact, positive business, and diversity, and it shows in her commitment and enthusiasm.”
Age: 30
Hometown: Silver Spring, MD
Education: Middlebury College, BA in Environmental Studies (History focus)
Where did you work before enrolling in business school? Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, Volunteer Coordinator and Human Resources Developer
Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? I did two: General Motors and MBAs Across America
Where will you be working after graduation? TBD
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:
– Frank Moran Distinguished Leadership Award (2016, Student elected)
– Leadership roles: VP of Special Projects for Detroit Revitalization and Business Club; VP of Alumni Relations for Net Impact at Ross; Liaison for Ross Chapter of Consortium for Graduate Study in Management (CGSM); +Lab Fellow, Ross Leaders Academy Fellow, elected president of Section 6
– Community work: Detroit Impact project at Henry Ford Learning Academy; convened conversations at Ross administration level to optimize Ross-Detroit relationship and build a more strategic approach to community engagement; volunteered to support emerging small businesses and women entrepreneurs outside of any club or class; part of a team implementing MBAs Across America as a Ross program going forward to create pathways for more students to engage with social enterprises; RLA project supports a youth owned and operated radio station getting off the ground in Detroit; supported SGA leaders in putting on Ross’s first Diversity Week celebrating our multicultural community; organized a summit of alumni in impact careers from around the country to guide current students exploring that path at Ross.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am most proud of the impact careers summit I organized via Net Impact this fall. I know first-hand how difficult it is to navigate a non-traditional career path in business school and I wanted others to see the great opportunities in the impact space via alumni who are out there doing impressive work. I managed the project from start-to- finish, and it was a great moment for the Ross impact community to come together and realize the momentum it had, in spite of lacking the same institutional support that traditional careers necessarily have.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Thus far, I am most proud of the year I spent working for ARCH in India. I was alone in a completely foreign place and I built relationships that not only helped my project succeed, but helped me thrive in that place personally. Across many cultural, language, and lifestyle differences, I was able to truly connect with people in my small town and surrounding villages in a genuine way that affected all of us deeply. I will never see the world the same way because of those relationships.
Who is your favorite professor? This is a hard choice. I am going to say Venky Nagar because he has taught me to think holistically about business problems. He has also opened my eyes to a lot of thought leadership on a variety of business topics. I appreciate that his courses are simultaneously philosophical and practical.
Favorite MBA Courses? Surprisingly to me, some of my favorite courses have been in accounting. I liked ACC 564 with Dr. Dave and ACC 650 with Venky. I also really appreciated Intrapreneurship with Professors White and Davis, Supply Chain Management with Damian Beil, and Services Marketing with John Branch.
Why did you choose this business school? I only looked at schools that I thought were walking the walk in terms of opportunities to explore and learn about the intersection of business and social change. There are a handful of schools that do that, but I chose Ross because of the people here. As one prospective student recently put it, “Ross is a place where you can get a world class MBA and be a human being at the same time.” The thing I cherish most here is my classmates.
What did you enjoy most about business school? As someone with a non-business background, I learned a ton every day, which was thrilling and valuable. The thing I enjoyed most, though, was meeting some of the smartest, brightest, most passionate and inspiring people I’ll ever meet — my classmates. I hope some of them will remain colleagues and friends for life.
What was the most surprising thing about business school? Everything is always changing and we each have the power to change the game — to really think about the future we want to see and to shape our teams, organizations, products, and outcomes for the better.
What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? Be yourself, and come ready to engage. Ross is a place where you can be a human being and get a world class education at the same time, and, as in life, you get out what you put in.
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I saw a job posting for a community engagement roll with a small consulting firm and realized the impact I could potentially have in the private sector with my passions, experiences, and expertise….but I needed more to get there.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…not as well informed or equipped to engage multiple sectors on solving the problems of our generation, and also not connected to the amazing Ross network.”
Which executive or entrepreneur do you most admire? I admire many people for different reasons. I appreciate people who are taking a stand on something and changing the status quo to benefit us all, like Mark Benioff (Salesforce) encouraging corporate philanthropy in the Bay Area or Sebastian Jackson (Social Club Grooming) encouraging real dialogue in communities starting like Detroit.
What are your long-term professional goals? To connect multiple sectors on solving our world’s biggest challenges.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I owe a big thanks to my husband, John. He has given me countless rides to school, taken up cooking and made me many meals, and been extremely patient, forgiving and understanding through an intense experience. I owe a lot of my success at Ross to having someone fully support me like that.
Fun fact about yourself: I sing and play trumpet in our school’s rock band, Risky Business
Favorite book: The BFG
Favorite movie: The Fall
Favorite musical performer: Do I have to pick?! Ladysmith Black Mambazo never fails to move me
Favorite television show: TV? What’s that?
Favorite vacation spot: Since moving to Michigan, it’s gotta be somewhere warm. I like to see new places, so I can’t choose one.
Hobbies? I perform with Ross’ own rock band, Risky Business. This is by far my most fun activity in business school.
What made Lily such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?
“Ross just wouldn’t be Ross without Lily. She has been a champion for groups of students and has rallied to get new programs to make the student experience even better. She is passionate about social impact, positive business, and diversity, and it shows in her commitment and enthusiasm. As a leader, she channels her energy into areas where she can make a meaningful impact. This year, she led efforts to create a specific conference on impact careers. She has been a unifying force across many groups of students, and she makes an incredible effort to be inclusive. She takes time to understand someone else’s point of view, and she has deep empathy for others’ experiences.” — Heather Byrne, Managing Director, Full-Time MBA Program, University of Michigan, Ross School of Business
DON’T MISS: CLASS OF 2016: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST GRADUATING MBAS
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Indiana University, Kelley School of Business
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when I was reading the umpteenth action movie script and I realized that not much was changing in the creative development of our movies. What was changing was the business around the movies we were making and that caught my interest.”
Age: 28
Hometown: Indianapolis, IN
Education: University of Southern California – B.S. – Corporate Finance; Minor – Cinematic Arts, Critical Studies
Where did you work before enrolling in business school? Feature Development Coordinator & Advisor, Office of the CEO, Skydance Productions, LLP, Los Angeles, CA
Motion Picture Literary Trainee, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, Beverly Hills, CA
Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? Corporate Strategy Intern, Cummins, Inc., Columbus, IN
Where will you be working after graduation? Senior Consultant, Strategy & Operations, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Chicago, IL
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School Merit Fellowship, Dean’s Student Satisfaction Task Force Lead, Professional Development Chair, Arts & Culture Chair, Hoosier Host, Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation Graduate Assistant, CORE Strategy Graduate Assistant
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I was asked to join a task force assembled by the deans of the business school, and we were entrusted with identifying ways in which the administration and faculty could improve student satisfaction within the MBA program. I led a team of six talented classmates to provide recommendations to the deans which were warmly received and resulted in the development of a new student entity, the Dean’s Insight Board. This self-sustaining team of selected students will implement necessary change, measure results, and craft future recommendations for continual improvement. In addition to the pride I feel by leading a team that built something valuable that will outlive our time at Kelley, I grew closer to all of my classmates in a unique way.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? While it is going way back, I applied for the opportunity to live and work on Capitol Hill for a semester as a U.S. Senate Page when I was sixteen years old. I’m proud that I took what I considered to be a risk, and I applied for the position. To my surprise, I was selected for the job and subsequently took a massive step outside of my comfort zone which was transformative for me. I matured considerably as I developed my understanding of professionalism; I developed a new level of independence, living in a city far from home; and I tested my level of comfort and found that risk-taking can lead to great experiences. However, the most profound impact it had on me was in resizing my world. Working on the floor of the U.S. Senate everyday, as a sixteen-year old, showed me that there was no such thing as a world outside of my reach.
Favorite MBA Courses? Brand Asset Management, Strategy, and Financial Statement Analysis
Why did you choose this business school? Beyond bringing me back home to the Midwest, I knew that Kelley offered the right cultural fit for me. After meeting students and faculty, I observed that the school’s tight-knit and welcoming community would be the right place for the personal and professional transformations I sought. I’m thankful that I made the right decision.
What did you enjoy most about business school? My professional community, prior to school, was pretty homogenous. Working in Hollywood, everyone was connected through an interest in film. At business school, I met and became close with people from a variety of backgrounds, with a variety of interests. Particularly at Kelley, my experience was that, despite our different life experiences, there was a culture of mutual respect and admiration that made everyone warm and accessible. As a result, I learned so much through my classmates, and we had so much fun in the process.
What was the hardest part of business school? There’s a feeling of intense pressure and expectation around recruiting. So many recruiting interactions are inorganic, evaluative, and hard to analyze accurately. I felt like I was trying to mask my discomfort with confidence, and that internal struggle was a real challenge for me.
What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? Be honest, open-minded, and ambitious. Take time to self-reflect and try to identify what you can do and what you want to do. If Kelley connects those two things for you – the essays will practically write themselves.
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I was reading the umpteenth action movie script and I realized that not much was changing in the creative development of our movies. What was changing was the business around the movies we were making and that caught my interest.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…working as a creative development executive at a media company in Los Angeles.”
What are your long-term professional goals? Five years ago I was working at a talent agency, not thinking about consulting at all. Since then, I’ve worked on a number of movies, traveled internationally, met some heroes of mine, moved across the country, and completely pivoted my professional direction. At the end of the day, I want an interesting life that’s seen as a benefit to the world and my professional trajectory will always be shaped by that.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? My parents for showing what it’s like to work and live with integrity (They also loved me and sent me to great schools, which helps). My siblings, who are always showing me how to be better. And my friends for impressing humility – like inevitably mentioning that I shouldn’t be offering thanks for “success” quite yet.
Fun fact about yourself: An ancestor of mine, Thomas Stone, signed the Declaration of Independence.
Favorite book: On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Favorite movie: Casino
Favorite musical performer: Bob Dylan
Favorite television show: The Wire
Favorite vacation spot: Cartagena, Colombia
Hobbies? Running, swimming, rock climbing, eating & drinking with friends, and traveling, when possible.
What made H. Kyle such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?
“I find it interesting that Kyle chose On the Road as his favorite book, because one of my favorite Jack Kerouac quotes from that novel sums up my thoughts on him perfectly – “I liked him; not because he was a good sort, as he later proved to be, but because he was enthusiastic about things.” Kyle’s insatiable curiosity may only be surpassed as his greatest quality by his infectious energy. Both were always on display while he was at Kelley, and that’s why we’ll miss him so much.
Kyle’s curiosity drove him to take advantage of every opportunity to improve himself while in our program. With a non-traditional background in entertainment he could have easily focused on “soft-skill” courses and majors and cruised through his MBA. But he didn’t – he intentionally chose to focus on business analytics and enroll in the most difficult finance classes because he wanted to maximize his stretch. He simply had to test his limits. He joined the consulting academy to grow his logical thinking and project management skills; he joined the leadership academy to improve his ability to coach others and develop high performing teams; he took a personal visioning class and a mindful leadership class to engage in deeper self-reflection. He even started an incubator to help students better access university resources because he wanted to know if he could improve the system. Kyle never missed an opportunity to learn and grow.
Despite his many commitments and the difficulty of his choices, he always kept smiling – in fact, he embraced every challenge with a skip in his step. Kyle possessed an energy and a passion that showed up in everything he did, and it improved the culture around the program. He tackled case interview preparation with ferocity; he kept his classmates motivated during a leadership development exercise after 6 hours of being in the forest at night; and he was like a kid on Christmas morning during a mindful leadership retreat. My favorite “Kyle” moment came during a leadership academy training event when we were talking about the importance of presence in coaching – Kyle gave an impassioned monologue about we all have the ability to choose our attitude and choose how we affect others. It was like listening to Herb Brooks talk to the U.S. “Miracle” hockey team, and it fired everybody up – including the facilitators. A full round of applause followed, and his classmates still tell me about how they think of that moment when coaching their mentees.
Kyle is very deserving of his selection as a Poets & Quants “Best and Brightest” MBA, as he is certainly one of the best and brightest students I have had the pleasure of getting to know.” — Eric Johnson, Director of Graduate Career Services, Indiana University, Kelley School of Business
DON’T MISS: CLASS OF 2016: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST GRADUATING MBAS
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Indiana University, Kelley School of Business
“Sam Edwards is simply an outstanding young leader…He approaches life with a tenacity and focus that’s special among MBA students. Sam demands excellence of himself and of others around him, always.”
Age: 35
Hometown: Miami, FL
Undergraduate School and Degree: North Carolina State University (BS Business Management Finance)
Where did you work before enrolling in business school? University of Miami Health System, Senior Healthcare Contracting Analyst
Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? General Mills (Associate Marketing Manager, Intern), Minneapolis Minnesota
Where will you be working after graduation? General Mills, Associate Marketing Manager
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School Chair, Alumni Relations Committee; Liaison, Consortium for Graduate Studies in Management; ABM advisor, Consumer Marketing Academy Project (General Mills client); Tutor for all MBA CORE subjects; Fellowship recipient, Consortium for Graduate Studies in Management; Allyn Curry MBA Fellowship; Patricia W. Mulholland MBA Diversity Leadership Award
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am most proud of the Patricia W. Mulholland Diversity Leadership Award for several reasons. The first reason is that Ms. Mulholland’s legacy is a very important one for the Kelley School. She was previously the admissions director of the school. While in this capacity, she worked extremely hard to craft the best classes possible while ensuring that opportunities were available to underrepresented minorities. I am extremely honored to have my name next to hers. Secondly, and no less important, this award was voted on by my peers. My classmates saw fit to vote for me to have this award because of my efforts to give back to the community. For that I am profoundly humbled and grateful.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? The year prior to starting business school, the University of Miami Health System was embroiled in a fee-for-service managed care contract negotiation with its largest book of business. The negotiation hadn’t progressed for several months until I was able to craft a deal that financially rewarded the investments that the system made in future treatments and brought down payment rates on routine services. The result was a 7% increase in base payments for the next fiscal year, while making care more affordable for everyday services.
Who is your favorite professor? This is a tough question, because I do not have just one favorite professor. I have had many professors at Kelley that I regard highly and many professors whose in class material I will reference for years to come. However, if I were forced to name one, it would be Neil Morgan. His Marketing Strategy and Brand Asset Management courses are among the very best in-classroom experiences I have had in my MBA. I would have to say that for the work I will be doing post MBA, these courses will be in the top five of most relevant.
Favorite MBA Courses? Brand Asset Management, Marketing Strategy, Pricing, Market Based Analysis, Developing Strategic Capabilities, The Firm in the Capital Markets, Marketing Strategy Practicum (Academy Project), Foundations Core!
Why did you choose this business school? I chose Kelley for a few reasons. One is that I am a career switcher in the purest sense. I wanted to switch from the world of managed care in the US healthcare system into brand management. I knew that I would need a dedicated curriculum and intensive training to make this happen, and the Academy system at Kelley was the answer to this problem. Secondly, I hadn’t been in a classroom full time for years. I wanted to jump back in immerse myself in the relevant subjects early, and the integrated Foundations Core of the Kelley school allows for this. It also allows for the early choice of electives to tailor the MBA for your summer internship, which was important to me as well. Finally, I wanted to be in an environment that allowed me to feel at home and to be able to say I know all of my classmates and they know me. I have that in spades here at Kelley.
What did you enjoy most about business school? I enjoyed building lifelong relationships with my classmates and with students from other schools that I met along the way. From the pre-MBA journey of the GMAT and applications to classrooms, projects, homework, tailgating, Assembly Hall, Sports, and Frat Castle, I have enjoyed this entire experience and wouldn’t have it any other way! Business school is such a unique environment. I can’t say that any aspect of it was not enjoyable.
What was the most surprising thing about business school? What surprised me the most was how much of a tailored experience this process truly is. There are so many opportunities out there for top MBAs to go after. There are so many disciplines to study that one could get lost in the shuffle without clear and defined goals and objectives.
What was the hardest part of business school? This answer dovetails with the previous one. For me, hands down, the hardest part of business school was the fear of missing out. I think all MBAs deal with this fear to some degree, whether it is fear of not going down a certain career path, or of not taking advantage of this opportunity or another. I think being very clear about your objective and what you want to accomplish is the only thing that alleviates this, and the Me, Inc. curriculum at Kelley seeks to provide us with this clarity early. It has certainly helped me get through this fear.
What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? My best advice to students applying to Kelley is to know that your application will be viewed as a narrative. So be very clear about what your story is and how the story should end. Additionally, all applicants have a set of skills and experiences that are unique. The applicant’s task is to tell the story of how their skills, experiences, and background along with an MBA from Kelley will allow them to do X or Y. It is also critical to show how this program and its culture is the best fit for you and your goals.
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I was sitting in a meeting with senior leaders of the University of Miami Health System discussing plans to react to the Affordable Care Act and I realized that 1) I was the only person in the room without an MBA and 2) that although I enjoyed the strategy generation exercise that was going on, I wasn’t 100% fulfilled in the job; I wanted more.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…sitting on the beach in Miami Florida ideating on ways to make consumers of healthcare services more informed of price and outcomes of their chosen providers.”
What are your long-term professional goals? I am very passionate about solving problems for consumers and building lasting businesses. This is why a career in brand management is so appealing to me. Long term, I hope to marry the two together to alleviate pain points for consumers in a profitable manner.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I would like to thank my family, friends, and coworkers, more specifically, Elizabeth Baker, William Bartlett, Julie Rowell, and my parents. At different times in my journey, I did not think I was going to get to this point. Each person in their own way encouraged me to do this and believed in me. For that alone, I thank them.
Fun fact about yourself: When I was an infant, my family and I were taking a road trip when we got into a horrific car accident. An eighteen wheeler truck crashed into us from behind. The spot in the car where my car seat was buckled in was completely smashed in; the great news for me was that I was not in my car seat. Apparently my sister, Sondra, decided to take me out of my car seat to play with me, against my parent’s instructions. If it weren’t for that act, I would not be here. So thanks sis!
Favorite book: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Favorite movie: Inception
Favorite musical performer: Kanye West
Favorite television show: Game of Thrones
Favorite vacation spot: Barcelona, Spain
Hobbies? Playing golf badly, riding a Harley, reading a good book
What made Sam such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?
“Sam Edwards is simply an outstanding young leader, and I could not be more proud of him as a Kelley MBA. He approaches life with a tenacity and focus that’s special among MBA students. Sam demands excellence of himself and of others around him, always. What I loved most about working with Sam was his willingness to hear tough feedback and grow – maybe after displaying a little bit of that tenacity first! Sam was fearless in how he chose to approach business problems, leaning-in to find creative solutions, and displaying ownership to make the execution happen. Sam’s passion and commitment show every day through his Graduate Assistant work with fellow MBA Consortium students – making everyone around him better than they were before. I know Sam will be a leader in the world of consumer marketing, or whatever else he chooses to do, for years to come!” — Ray Luther, Executive Director, MBA Program, Indiana University, Kelley School of Business
DON’T MISS: CLASS OF 2016: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST GRADUATING MBAS
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Cambridge Judge Business School
“I would describe very few people in our program as normal, or typical and that is an environment I feel very at home in. I don’t believe there are many tall-ship sailing, gay, Canadian, circus performing, engineers around – and yet it seems that everyone I’ve met has a background just as fascinating (if not more so!) than me. The diversity and variety of perspectives my colleagues brought is irreplaceable, and I know that the friends I’m making will be with me for a very long time.”
Age: 26
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Education: University of British Columbia; Bachelor of Applied Science – Integrated Engineering, Minor in Commerce
Where did you work before enrolling in business school? GableCraft Homes; Two roles Project Manager (May 2012 – March 2015), then Special Projects (March 2015 – August 2015). Based in Vancouver and Calgary, Canada.
Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? No Internship in 2015 (one-year MBA program)
Where will you be working after graduation? Role not yet confirmed. Currently in discussions regarding an Operations Management role in a Cambridge-based biotechnology company, as well as options in a similar role with a startups based in Cambridge and San Francisco
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School
Executive Director – TEDxOxbridge (annual conference organised jointly with Oxford and Cambridge business schools, targeting audience of 450) Regional Finalist (Dubai) – Hult Business Prize Competition (Social Innovation business plan competition) Tutor/Mentor for ETECH Undergraduate Course (Course for final year undergraduates focusing on how to turn a technology into a company) Co-Chair of Entrepreneurship Special Interest Group (MBA Special Interest Group bringing together entrepreneurial-minded students for workshops and round tables) Internet of Things and Smart City Venture Creation Weekend; 2nd Place Cambridge University Entrepreneurs, £100 for 100 Words Competition WinnerWhich academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? To date, being selected as a mentor for the undergraduates is a highlight of the program; there is something extremely fulfilling about being able to work with, motivate and mentor undergraduates with the skills I am developing in the MBA program. Directing the TEDxOxbridge conference is also a massive honour and responsibility (as well as a lot of fun!), but given the event hasn’t happened yet, it feels a bit early to claim it as the one I’m most proud of.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Organising the inaugural International Engineering Competition in Canada stands out as a highlight for me; partially because it had never been done before, and involved working with a spectacular team from across Canada to bring Engineering teams from across Canada, the US and Europe to compete.
Who is your favorite professor? Potentially because she is a like-minded, operations-brained person, Jane Davies (also the Director of our Program) has been one of my favorite professors so far. I’ve taken two classes with her now, and I have rarely met a professor so student-focused and willing to adapt anything she does to better help the class.
Favorite MBA Courses? To continue the trend, Operations Management (largely because Jane Davies was teaching it) was definitely a highlight; it was interesting, engaging, and helped me solidify that a role in operations was a pathway I wanted to take. Our core Negotiation Skills course was also a standout — every class was a little theory, a lot of application and practice, and reflection to help you grow. It struck a perfect balance.
Why did you choose this business school? Moving to Cambridge was my first step to a more global perspective. I’d never lived outside of Canada and, when I travelled there for my interview, was a place I quickly fell in love with. The amount of history you become quickly immersed in thanks to the 800 year old university it is a part of, affords experiences I wouldn’t have expected. Formal halls, old stone architecture, college legends, and sporting traditions contrast beautifully with the modern MBA program which is still young enough to evolve with our cohort.
What did you enjoy most about business school? I would describe very few people in our program as normal, or typical and that is an environment I feel very at home in. I don’t believe there are many tall-ship sailing, gay, Canadian, circus performing, engineers around – and yet it seems that everyone I’ve met has a background just as fascinating (if not more so!) than me. The diversity and variety of perspectives my colleagues brought is irreplaceable, and I know that the friends I’m making will be with me for a very long time.
What was the hardest part of business school? Without a doubt, because the Cambridge MBA program is a one-year course, I struggle most accepting that I don’t have time to do everything. I’ve made a go at fitting in as much as physically possible, from conference planning and international competitions and to college rowing and MBA study getaways, but it still feels like I’m giving up a chance at two more experiences for every one that I take advantage of. As logical as it is, I’ve struggled admitting to myself that there isn’t enough time to do everything — regardless of how much I want to.
What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? Don’t be afraid to stand out as different – it is what Cambridge is built on. There isn’t a template you can follow if you want to come here. Figure out what makes you strange, and help the Admissions staff understand why those oddities are so integral to your future success.
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…Canada started to feel small, and I needed a gateway, a launch pad into the broader world around me.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…standing in the communities, townhomes and apartments, that I’d managed the development of — from acquiring a patch of dirt through handing the keys to the families moving in. I’d be marveling that my time had helped something so tangible be created.”
What are your long-term professional goals? Business strategy is crucial to the success of an organisation, but even the best strategy requires the right execution. I will become an expert in that interface, bridging its objectives and tactics with its operations — enabling the rapid, and sustained growth that many companies aspire to. Be it as the COO, CEO, or as a member of the Board, enabling the organisations I become part of to perform at their best will become my habit and my reputation.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? There is a conversation that my karate Sensei decided to have with a very bright yet arrogant teenaged me that stands out in my mind — it was something he had no obligation to do, yet likely started a long chain of events that helped me get where I am, and as such Rob Richardson, thank you for taking me to bubble tea, helping me understand why I struggled so much to get along with my father, and that raw intellect wouldn’t carry me forever.
Fun fact about yourself: One of my favorite stress reliefs is training, coaching or performing aerial silks; there is something so freeing for me about flying through the air in the midst of crazy flips and rolls.
Favorite book: Fond memories of being read Winnie the Pooh, and the amount I look forward to reading it to my nephews, means despite being childish — it’s still my favorite.
Favorite movie: Clue (the 1985, now cult classic). Erratic, snarky, and abrupt – it never seems to get old for me.
Favorite musical performer: Andy McKee, a freestyle guitarist who should be much more famous.
Favorite television show:Planet Earth somehow summarized years of watching the Discovery channel into one series that is still the video of choice if I’m sick at home.
Favorite vacation spot: Hale Pau Hana is my family’s recurring getaway to Maui.
Hobbies? I’ve done karate for 14 years, fell in love with six different styles of swing dancing, taken up circus aerials and have spent 100 days sailing on wooden tall-ships on the Pacific. When I got to Cambridge I found rowing, rock climbing and I have had an on-again off-again relationship, and I’m sure by the time anyone reads this I’ll have a new passion to add to the growing collection. I’m always up for trying something new.
What made Sean such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?
“Sean is an active and upbeat member of the School, bringing a great energy and dynamism to his classes. He actively embraces the Cambridge collaborative ethos — whether through his willingness to mentor undergraduates or building constructively on his classmates’ comments in class discussion, he always has valuable advice.
Sean has demonstrated incredible drive and leadership skills during the MBA, and he has really given back to the School through the organisation of the Oxbridge Tedx Conference and his help in promoting the Cambridge MBA, submitting video blogs of his MBA experience — all of which greatly add to the positive view of the School. Sean is also the joint representative of the Entrepreneurial Student Interest Group, a popular and vital part of business school in bringing Faculty and students together.” — Carla Keen, MBA Marketing and Communications Coordinator. Cambridge Judge Business School
DON’T MISS: CLASS OF 2016: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST GRADUATING MBAS
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INSEAD (With exchange at Wharton, through the Wharton–INSEAD alliance)
“In school, I remember always smiling during International Political Analysis classes realizing that we were 75 people from 50-60 nationalities discussing the most prominent issues of our generation – that’s special!”
Age: 29
Hometown: Lisbon, Portugal
Education:
Warwick Business School (UK), MSc Business Analytics and Consulting
Nova School of Business and Economics (Portugal), BSc Economics (with exchange at University of Vienna (Austria))
Where did you work before enrolling in business school? I worked at Bain Capital Private Equity in London, as associate on the deal team, focusing on Iberia and Latin America transactions. Before that, I worked at The Boston Consulting Group in Lisbon, as an associate focusing on Private Equity and Public Sector assignments in Emerging Markets
Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? INSEAD July promotion runs from September to June, so doesn’t have a summer internship. However, I took the MBA opportunity to co-founded and run network.mba, an online expert network that connects MBA candidates and alumni, facilitating the choice of business school and the application process
Where will you be working after graduation? Bain Capital Private Equity in London, as associate on the deal team, focusing on Iberia, Latin America and Consumer Retail transactions
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:
Elected president of INSEAD Student Government, representing the interest of 500 fellow 16 July graduates and the integration of the upcoming class (16 December graduates).
Elected president of the INSEAD Private Equity Club, largest club on campus with 300 members.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I’m proud of balancing my INSEAD degree and club leadership roles with my personal initiatives – co-founding a start-up (network.mba), an organization (Portugal MBA network), and continuing my pursuit of the world’s seven summits (3rd this year), and my advocacy of effective altruism and the Giving What we Can pledge.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Being the first Portuguese investment professional at Bain Capital. My two-and-a-half years at BCG were an incredible foundation, both personal and professional, and gave me the training and experience to join Bain Capital, where I’ve had the opportunity to work across European and Latin America transactions, and be integral part of our sourcing efforts in Portugal and Spain
Favorite MBA Courses? Practical Wisdom in Business with Prof. Petriglieiri (INSEAD), Applied Corporate Finance with Prof. Hietala (INSEAD), Corporate Restructuring with Prof. Thorburn (Wharton)
Why did you choose this business school? For personal reasons I wanted to do a short program and stay in Europe. Then, having studied in three countries and worked in ten, I wanted to continue my learning journey in the most possible international setting, following a core belief that we learn through diversity and exposure to different cultures and points of view. With this in mind, INSEAD was the obvious choice.
Moreover, the alliance with Wharton would give me the opportunity to explore the US business school environment for two months and to gain perspective on the teaching methods and student life in both schools.
What did you enjoy most about business school? The people and the learning, in and outside class.
The leadership of both the Student Government and the Private Equity club gave me significant exposure and broader access to most of my peers. The diversity in their backgrounds, industries, beliefs, professional and personal experiences, was a tremendous learning experience, not only about the world but about myself.
In school, I remember always smiling during International Political Analysis classes realizing that we were 75 people from 50-60 nationalities discussing the most prominent issues of our generation – that’s special!
Outside, the best memory is the INSEAD trek to Japan organized by all our Japanese colleagues. The level of detail and preparation made it one of the best trips in my life and their selflessness and generosity was an important lesson to carry.
What was the most surprising thing about business school? It was the common ground and ease of relationships despite the diversity of the students in the class.
On November 18th (during Period 2 of 5) I wrote to my peers saying “Today I understood INSEAD, not the business school, but the institution that is a real force for good.” I do believe that what George Doriot (founder of INSEAD) created 60 years ago has the power to change the world as a 1,000 students per year graduate and carry this shared vision of unity.
As an anecdote I remember a class where two students from historically conflicting countries said: “I could never imagine having a friend from (country X). This was really unexpected”
What was the hardest part of business school? The 6 hours commute to London to see my girlfriend (the journey, not the weekends).
What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? Go beyond the information that is available online. Visit INSEAD in one of the open days or reach out to alumni. Only that way will you capture the full essence of the school and be able to write your application with transparency and an open heart
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I first visited the Fontainebleau campus on a sunny afternoon and met people from 30 different nationalities in 2 hours.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…doing a Masters in Philosophy to further explore the notion of effective altruism and how to push it to the mainstream agenda.”
Which executive or entrepreneur do you most admire? Antonio Horta-Osorio, one of the most acclaimed financiers of his generation and currently CEO of Lloyds Banking Group, responsible for turning around the bank since taking the helm in 2011. Previously, Antonio held leadership roles at Santander UK, Brazil and Portugal and was nominated Non-Executive Director of the Bank of England. All of this and also being Portuguese and an INSEAD alum, where he graduated in 1991.
What are your long-term professional goals? To create and lead Bain Capital’s Social Impact practice in EMEA, combining investing and management expertise to generate measurable social impact alongside financial returns
Who would you most want to thank for your success? My parents, for the core values and principles that define me as a man, and for making possible throughout my upbringing that I would only be limited by my dreams. My mentors and friends for being a sounding board in all important moments and for challenging me all the times I am wrong. My partner, for showing me every day that is possible to be equally graceful, loving, ambitious, and generally brilliant
Fun fact about yourself: One night in Ibiza I somehow got into the trunk of my rental car without my friends noticing. I was woken up by police 30 minutes later, when the car was inspected at a roadblock (yes, not my best moment…).
Favorite book: Guns, Germs and Steel, by Prof. Jared Diamond
Favorite movie: Selma, directed by Ava DuVernay
Favorite musical performer: “Spotify Discover”
Favorite television show: Suits!!
Favorite vacation spot: Mozambique
Hobbies? Mountaineering. I have climbed 2 of the world’s seven summits and I’m heading to Aconcagua this December to reach the third. Transcendental Meditation, which I’ve been practicing since 2013. Community service, primarily in youth empowerment, homelessness and learning disabilities.
What made Pedro Tavares Ramos such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016? “Pedro is a well rounded student, has enormous drive and hunger, energy and enthusiasm. He has strong international outlook & understanding of where he wants to be in life. A very active member of the INSEAD community, Pedro has been a great asset to his promotion.” — Sven Biel
Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business
“I have the spirit of an entrepreneur and the desire to do social good. In the long-term, I aspire to start, lead, or invest in companies that are making social-economic change in a sustainable way.”
Age: 31
Hometown: Prunedale, CA
Education: Stanford University, BA in Economics
Where did you work before enrolling in business school? After college, I worked at Barclays Capital as a Sales Analyst, but that was 2007-2008. I make a 180-switch into education and worked at the KIPP Foundation for about 6 years in NYC and San Francisco. I was first an executive assistant, then project manager, and then senior program manager.
Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? Starbucks – Seattle, WA
Where will you be working after graduation? Starbucks – Brand Management
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:
Graduate Marketing Association – VP of Career Student Liaison – CGSM (The Consortium for Graduate Study of Management) 2nd Place – 2015 Georgetown Startup Pitch Competition DC InSITE Fellow – Engaged in semester long consulting projects with 4 startups in DC 2015 VCIC (Venture Capital Investment Competition) Global Competition Champion Membership in International Honor Society, Beta Gamma Sigma I remained on the Leadership Board for the San Francisco Chapter of SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity)Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Winning the Global Finals of the Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) in 2015 was incredible! In VCIC, teams of 5 students act as investor groups and evaluate real startups. We are judged by VCs on how well we negotiate and build rapport with entrepreneurs, how we conduct due diligence, the investment we pick, and term sheet we construct. For my team, the global final was the culmination of many months of hard work and true teamwork. In order to compete in the global finals, my team had to win two internal rounds at Georgetown (Nov) and a Regional competition in Colorado (Feb). In between competitions, we practiced and networked to continuously improve. I had an incredible team of peers who wanted to learn, do their best, and have fun.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am most proud of the work that I did at the KIPP Foundation, integral to the growth of the KIPP Through College Initiative (KTC). When I joined in 2008, the KTC team was just starting with one person at the Foundation and about 15-20 advisors in the network, but there were already thousands of students. By the time I left in 2014, the KTC team had 10 brilliant minds at the Foundation, over 150 advisors in the network, and clear priorities. As we liked to say, “KTC was everyone’s business,” and I am proud that I played a role in making that happen.
Who is your favorite professor? Melissa Bradley – I took her Impact Investing and Peer to Peer Economies classes. In every class, there is a lively debate because Professor Bradley challenges her students to think about the repercussions of business decisions on society and social services. Achieving high financial return is great, but at what cost (not just the kind that shows up on financial statements).
Favorite MBA Courses?
Strategic Marketing Research Peer to Peer Economies Startup FactoryWhy did you choose this business school? I chose Georgetown because of three things:
Academic Rigor – I was excited about being back in the classroom and wanted professors who would challenge me. Growing entrepreneurship community within the school and in the surrounding community – I wanted to work with entrepreneurs and startups while in business school, but I didn’t have a track record. Georgetown and D.C. have very inclusive startup communities and great opportunities to get involved. Diversity in the classroom – I wanted to learn from my peers just as much as I would learn from professors. Nearly half of my classmates are international.What did you enjoy most about business school? There is so much you can do! Whether it’s a case competition, starting a company, conducting research, traveling, consulting, the list goes on… there are opportunities to do all of it and access to resources to help you participate.
What was the most surprising thing about business school? Business school is just as much about personal reflection and development as it is about building hard skills. I am more confident, more self-aware, and a better communicator because of my experiences in business school.
What was the hardest part of business school? Learning how to say “no.” There are so many great opportunities and resources available to you as a student, and you feel like you should take advantage of all of them. However, there is not enough time. I had to become very diligent about prioritizing opportunities that would help me get closer to achieving my goals for business school.
What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? Visit the campus and speak to as many students as you can to make sure the school you choose is the right one. You can get a great education at any school, but your experience is shaped by your peers and the culture. I spoke to about eight current students and attended Welcome Weekend before choosing Georgetown.
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I realized that in order for me to grow within my current job or switch careers, I needed to develop a new skill set.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…not sure… it’s hard to think about not going business school.”
What are your long-term professional goals? I have the spirit of an entrepreneur and the desire to do social good. In the long-term, I aspire to start, lead, or invest in companies that are making social-economic change in a sustainable way.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? First, my family and my boyfriend. They are my biggest fans and cheering squad. If I failed, they were proud of me for trying. If I succeeded, they were ready to celebrate with me. Having their support meant everything.
Second, I would thank the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management. Their program helped to propel me ahead in terms of career preparation and exploration. They have a valuable network of companies and alumni who are always willing to help the next class.
Fun fact about yourself: When I was a kid, if I wasn’t in school I was at the skating rink. I was a competitive artistic dance roller skater for 10 years, and qualified to compete at the junior world class level at the age of 13.
Favorite book: Start Something That Matters, Blake Mycoskie
Favorite movie: Coming to America – best comedy of all time!
Favorite musical performer: Stevie Wonder – I saw him live last year at the Verizon Center!
Favorite television show: Scandal and Shark Tank
Favorite vacation spot: Anywhere in Hawaii.
Hobbies? Anything outdoors or active – running, hiking, cycling.
What made Coral such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?
“Coral Taylor has distinguished herself in many ways while at Georgetown McDonough. She is a member of our inaugural class of Consortium for Graduate Study in Management students, an organization committed to increasing the number of minorities in business schools and corporate America. She served as the Consortium liaison for the past two years and has provided invaluable support to first-year students academically, through service opportunities, and by establishing networking/mentoring relationships.
Coral engaged in co-curricular activities and assumed leadership positions as well. She served as the VP of Career for the Graduate Marketing Association, and was a member of Georgetown Women in Business, Black MBA Association, Net Impact, and the Entrepreneurship Club.”
Coral also was instrumental in helping students and administration engage in the issues surrounding diversity and inclusion at a business school. She was part of a working group that helped define the issues and suggest solutions. Her contributions were incredibly valuable.
Another area that Coral distinguished herself was in case competitions. Her Venture Capital Investment Competition team was named Global Champions, and she finished 2nd in the Startup Pitch Competition.
Coral spent her 2015 summer interning at Starbucks and will begin her post-MBA career in its Seattle headquarters as part of the Category Brand Management Team.
All of her contributions and accomplishments point to her true commitment to making a positive social change in the world. She embodies the values of service and giving back, and is an inspiration to her classmates.” — Kerry Pace, Associate Dean for MBA Programs, Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business
DON’T MISS: CLASS OF 2016: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST GRADUATING MBAS
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London Business School
“Tarana has been a tour de force on campus and for our community and has helped us to develop a new approach to engaging students from across our degree programmes in activities that benefit others…Tarana has truly left a legacy behind her that will impact future generations of students in the long term….Her focus on culture, community and leadership will all stand her in great stead for the next steps in her career.”
Age: 29
Hometown: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Education: Yale University, B.A. in Psychology and History
Where did you work before enrolling in business school? Head of Marketing at REDI Technologies (Goldman Sachs Fintech Spin-Off); Sales & Marketing at Goldman Sachs
Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? Google (EMEA HQ, Dublin) – Branding for Large Customers
Where will you be working after graduation? Undecided
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: My focus during my time at LBS has been to foster the community and facilitate the exchange of ideas and development of new perspectives. To that end, my leadership roles over the course of the last two years have included:
Co-Chair, TEDxLondonBusinessSchool (2015 – 2016)
Senior Social Affairs Officer, Student Association (2015 – 2016)
Co-Organizer, London Business School India Trek 2015 (December 2015)
Communications, TEDxLondonBusinessSchool (2014 – 2015)
VP, New Development & Innovation, Industry Club (2014 – 2015)
VP, Marketing Club (2014 – 2015)
I feel very honoured to have been awarded Bain & Company’s Student Impact Award for my contribution to the London Business School community.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? As a Senior Social Affairs for the Student Association, one of my goals coming into the role was to broaden the definition of social. To that end, I conceptualized and founded LBS for London, an initiative that enabled students, staff, faculty and administrators to contribute to tangible progress in the broader London community. We partnered with non-profit organizations around London to make a meaningful difference over one weekend in London. 230 volunteers from the LBS community contributed 988 volunteer hours to complete 27 community projects, from building playgrounds and community cook-offs to planting gardens. The feedback from both the LBS and the London community was overwhelmingly positive, and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to start a new tradition of how the LBS community engages with the broader London community.
An additional accomplishment I am proud of is LBS’ new Guinness World Record, which celebrates the diversity of the LBS community. Together with a team, I spearheaded the initiative for a Guinness World Record attempt in advance of LBS’ annual celebration of diversity. More than 200 students, staff and faculty from 71 different nationalities participated in the attempt, in which we simultaneously sang “Imagine” by John Lennon. Nationalities were verified by independent authorities, and the attempt was deemed successful by a Guinness World Records adjudicator and independent stewards. Setting a Guinness World Record was an extremely unique experience – not only did it showcase the diversity of the LBS community and our communal spirit, but it also inspired us to be ambitious and push boundaries.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? For REDI Technologies, being perceived as independent from Goldman Sachs was critical to the company’s success. We were transitioning from being a business unit within Goldman Sachs to being owned by a consortium, which included Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Citadel and Lightyear Capital. I had been selected to lead marketing for REDI Technologies in advance of its separation from Goldman Sachs.
In order to demonstrate our independence, I initiated and coordinated for REDI to ring the closing bell on the New York Stock Exchange (typically, only companies that have are listed on the NYSE have an opportunity to do this). We negotiated this on the basis that our investors were listed on the NYSE, and rang the bell together with key representatives from our investors. Not only did this visibly demonstrate our independence, but it also garnered a lot of free publicity and boosted employee morale at a critical juncture.
Who is your favorite professor? Gabriel Adams for teaching us how to think about, develop and navigate our “Path to Power”.
Favorite MBA Courses? Leading Teams & Organizations, Dr. Margaret Ormiston; Brand Management, Dr. Simona Botti; Communications, Richard Hytner
Why did you choose this business school? Three key factors influenced my choice of business school: (1) the opportunity to have a global MBA experience with classmates who had diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experience; (2) flexible exit points that would enable me to adapt my MBA experience as required; and (3) the London location with access to some of the world’s best companies
What did you enjoy most about business school? Undoubtedly, the incredible, inspiring people I’ve had the privilege to meet. I’ve learnt so much from my classmates and their experiences, and I feel extremely fortunate to have this global network of trailblazers as my friends.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from business school? Empathy and an authoritative leadership style (rather than a democratic approach) has the biggest positive impact on the working atmosphere.
What was the hardest part of business school? I came into business school knowing that I was passionate about marketing and technology. Yet, as recruiting season approached, holding out for my dream job whilst many of my peers finalized their summer plans was more challenging than I expected. In addition to the role and job function, I placed a lot of emphasis on cultural fit, which led me to turn down job offers that I received earlier in the year, and continue recruiting. The gamble paid off, and I landed a dream role at Google. That said, the journey was much harder than I expected, and I learnt a lot about myself as a result.
What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? Business school is a great opportunity for introspection and personal development. I truly believe that the more you put into London Business School, the more you get out of it. So, when applying, focus on not only how the MBA will help you, but also how you can contribute to the LBS community and grow as an individual.
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I realized I wanted more for myself, both in terms of career progression and personal development.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…focused on marketing for finance/fin-tech and moving up the ladder.”
Which executive or entrepreneur do you most admire? At the risk of sounding clichéd, I admire several traits from various people, rather than a single executive. To name a few – Sheryl Sandberg for her role in changing the conversation and dynamic for women in the workplace; Nandan Nilekani for his humility and determination to use technology to transform the lives of Indians; and Howard Schultz for his vision and focus on customer experience.
What are your long-term professional goals? I have to confess, my long-term goals are a work in progress. It sounds obvious, but my overarching goal is to have a career that allows me to be excited about what I do on a daily basis. I also want a career that will challenge me, and allow me to have a meaningful impact on the broader community, whilst enabling me to maintain a work-life balance. Finally, I want to create and shape a culture that inspires and motivates employees, celebrates strong female leaders, and helps redress the gender dynamics in the workplace.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I would like to thank my husband, Saad Usmani, for encouraging me to take risks, be better and push the boundaries. For believing in me, and helping me believe anything is possible.
Fun fact about yourself: I have an inexplicable fear of…broccoli! (Cauliflower is fine, it’s just broccoli!)
Favorite book: A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Favorite movie: Casablanca
Favorite musical performer: Coldplay
Favorite television show: Currently, Game of Thrones
Favorite vacation spot: Cape Town
Hobbies? I’m passionate about food, cooking, hosting dinners, dancing, organizing events, traveling and South Asian fiction
What made Tarana such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?
“Tarana has been a tour de force on campus and for our community and has helped us to develop a new approach to engaging students from across our degree programmes in activities that benefit others. LBS for London was a fantastic three days for the London Business School community to give back and the impact this achieved both on and off campus is significant. Tarana has truly left a legacy behind her that will impact future generations of students in the long term. Her journey to her summer internship shows a strength of character that is enviable, to resist the temptation to take an ‘easy’ option or to follow the crowd is one of life’s most important skills, and Tarana has truly forged her own path. Her focus on culture, community and leadership will all stand her in great stead for the next steps in her career.” — Erica Hensens, Programme Director, MBA programme, London Business School
DON’T MISS: CLASS OF 2016: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST GRADUATING MBAS
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INSEAD
“The proudest achievement was when I was working on my social enterprise. My social enterprise was focused on helping ex-offenders reintegrate back into society by teaching them to become entrepreneurs. Through my social enterprise, I managed to successfully convert several ex-offenders into entrepreneurs.”
Age: 31
Hometown: Singapore
Education: National University of Singapore (Engineering Science Program)
Where did you work before enrolling in business school?
Founder of an Education Company in China Founder of a Social Enterprise in Singapore Investment Manager with the Singapore GovernmentWhere did you intern during the summer of 2015? I am doing a short 10-month program with no internship.
Where will you be working after graduation? TBD
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: In my role as part of the leadership team with the INSEAD Private Equity Club, I set up the platform connecting INSEAD students with internship opportunities with start-ups in Southeast Asia.
I am also involved heavily with the INSEAD Entrepreneurship Club, where I was leveraging on my networks within the Southeast Asian entrepreneurial ecosystem to invite speakers to share their experiences with the students.
I am also part of the organizing committee that organize our annual Chinese week, with the sole purpose of sharing Chinese customs with our classmates from different parts of the world.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? While I was in INSEAD, I initiated the formal working relationship between INSEAD with the leading incubators in Singapore, facilitating study projects and placements with their start-ups in Southeast Asia. As a start, we have connected several students. I am still be working on it and hopefully, we can build up a permanent platform for the benefit of subsequent promotions of INSEAD students. Hopefully, we can provide a conducive environment for students to become entrepreneurs.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? The proudest achievement was when I was working on my social enterprise. My social enterprise was focused on helping ex-offenders reintegrate back into society by teaching them to become entrepreneurs. Through my social enterprise, I managed to successfully convert several ex-offenders into entrepreneurs. They have since turned their lives around and are doing well now.
Who is your favorite professor? My favourite professor is Claudia Zeisberger.
Favorite MBA Courses? Private Equity, Negotiations
Why did you choose this business school? I want to be based in Asia because of the growing amount of opportunities, and many of my INSEAD graduates will be graduating and staying within the Asia-Pacific region, far more than any other top-tier business school. INSEAD is, by far, the only school with a strong presence in Asia.
I also choose this program because this is a short program, and therefore the payback will be much faster.
What did you enjoy most about business school? Its unrivalled access to the Asian markets from the alumni networks. Besides that, I can go to practically any country in the world, and meet an alumni there for coffee!
What is the biggest lesson you gained from business school? It is really the networks that matter.
What was the most surprising thing about business school? I never expect time to pass so quickly, 10 months gone in a flash.
What was the hardest part of business school? Definitely the academic work. It is a 10-month program and you have to really balance your academics, socializing and career development. At INSEAD, we have to prioritize because it is an MBA program on steroids.
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I decided to relocate back to Singapore from China.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school – I cannot imagine not going to Business School. INSEAD has done so much for me.”
Which executive or entrepreneur do you most admire? Lee Kuan Yew, our first Prime Minister. He successfully built up Singapore, a country with no resources, into a first-world country.
What are your long-term professional goals? Being in a role that allows me to give back to my country.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? My wife and my family. Going to business school and being away from the family is a huge sacrifice, one that can only be made when you have the full support of your spouse and family.
Fun fact about yourself: I have written three books in topics ranging from venture capital to REITs, with publishers like McGraw Hill and Marshall-Cavendish.
Favorite book: Act like a leader, Think like a leader by Herminia Ibarra
Favorite movie: Shawshank Redemption
Favorite musical performer: Yanni
Favorite television show: Any History Channel or National Geographic Channel show
Favorite vacation spot: China
Hobbies? Basketball and Reading
What made Tan such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?“Ambitious student who has worked hard and smart in developing his career. Actively involved in student life, enthusiastic and collaborative in nature, Wenyou has also been involved in social entreprise work in Singapore & India and believes in giving back to society. A good team player and great leader.” — Sven Biel, Associate Director, MBA Programme Management, INSEAD
DON’T MISS: CLASS OF 2016: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST GRADUATING MBAS
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Cornell Tech
“This is clear when you meet Ian: he is bright, genuine, inclusive, receptive to the needs of his multi-disciplinary team, an engaging presenter, extremely hard-working, and has an incredible EQ. This semester, in addition to being a team lead, Ian was chosen to be a class scrum master, with the responsibility to help guide several other peer teams to make meaningful, ever-forward progress on their Studio projects.”
Age: 33
Hometown: Puyallup, WA
Education:
West Point, United States Military Academy, B.S. Systems Engineering Middlebury College, M.A. German StudiesWhere did you work before enrolling in business school? U. S. Army, Captain and Chief Intelligence Officer
Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? (List Company and Location)
N/A, I have consulted several startups throughout the curriculum including: Splash, splashthat.com, NYC Berceli, berceli.com, NYC Comigo, comigo.com, Israel Voiceitt, talkitt.com, IsraelWhere will you be working after graduation? I will be the CEO and Co-Founder of a tech startup called GitLinks in NYC.
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: Team leader of a 5-person team that won the Johnson Marketing Case competition
Team leader of a 4-person team that won 1st prize in the Newcomer bracket of the Big Red (Technology) Hacks competition Team leader in two other tech hackathons involving students from Computer Science, Design and Business. Selected to serve as Scrum Master at Cornell Tech for weekly collaboration and critique meetings involving six startup teams. Volunteered as a technology mentor to middle school age children introducing them to coding and technology. Volunteer as a Sunday school teacher and community outreach leader at a local church.Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I was invited to speak at TEDx Cornell Tech with other very powerful and influential speakers. As the only student speaker of the event, I was asked to speak about leadership development. It was memorable because this affirmed that I had effectively and positively impacted those around me as a leader, even though I was previously unsure about how my former leadership experiences would translate in the tech world.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I was awarded the bronze star medal for the impact of my contributions as a tactical intelligence officer in Afghanistan. I led intelligence data collection and analysis on a day to day basis over 15 months. The assessments that my team was able to publish saved hundreds of lives by preparing soldiers for the dangers that they were facing daily. The depth of impact I made there will be hard to beat in my upcoming ventures.
Who is your favorite professor? Steve Gal left his life in Startups in order to teach and mentor others in their business pursuits. He believes strongly in aiding business students with forming solid business plans. His advice has always been extremely insightful and inspiring. He is currently doing something that I aspire to do one day, which is to first find success and then find ways to give back to young motivated minds.
Favorite MBA Courses? Startup Studio, Brand Digital, Data Products, Entrepreneurial Journey, Company Challenges, Design Thinking
Why did you choose this business school? I had three main criteria in choosing Cornell Tech. I wanted to attend a top 20 school with an extensive network. Cornell is the largest Ivy League school and alumni have a presence in essentially every Fortune 100 company. I also wanted to spend as little time in school as possible, so I was looking specifically for a one year MBA program. Lastly, I wanted my MBA program to include a lot of entrepreneurial content. Cornell Tech’s MBA program was only in its second year of existence but the curriculum and culture was unabashedly focused on innovation and product management.
What did you enjoy most about business school? I was totally out of my comfort zone, but my goal was to push myself as much as possible. Cornell Tech allowed me to work as a business person alongside computer scientists in very real product development contexts. I really enjoyed forming highly skilled teams to build and grow amazing ideas.
What was the most surprising thing about business school? I was surprised by how cool and supportive my classmates are. I imagined that business school would be full of egotistical and back stabbing individuals, but I found my classmates to be very competent, helpful classmates who enjoy an accommodating, socially-responsible environment.
What was the hardest part of business school? Finance and accounting was difficult. With such smart classmates, I had to work hard to keep up with them. Luckily, I have strengths in other areas to boost my confidence.
What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? Find out if you have a valid interest in building products or companies. Attendees of Cornell Tech should be excited about building a new future for the world.
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I realized that I could focus on entrepreneurship while going to school and I have not been disappointed in the least.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…slugging away at founding a startup, likely making lots of mistakes and learning along the way.”
What are your long-term professional goals? I would like to be considered a serial entrepreneur. I have a passion for building amazing things that solve problems. At some point (likely in 10-15 years), I will transition to being an Angel Investor, but I would like to have at least three successful businesses by that point.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I have a wife and three sons that have been very supportive of my learning and my future career aspirations. The time I spend with them keeps me both grounded and motivated to succeed.
Fun fact about yourself: I’m a professional Polynesian dancer.
Favorite book: Rich Dad, Poor Dad
Favorite movie: Meet Joe Black
Favorite musical performer: Jack Johnson
Favorite television show: Goldbergs
Favorite vacation spot: Samoa
Hobbies? Making videos with my kids, learning new tech tools, cooking and eating.
What made Ian such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?
“Cornell Tech’s Studio is a challenging, real-world learning environment that provokes many roadblocks and conflicts that teams must overcome. Ian’s fall semester team was no exception, and Ian quickly stepped up as a born leader. In peer feedback, his teammates credit Ian as the key motivating factor of the team’s success. This is clear when you meet Ian: he is bright, genuine, inclusive, receptive to the needs of his multi-disciplinary team, an engaging presenter, extremely hard-working, and has an incredible EQ. This semester, in addition to being a team lead, Ian was chosen to be a class scrum master, with the responsibility to help guide several other peer teams to make meaningful, ever-forward progress on their Studio projects.
In addition to his leadership ethic, Ian is dedicated to an entrepreneurial career, and it shows. This semester, his Studio project is on pace to be one of a handful of projects with the legs to become a real startup company after graduation. Over the course of last semester, Ian and his teammates invented and evaluated hundreds of startup ideas and identified an exciting, forward-thinking opportunity to build in Studio this semester. Ian works vigorously with his multi-disciplinary team to refine the product, build the prototype, create the startup strategy, and more. Ian consistency impresses us faculty—but also impresses the many practitioners who regularly visit campus to seriously critique student projects.
Finally, in the well-rounded department, Ian is this year’s Cornell Tech cornhole champion, having recently won Cornell Tech’s school-wide, competitive cornhole tournament. Ian is an invaluable role model at Cornell Tech and a guiding light for the class of 2016.” — Professor Greg Pass, Cornell Tech
DON’T MISS: CLASS OF 2016: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST GRADUATING MBAS
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Duke University, Fuqua School of Business
“I’d heard school was busy, but I consider myself to be pretty good at time management. However, until I was in the throes of a full course load, recruiting, classwork, and extracurricular activities, I didn’t fully comprehend just how little time there was in the day. It’s a different kind of busy compared to working full-time. While it was occasionally a challenge to manage, it forced me to be intentional with my time. Throughout this process, I was surprised at how much I learned about myself, especially during first year.”
Age: 28
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Undergraduate School and Degree: Duke University, BA Public Policy Studies
Where did you work before enrolling in business school? The White House (National Security Council), Special Assistant to the U.S. Cybersecurity Coordinator
Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? Microsoft, Redmond, WA
Where will you be working after graduation? Microsoft, Business Program Manager
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: MBA Association (MBAA) Community Service Chair; Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics (COLE) Fellow; Career Fellow
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am really passionate about giving back and I am proud that I was able to strengthen Fuqua’s ties to the community and provide opportunities for students to serve in Durham.
Last year, I started a “Spring of Service” initiative and worked with different organizations in the community to provide students with various volunteer opportunities across an array of causes throughout the spring term. We are continuing the “Spring of Service” initiative again this year and I hope it will become a longstanding Fuqua tradition. I feel so fortunate to be at a school like Duke and to have so many incredible opportunities, so it’s important to me to keep things in perspective and to take time to give back to others that aren’t as fortunate. I am proud that so many of my classmates have also answered this call and it has been inspiring to see my peers serving others and extending the “Team Fuqua” spirit outside of the classroom.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Working in public service was an amazing opportunity and I am proud to have served alongside so many bright, dedicated, and hard-working people in government. I don’t know if there is one specific achievement that I am most proud of, but prior to working at The White House I worked at the FBI on a team dedicated to managing significant organizational change to meet the rapidly evolving cyber threat. My team worked on internal and external policy issues, and I’m very proud of the work we did to further the Bureau’s mission – much of it behind the scenes. Knowing I was able to give back and help make an impact in an area that affects our national security is very rewarding.
Favorite MBA Courses? Strategy Implementation, Marketing Strategy, Leading and Managing Human Assets and Organizational Change, Corporate Finance
Why did you choose this business school? The decision to attend Duke was a no-brainer. I wanted to be in a collaborative, supportive environment and the “Team Fuqua” culture really resonated with me. The values of Team Fuqua – such as collective diversity, authentic engagement, and impactful stewardship – are exemplified by students day in and day out. These values hold everyone to a higher standard and it was evident to me that students strive to create a community of respect and encouragement. Additionally, I was attracted to the “leader of consequence” philosophy at Fuqua. Going back to school is an investment and I wanted to ensure I’d have a meaningful experience, not a transactional one. I feel challenged at Duke to think beyond the bottom line and find solutions to benefit the greater good, and having this perspective when I graduate is something that was incredibly important to me. Fuqua was the clear frontrunner as a place where I could focus as much on my leadership development as on my classroom studies.
What did you enjoy most about business school? The people I’ve met have been phenomenal. My classmates never cease to amaze me and I feel so lucky to have had the privilege of working with such a diverse and impressive group of peers. I’ve enjoyed getting to know people from all over the globe and learning about new cultures. For instance, I just returned from a trip to Israel, led by five of my Israeli classmates. The opportunity to travel with them to their home country and experience a slice of their life was such a special experience.
I’ve also enjoyed mentoring and getting to know a small group of first year students through my experience as a COLE Fellow. COLE Fellows guide teams through their first year leadership development journey. It’s been rewarding in all of the ways it has allowed me to grow and develop as a leader. Most of all, I’ve enjoyed the relationships I’ve formed with first year students and the incredible cohort of other COLE Fellows. I am so thankful for the experience and certainly view it as a highlight of my time at Fuqua.
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I began working with a senior executive who convinced me of the value of applying a business lens to public sector work and encouraged me to think about an MBA.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…working on policy issues at the FBI, but definitely thinking about applying to business school.”
Which executive or entrepreneur do you most admire? I most admire my old manager and mentor, Sasha O’Connell, Chief of the Office of National Policy at the FBI. Not only is she incredibly passionate about her work, but she also manages tough situations with grace. She provided such a positive influence in my professional career and has been an incredible role model. Sasha is one of the most humble and good-natured people I know.
Perhaps what I admire most is her genuine leadership style. She really takes the time to get to know people, always putting her team first, and can motivate others to work towards a common goal. It’s admirable that despite a busy schedule and stressors in the workplace, she is always approachable and invested in others’ development. She has taught me valuable leadership lessons that I strive to emulate.
What are your long-term professional goals? I very much want to stay in the tech space, but I am passionate about public service and would like to return to government one day. Given the fact that the private sector owns much of the tech infrastructure, but the government is formulating policies, I think it’s incredibly important to understand how both sides operate and are incentivized. After gaining private sector experience, my long-term goal is to return to government as an executive and make an impact in the technology policy space.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I’d like to thank my family for their support, specifically my parents (Tom and Leslie Davlin). They’ve made a lot of sacrifices over the years to enable me to be where I am today and I would not be where I am without them. I believe their commitment to my education opened up numerous opportunities. Additionally, having their unconditional love and knowing I can always count on them has led me to take risks and challenge myself to do better. Overall, the values my parents instilled in me have given me a strong sense of purpose, which pushes me to do good each and every day.
Fun fact about yourself: Duke is the only school I’ve ever applied to! (for undergrad and grad)
Favorite book: The Kite Runner
Favorite movie: Forrest Gump
Favorite musical performer: Coldplay
Favorite television show: House of Cards
Favorite vacation spot: Cape Town, South Africa
Hobbies? Running, hiking, yoga, travel, Duke basketball
What made Jessica such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?
“Jess Davlin was recently nominated by another student for representing the best of Team Fuqua. That nomination concluded with the statement, “Jess is someone you want on your team, on your side, and she undoubtedly represents Fuqua and Duke in the most favorable light.” I could not agree more. In so many ways, Jess has selflessly and authentically given of her time to help others develop and make Fuqua a better place. Through her role as the VP of Service for Fuqua’s student government, she has elevated all that we do around community service with the Durham community, including activities like Project Share, where students provided hundreds of holiday gifts to individuals and families in need. That care extends to her classmates. The nomination continues to highlight Jess as “helping her classmates achieve their academic, professional, and personal goals. Whether it’s prepping for case interviews or presentations, providing career advice, or just listening to someone’s personal issues, she never neglects an opportunity to support a classmate.”
As a COLE (Center on Leadership and Ethics) Fellow she has mentored our first year student teams and helped design and execute an end-of-year capstone day designed around personal growth and reflection. All of these activities, which are committed to the development of others, are an authentic representation of who Jess is. This level of commitment to others is personally rewarding for me to see, primarily because it is born from a student advocating for the things that are important to her.
Finally, Jess is just someone who is interesting to spend time with. She ran cross country for Duke as an undergrad, worked for the FBI and for the White House on cybersecurity, and is transitioning to the private sector with Microsoft.” — 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 & BRIGHTEST GRADUATING MBAS
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Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be a physician fighting against frustrating administrative problems and operational challenges instead of one armed with tools to try and fix them.”
Age: 33
Hometown: Annandale, NJ
Education: Boston College, BS in Management; Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, anticipated MD in June 2017
Where did you work before enrolling in business school? I was a medical student at Dartmouth in the years leading up to business school. Prior to that I sold health insurance for my father’s insurance agency, True & Associates, in Westfield, NJ and worked in the Professional Development Program at Lincoln Financial Group in Philadelphia, PA.
Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? I did clinical clerkships for medical school at Littleton Regional Hospital in Littleton, NH and at the VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT.
Where will you be working after graduation? I’ll be applying for residency programs in dermatology.
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:
William G. McGowan 2016 Fellow: Annual fellowship awarded to one business student who embodies socially conscious and ethical leadership. Associated year-long consulting project for Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL to help redesign the system of behavioral health care delivery for Medicaid Accountable Care Organization (ACO) patients. Tuck Health Care Initiative 2016 Fellow: Selected from the Class of 2016 to work with the school administration to further student education and involvement in health care. Planned and hosted an event series for students to increase engagement with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center clinicians and executives and to deepen students’ understanding of health care industry opportunities and challenges. WeBelieve Health Founding Member and Business Development Manager: WeBelieve Health is a primary and urgent care delivery organization in the business design phase. Our mission is to increase access to high value health care for Nigerians. Statistics Teaching Assistant Statistics Tutor Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Dermatology Skin Cancer Screening Community Event Volunteer Tuck Admissions Office Volunteer Tuck Run for the Kids Charity Race Marketing Chairperson and RacerWhich academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Being a statistics teaching assistant and tutor. Teaching is by far the hardest job I have experienced. Communicating information in a way that brings insight and understanding to another person, especially when it’s about math, is enormously challenging. I know I still have a lot to learn, but being selected for this job and getting positive feedback from the students I helped was immensely rewarding. I have a renewed appreciation for all of the teachers in my life!
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am planning a career in dermatology and I’m currently doing research in the laboratory for Mohs Micrographic Surgery, a type of tissue-sparing surgery done for some skin cancers such as basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. I’m working on developing a tissue-processing protocol using immunohistochemistry to help facilitate the use of Mohs surgery for melanoma, the most deadly skin cancer. Given my background, which has primarily been business-focused, I’m really stretching my skill set and I learn something new each day I’m in the lab. If I can develop a successful protocol, I might help improve the way melanoma is typically treated, which could decrease the morbidity of treatment for many patients.
Who is your favorite professor? I have a few! I’ll name Elizabeth Teisberg, PhD. She teaches a class on the implementation of value-based health care strategy, which is the idea that health care delivery should be designed around achieving the best health outcomes for patients at the lowest cost. She has a background working on innovative strategies that dramatically improve health care value and coauthored Redesigning Health Care with Michael Porter. She thinks critically and deeply about solving problems in health care and fights for meaningful change in an industry that is fragmented and costly.
Favorite MBA Courses? Value-Based Health Care Strategy with Elizabeth Teisberg, Investing and Deal Making in Health Care, a practitioner-led interactive course examining investment transactions in the health care sector, and Arrhythmia of Finance, a behavioral finance course with Peter Fisher, former Under Secretary of Domestic Finance for the United States Treasury and Senior Managing Director at investment management firm BlackRock.
Why did you choose this business school? Tuck has an incredible community and a very strong health care tract. I spoke with several students and faculty at the school and knew these were the people I wanted to learn with and from and that this was the best place for me to pursue my interest in health care management.
What did you enjoy most about business school? The people. I have classmates from all over the globe. Everyone has a unique background and perspective, and through their stories I have learned so much more about the world than I knew before I came to Tuck.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from business school? How to think strategically.
What was the most surprising thing about business school? How fast it goes by. Two years is over before it starts. There is always more to do and learn, so it’s helpful to figure out how to make the most of your time quickly.
What was the hardest part of business school? Finding focus. There are so many opportunities to explore: elective courses, clubs, working on a new start-up idea, consulting projects, conferences, case competitions, public speakers, travel…amazing people doing amazing things all around you all the time. It’s hard not to try to take advantage of all of it, even things that don’t necessarily apply to you. It was helpful to reflect frequently on why I was here and what opportunities would be the most meaningful so that I didn’t get overwhelmed or let people down because I was trying to balance too many plates in the air.
What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? Buy snow boots. You’re about to head north of the wall.
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I recognized the challenges of delivering health care in a broken system and knew that I wanted to be a part of the systemic solutions that improve it for future patients.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…a physician fighting against frustrating administrative problems and operational challenges instead of one armed with tools to try and fix them.”
Which executive or entrepreneur do you most admire? Rose Marcario, Blake Mycoskie, Sheryl Sandberg. Because if we’re not trying to do good for each other and for our planet, I don’t see the point.
What are your long-term professional goals? I want to better the health of my community and society and believe that our generation of health care leaders can and will transform our health care system to improve health. I want to create a more sustainable, efficient, and effective health care system from the inside out. Helping patients live healthy, meaningful lives and creating a higher value health care system are my primary career goals in becoming a physician and health care administrator.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? My family. I doubt myself constantly, and they never do. They give me everything, unconditionally.
Fun fact about yourself: Every morning I make a cup of coffee and go for a long walk in the woods with my dog before I start the day.
Favorite book: I have a few. Right now it’s Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman and Being Mortal by Atul Gawande (everyone should read these books!). But it will also always be Harry Potter. All seven of them.
Favorite movie: Oh geez. Is it ok to say Harry Potter again?
Favorite musical performer: Dave Matthews Band. I was a teenager in the 90’s and they provided the soundtrack to so many memories from those formative years.
Favorite television show: Is there really a question? Game of Thrones!
Favorite vacation spot: Nantucket
Hobbies? Running, hiking, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, ballet, yoga, traveling
What made Alicia such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?
“Alicia Dagrosa is one of five Payson Scholars accepted into the MD-MBA program at Dartmouth. During her time at Tuck, she has excelled academically and has contributed significantly to the Dartmouth community as a whole. In her role as the Tuck Health Care Initiative Fellow, Alicia has worked with the school administration to plan a number of programs that have led to increased student educational opportunities and engagement in health care.
Alicia is also a great ambassador of the Tuck community. With a group of her classmates, Alicia worked on a project in conjunction with the Ministry of Health in Haiti to develop options for the expansion of the country’s acute care and trauma response system. She also serves as a McGowan Fellow and currently works with Rush University Medical Center to develop recommendations to better deliver behavioral health care for Medicaid Accountable Care Organization (ACO) patients.
Alicia portrays the entrepreneurship spirit we look to foster at Tuck. She is currently a founding member and the U.S. Business Development Manager for WeBelieve Health, a Nigerian-based health care delivery startup aimed at increasing access to primary and urgent care services for Nigerians.
I have had the privilege of teaching Alicia in three of my courses here at Tuck and she has been an exceptional addition to the classroom. Alicia’s comments in class are always brilliantly insightful, and feedback from her classmates indicates that she is a true pleasure to have on a team. Tuck is lucky to have Alicia Dagrosa as a student, and I cannot imagine the class of 2016 without her. Alicia is one of our MD-MBA program’s most outstanding graduates ever!” — Dr. Michael Zubkoff, Director, MD-MBA Program at Dartmouth, Associate Dean, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School
“I’d like to run an organization, either a consulting firm or a large foundation, focused on international development.”
Age: 27
Hometown: Concord, Mass.
Undergraduate School and Degree:
Dual-degree student at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, MSPH expected May 2016
Georgetown University Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, BSFS 2011
Where did you work before enrolling in business school? Deloitte Consulting LLP, Federal Strategy and Operations Analyst
Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? McKinsey & Company, Atlanta Office
Where will you be working after graduation? McKinsey & Company, Associate
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: Nonprofit Board Fellow; VP External Outreach, Carolina Women in Business; VP Learning & Development, Consulting Club; Career Mentor; Forté Fellow and Ambassador; Dean’s Fellow
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Last year I volunteered as a Nonprofit Board Fellow. I asked to work with a client who was offering health insurance premium subsidies to the lower income residents of Durham County. The client was struggling – residents of Durham County were not enrolling in the program despite the fact that more than 10,000 people were eligible for the subsidies. This meant that many county residents were uninsured. I met with stakeholders throughout the Triangle to identify barriers to access, and develop recommendations to alleviate them. I am most proud of this work because it enabled me to leverage my background in consulting to help individuals and families without health insurance get coverage.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? In my second year at Deloitte, I found myself sitting in an office at the Ministry of Health in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, helping to translate a meeting between a ministry official and two partners from Deloitte. Our team was there to discuss an infrastructure project – part of the rebuilding effort post-earthquake. Wwe were facing a language barrier, so I helped facilitate the discussion between both parties by translating the discussion from French to English.
I am most proud of this achievement because of everything it took to get me there. From the moment I joined Deloitte, I knew that I wanted to work on the Global Health Team, but it took almost a year of determination and hard work to make it happen. Once on the team, I volunteered to travel to Haiti, to work on post-earthquake health and infrastructure projects. I had majored in global health as an undergraduate student and studied French for many years. To actually in the middle of everything I had been pursuing for so long – discussing the nuances of rebuilding a nation after a natural disaster – and knowing what it had taken to get me there, made it the highlight of my professional career to date.
Favorite MBA Courses? Strategy, Sales, Design & Delivery of Healthcare Systems
Why did you choose this business school? I chose UNC Kenan-Flagler for three reasons: the action-based curriculum, global learning opportunities, and strong sense of community. It was important to me to choose a business school that offered practical, hands-on learning experiences. UNC Kenan-Flagler offered me the opportunity to take what I had learned in the classroom and implement it in the real world, through programs such as Nonprofit Board Fellows and the Dean’s Fellows Project. I also valued UNC Kenan-Flagler’s wide range of global opportunities. While at business school, I have been able to study sustainability in Copenhagen and to enroll at a business school in Bangkok. These experiences widened my understanding of the business world and have been an invaluable part of my business school education. But perhaps most important to me was sense of community. UNC Kenan-Flagler students are invested in their education, and in improving the school for themselves and for their classmates. The level of engagement from the study body is unlike anything I’ve experienced before, and was ultimately the deciding factor for me.
What did you enjoy most about business school? Getting to know my classmates has been the highlight of my business school experience. UNC Kenan-Flagler attracts a diverse, talented and engaged student body and I have loved learning from them these past two years. I have an incredible amount of respect and admiration for the community at UNC Kenan-Flagler and feel incredibly fortunate to be part of it.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from business school? Talented leadership is the most important factor in determining the success or failure of a business.
What was the most surprising thing about business school? The most surprising thing about business school was the diversity of past experience among my fellow classmates. I entered business school expecting a majority of my classmates to have come from traditional business backgrounds, but instead I’ve found that many people come to business school looking to change careers. My study team was made up of a former government employee, an entrepreneur, an IT expert, a retail manager, and a strategy consultant. I was surprised by our ability to productively challenge each other, and push each other to approach our work from multiple perspectives.
What was the hardest part of business school? Managing competing priorities is one of the hardest parts of business school. That’s especially true in your first year, when academics, recruiting and extracurricular activities compete for your time. It can be challenging to figure out where to focus your attention.
What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? If an MBA will help you achieve your dream career, definitely apply. Business school is an incredibly rewarding experience. Once you’re in the application process, I’d recommend visiting campus and reaching out to current students to get their perspective on the school. It’s a great way to understand the campus culture and determine whether UNC Kenan-Flagler is right for you.
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I saw that global health problems might have business solutions and realized an MBA would be a good compliment to an MSPH.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…working in the nonprofit sector and living in the developing world.”
What are your long-term professional goals? I’d like to run an organization, either a consulting firm or a large foundation, focused on international development.”
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I’d most want to thank my family for my success. Their unwavering support has empowered me to pursue my goals. I often look to them for advice and perspective and would not be where I am today without them.
Fun fact about yourself: In 2014 I ran the Boston Marathon with my siblings. We were living all across the country at the time, but we trained together, and even met up in Seattle for our first 20-mile run.
Favorite book: Moby Dick by Herman Melville
Favorite movie: It’s Complicated
Favorite musical performer: Darius Rucker
Favorite television show: West Wing
Favorite vacation spot: Adirondack Mountains
Hobbies? I love being active – running, playing soccer, practicing yoga – traveling, reading a good book, and spending quality time with family and friends.
What made Caitlin such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?
“Excellence is one of our core values. Specifically, it means “We strive for the very highest standards in everything that we do both within and out of the classroom.” Caitlin Fross truly exemplifies this core value – everything she takes on is done to the very best of her ability. Academically, she is top of her class both at UNC Kenan-Flagler and at the UNC Gillings School for Global Public Health, where she is earning master’s degrees in both schools.
Even though Caitlin is a dual-degree student, she found the time to excel in a number of extracurricular leadership roles. She served as project leader for a Dean’s Fellow project, focused on updating cases used in the core curriculum to better reflect the contemporary workforce. Caitlin also served on the board of the United Way of the Greater Triangle as part of the Nonprofit Board Consultants Program. The nonprofit organization benefited from Caitlin’s business leadership and new insights.
Caitlin has worked tirelessly as a leader in the Carolina Women in Business and by partnering with the Admissions and Student Services offices to coordinate events for women geared at highlighting the benefits of pursuing a business career and completing an MBA Program. Specifically, she assembled and moderated panels for Forte, UNC Kenan-Flagler Women’s Workshop, Fellows Visit, and Next Generation Female Leaders. The first three panels focused on women interested in pursuing MBAs, while the latter event was for female high school students considering majoring in business and pursuing some aspect of business as a career. She achieved our goals for the panels: show the range of options available in business and to profile women who were extremely successful in what they decided to pursue.” — Sridhar Balasubramanian (Dr. B), Associate Dean of the MBA Program, University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School
DON’T MISS: CLASS OF 2016: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST GRADUATING MBAS
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Duke University, Fuqua School of Business
“Paul stands out as an authentic leader with strong integrity and values. He is an Air Force veteran and his classmates quickly identified him as a leader. One student nominated him for an award in his first year and provided the conclusion, “Paul’s passion is people and he always makes whoever he is talking with feel like they are the focus of his attention regardless of how many other things he has going on.”
Age: 31
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Education:
University of Notre Dame, BS Aerospace Engineering
Naval Postgraduate School, MS Systems Engineering
Where did you work before enrolling in business school?
United States Air Force, Space and Missile System Center, Lieutenant, Astronautical Developmental Engineer, 2007-2011
NASA, Jet Propulsion Lab, Lieutenant, Astronautical Developmental Engineer, 2008-2009
National Reconnaissance Office, Captain, Program Manager, 2011-2012
United States Air Force, The Pentagon F-35 Program Office, Captain, Program Manager, 2012-2013
NATO, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Captain, Chief Engineer, 2013-2014
Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? Google Inc., Mountain View, California
Where will you be working after graduation? Google Inc., Product Manager
Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School Elected Student Body Co-President 2015-2016, Elected Section President 2014-2015, Academic Fellow for Economics, Corporate Outreach Chair of Design + Innovation Club, Recipient of Team Fuqua Award “Uncompromising Integrity” (Jan 2015), Selected to participate in Google Student Veterans Summit (July 2014), Dean’s List, Recipient of the Fuqua Class of 1988 Endowed Scholarship
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am most proud of being elected to represent my school as Co-President of the student body. Not only have I had the opportunity to act on the concerns of my classmates and speak on their behalf, but I was also able to coordinate strategic initiatives with my incredible executive team. We worked with the administration to completely revamp second year orientation, taking the entire class to the National Whitewater Center and Camp Carolina instead of staying on campus to facilitate team building. We transitioned our club database to a new online platform, built a new internship experience database, and are in the process of building a new series of events that will allow students to share their stories with fellow classmates, similar to TED talks. Finally, my position afforded me the opportunity to be a steward of the supportive and collaborative culture that makes Fuqua so unique and I could not be more proud to see that tradition continue.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Just prior to coming to Fuqua, I served as the NATO Chief Engineer at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. My team and I were responsible for the infrastructure, utilities, and repairs of a base of 22,000 soldiers and contractors. I was responsible for leading the engineering plan to drawdown the base to 6,000 members. While it was difficult being away from friends and family, every day I knew that my work was not only keeping American and international service members operationally efficient, but more importantly safe.
Favorite MBA Courses? I loved Strategy Implementation, Managerial Accounting, and Marketing Strategy, but Gavan Fitzsimons’ Consumer Behavior class was unlike any class I had ever taken before. Instead of being case-based, each class was a discussion of Gavan’s most recent research into the mind of the consumer. From his work on unconscious bias and restricted choice to new theories on the consumer need for structure and justice, each class was engaging and thought-provoking. I felt like I was reading a Dan Brown novel in that I couldn’t wait for each new class.
Why did you choose this business school? It simply comes down to the people and culture at Fuqua. I’ve heard it countless times and I couldn’t agree with it more, “we take our work seriously, but we don’t take ourselves seriously.” The people that decide to come to Fuqua are those that pull together to take on projects, can poke fun at themselves, and at the end of the day know how to cut loose and enjoy each other’s company.
What did you enjoy most about business school? I loved being surrounded by such motivated and passionate people. Outside of classes, Fuqua is almost entirely student-led. If there was a project or initiative, whether that be a club conference, recruiting prep, or an international group trip, there were students that were ready to lead or pitch in to help. The administration has found the perfect balance of when to offer support and when to let students take the reigns to get things done.
What was the most surprising thing about business school? To this day, I am still surprised by the diverse backgrounds of my fellow students. I’m friends with a former glass blower, a male ballerina, and an analyst for an art trading company (and that’s only within my 75-person section).
What was the hardest part of business school? The hardest part of business school was trying to decide where to spend my limited free time. With so many clubs, initiatives, and social events, I had to be purposeful in my pursuits and learn to schedule time for myself, otherwise I would have been completely overwhelmed.
What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? Be sincere about who you are and don’t try to be something you’re not. If you can show that you know yourself and you’re comfortable in your own skin, you will demonstrate your ability to relate to others, which is something that Fuqua prides itself on.
“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I realized that I could deliver innovative products faster and at a lower cost by being in the private sector.”
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…co-founder of my own micro-brewery with my buddy from college.”
What are your long-term professional goals? I hope to be a leader in the movement to commercialize space by starting my own company. If I’m successful, I hope to build the first space elevator, which will allow for a 100x reduction to transportation costs to low earth orbit.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I wouldn’t be anywhere without my family’s love and support. My parents always pushed me to try my hardest in all of my pursuits while also teaching me that life is more than just work. They emphasized the importance of building relationships and that nobody makes it to where they are in life without the help of others. It’s those lessons that made me the man I am today and I will never be able to thank them enough.
Fun fact about yourself: My summer job in high school and college was as a DJ for weddings, birthday parties, and proms.
Favorite book: The Martian by Andy Weir
Favorite movie: Top Gun
Favorite musical performer: The Beatles and Billy Joel
Favorite television show: Arrested Development
Favorite vacation spot: Cartagena, Colombia
Hobbies? Playing piano and guitar, home-brewing beer, competitive sailing (Farr 40’ Class), and hiking the outdoors
What made Paul such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?
“I have gotten to know Paul Jacobs very well the past two years, first through his role as a section representative and later, as one of our student government co-presidents. Paul stands out as an authentic leader with strong integrity and values. He is an Air Force veteran and his classmates quickly identified him as a leader. One student nominated him for an award in his first year and provided the conclusion, “Paul’s passion is people and he always makes whoever he is talking with feel like they are the focus of his attention regardless of how many other things he has going on.”
I can attest that Paul always has a lot going on. As one of our co-presidents, he dedicated the last year to creating the best experience possible for his classmates. The result has been a class that has had a number of activities focused on greater inclusiveness within the community and one that has followed his lead in and out of the classroom. One of Paul’s most significant contributions has been his day in and day out positive, infectious attitude. He is a role model for others and I know has made others not only feel more comfortable at Fuqua but more excited to engage and get the most out of their experience. He will carry that attitude to Google after graduation and I am confident will do great things there as well.” — Russ Morgan, Associate Dean, The Duke MBA – Daytime and Master of Management Studies, Professor of the Practice of Marketing, Duke University, Fuqua School of Business
DON’T MISS: CLASS OF 2016: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST GRADUATING MBAS
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