Meet NYU Stern’s MBA Class of 2020 - Poets&Quants

There is something timeless about New York City. From Irish immigrants disembarking on Ellis Island to Omaha emigres rolling into Penn Station, everyone is struck by its vastness. By day, newcomers stand in awe of the iconic skyline, where every street is the set from some hazy TV memory. By night, the city is maze of streaming and flashing lights – a backdrop to the city’s non-stop stimulation and never sleep spirit, where there is always something to see or do.

In New York, everyone is chasing, feeding off the sense of possibility: the feeling that you can do more, do anything – be anything! It is a limitless “You name it, we got it” milieu, where you can access anything at any time. That’s what made it a commercial hub, a cultural capitol, and a melting pot. Basically, the Big Apple is the front line of the American dream: brassy and buoyant, rewarding the gifted and gritty, ever-changing yet rooted in a timeless promise of autonomy and opportunity. Think of it as the city of startups, a place that has birthed everything from hot dogs to hip-hop. It is a setting to shed the past, start anew, and never look back.

THE BEST OF EVERY WORLD

That also makes it a dream destination for thousands of business students. Every company is here. Just hail a cab or scrunch into a subway and students can be at their dream destination in 40 minutes. Home to every language and nationality, New York City offers the best of everything: food, fashion, entertainment – you name it! An experience unlike any other, the Empire City was a big part of New York University’s Stern School of Business’ allure for the Class of 2020.

NYU ‘Sternies’ hanging out in Washington Square Park.

Arati Venkatram hails from Mumbai – considered by some to be India’s answer to New York City. A senior consultant at Deloitte, Venkatram was struck by how ‘Gotham’ was “teeming with opportunities.” Jeff Battipaglia, a U.S. Marine, touts the school’s Greenwich Village locale for being close to “practically any industry a candidate is interested in pursuing.” For Rodrigo Acuna Cervantes, a private wealth management analyst at Morgan Stanley, that industry is finance.

“One of the most important advantages that Stern offers is the access to the financial institutions in the city,” he explains. “Stern has an unparalleled network of alumni and its footprint is embedded in all the major banks in NYC. This bond between the city and Stern is absolute when it comes to experiential learning, networking and recruiting.”

B-SCHOOL MAXIM: LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION!

J.P. Eggers, Vice Dean for MBA Programs at Stern, notes that the program takes this bond into the classroom for an unparalleled education experience as well. “No school makes better use of its locational advantage,” he contends in a statement to Poets&Quants. “By being in New York City, we are able to attract amazing adjunct faculty to offer some of the most popular electives at NYU Stern. We have four sitting CEOs or Presidents who teach full courses at Stern (including Buzzfeed’s Greg Coleman and Sotheby’s Tad Smith), and other faculty are senior leaders with deeply specialized knowledge at many of the leading banks, consulting firms, and media companies in New York. Stern offers countless opportunities to maximize your exposure to New York City, right outside the front door.”

Inside that door, Stern carries a long and proud tradition too. The ‘Father of Modern Management,’ Peter Drucker, spent nearly a quarter century teaching at the school. Currently, the faculty includes three Nobel Prize winners in Economics, not to mention Aswath Damodaran – a finance guru who has been described as Wall Street’s “Dean of Valuation.” The MBA alumni also boast PayPal CEO Dan Schulman and Bank of New York Melon CEO Charles Scharf – not to mention past heads of NASDAQ, Cardinal Health MTV, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Many of these leaders – like the Class of 2020 – didn’t matriculate among New York City’s elite. Instead, they arrive tough and tested, hardscrabble and humble, ready to tackle anything that comes their way.

Nica Langinger, who earned her bachelors and master’s degrees at Stanford, calls her classmates “clear-eyed: “They know what they like, what they don’t like, and what they’re working toward.” Piggybacking on that, Miguel van Zeller calls the class “highly motivated to conquer the world.” At the same time, Patrick Phillips believes his classmates compare favorably to the platoons he has led in the U.S. Army.

CLASSMATES SETTING YOU UP FOR SUCCESS

Sternies spending time together after class

“The Sternies I have met so far are both driven and generous. Everyone is passionate and focused on their future and career goals, but is simultaneously incredibly willing to help fellow classmates and prospective students. Even though the military has such a singular and unique culture, I definitely feel like there is a similar level of teamwork found here at Stern. People are always going to set you up for success.”

The class doesn’t always come from the fanciest locales. Think Valparaiso, Indiana and Yardley, Pennsylvania, or Porto, Portugal. Many times, they defy convention. Patrick, for one, hopes to break into the entertainment industry after studying cinematic arts and spending four years in the army. In contrast, Nnamdi C. Obukwelu, a Harvard grad, beat the odds by making it as an NFL lineman – and again later as an equity researcher.

“Athletics defined who I was for the majority of my life, so having to essentially rebrand myself was a tough transition to make,” he admits. “However, looking back on it, having to go through such a transition relatively early in my life has prepared me for other transitions I will have to make, notably from working full-time to becoming a full-time student.”

RUBBING ELBOWS WITH BUSH AND BIDEN

That wasn’t the only achievement notched by the Class of 2020 on their way to the Kaufman Center. At Snapchat, Langinger built the firm’s B2B support team from one member to over 40. Similarly, Cervantes created five asset allocation models for offshore clients at Morgan Stanley – which netted over $100 million in new investments for the firm. Similarly, Venkatram earned her first promotion in investment banking in half the time for normal analysts. For Battipaglia, his biggest achievements were also his most personal.

“One of the great privileges in the Marine Corps includes being asked to promote junior Marines and sailors that one works with,” he explains. “Promotions are a source of pride for service members and are indicative of the additional schooling, training, and sacrifices made to achieve them. I consider it my biggest accomplishment and honor to have been asked to promote several Marines and share in their special day.”

Indeed, you’ll find this new crop of Sternies all enjoyed a special day of some sort. Alice Schnurman, a Wharton grad-turned-consultant, scaled the Great Wall of China…a month after ACL surgery. Cervantes was part of the soccer team that won the Adidas Soccer Cup in 2008. In college, Sami Abdisubhan gave Vice President Joe Biden and his granddaughter a tour of his Georgetown dorm. Then again, Battipaglia enjoyed two special days.

“I met President George W. Bush on two separate occasions, on two different football fields, almost two years apart.”

A RISE IN GMATS AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

By the numbers, the Class of 2020 is decidedly smaller than its predecessors. During the 2017-2018 cycle, the school lured 375 students, down from the 399 who comprise the 2019 Class. By the same token, the class attracted nearly 150 few applications, a number that’s coupled with a 2% uptick in acceptance rate to 23%.

Academically, the 2020 class represents a slight improvement over previously years. They posted a 717 GMAT – up four points (and the school’s best number since the 2016 Class). In contrast, the undergraduate GPA also remained relatively steady, slipping by a negligible .03 of a point. At the same time, the percentage of women slipped by three points, a number nearly made up by a two point gain with the percentage of international students. In fact, the number of international students at Stern has jumped by 8% over the past three classes, a tribute to the increasingly-cosmopolitan nature of the program.

Stern has been characterized as the intersection of commerce and culture. That is reflected in the academic and professional backgrounds of the classroom. Last year, business majors accounted for 36% of the class. This year, that number was sliced to 29%. Making up the difference are the humanities and social sciences, which jumped a combined 4% (with humanities comprising 17% of the class and social sciences another 16%). Similarly, STEM majors climbed three points to 20%, with economics holding steady at 18%.

Overall, Stern drew the largest percentage of students from the financial services sector. At 26%, finance professionals double their nearest bloc – consultants – which come in a 13%. Considering New York City’s depth and variety in industry, it should surprise no one that Stern’s classes are equally diverse. Besides finance and consulting, no profession makes up 10% of the class with the biggest blocs including technology (9%), entertainment and media (7%), military and government (7%), and consumer products (6%).

 

GO TO NEXT PAGE TO ACCESS 10 IN-DEPTH PROFILES OF STERN FIRST-YEARS 

Sternies leaving school for the day and heading off to Greenwich Village.

PROGRAM DRAWS NEARLY 300 EMPLOYERS

This wide range is extended into hiring. In the Class of 2017, for example, 288 employers hired Stern MBAs. While ‘Sternies’ found work in traditional MBA haunts like McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, and Google, they also earned coveted spots in brands like the National Basketball Association, Louis Vuitton, and Lionsgate. Stern alumni even made a dent in the startup world, with Spring, Inc. ranking 9th among P&Q’s top MBA startups of 2018. In the process, the class pulled down average starting pay of $181,457, higher than nearby competitors like Yale SOM and Dartmouth Tuck.

Like many MBA programs, NYU Stern has experienced a deep shift in graduate hiring since the economic collapse. Over the past decade, the percentage of Stern graduates choosing finance has plummeted from 37% to 23%. In finance’s place, consulting has risen from 14% to 26%. Likewise, that percentage moving into technology has doubled over the past year alone, with the program adding a Fintech specialization and beefing up West Coast treks to match. For Eggers, technology is becoming an increasingly foundational to the Stern sensibility.

“Technology, already one of the hidden strengths of the school, has become even more visible,” he explains. “We launched the new Focused MBA program in Technology & Entrepreneurship in May 2018 (Andre Koo Tech MBA), and Technology has become the #3 employer of Stern MBA graduates (behind Finance and Consulting), with Amazon as #1 for the Class of 2017.  This means more courses (across all programs) in technology, fintech, analytics, and entrepreneurship, and more technology companies on campus for projects and recruiting. Whatever your career aspirations, technology and exposure to technology are central to everyone’s success.”

A WEALTH OF HANDS-ON LEARNING PROJECTS

Sternies in Washington Square Park

This increased focus on tech also caught the eye of Kelly Kennedy, a William R. Berkley Scholarship recipient who graduated with a math and computer sciences degree from Purdue this past spring. “Being able to take courses that will give me a strong business foundation, as well as courses that explore the way different business scenarios exist within the technology industry, was something that really drew my attention to Stern.  Also, I was impressed by the wide variety of tech-focused extracurricular opportunities that have been growing or recently created such as the W. R. Berkley Innovation Labs, the Fubon Center for Technology, Business and Innovation, and the Stern Technology Association.”

Such tech resources will soon be supplemented with a new program that will tap into NYU’s leadership outside the business school. “Stern is about to launch the first cohort of early-stage science and deep technology startups in its Creative Destruction Lab—NYC, the first-of-its-kind in the U.S.,” adds Eggers. “The nine-month program links expert entrepreneurs with venture founders, and integrates the technical and scientific strength of NYU as a world-class research university in medicine, analytics, and other domains with an experiential and educational opportunity for Stern MBA students to see the venture development process close up. The first venture cohort arrives in the fall of 2018.”

Such developments come on the heels of Raghu Sundaram’s elevation to dean in January. An advocate for experiential learning, he was one of the minds behind another innovation: Stern Solutions. Drawing on the horde of industries, job functions, and partnership opportunities in New York City, Stern Solutions pairs up 3-5 Stern students with a faculty member to partner with employers to tackle significant issues in their organizations. Such hands-on work – electives that can be completed for credit – enables students to apply what they’ve learned in real time, serving as a mini internship to boost the real world experience on their resumes. Among MBA students, Stern Solutions have been a home run. In the 2017-2018 year, according to the school, 565 completed projects involving 80 industry partners – with past partners including big names like HBO and MasterCard.

A MID-SIZED PROGRAM WRAPPED IN A MONSTER-SIZED BUSINESS SCHOOL

“Experiential learning is a fantastic opportunity that Stern provides because it combines the best of academic learning and case study because the experience is the case study itself,” Sundaram explains in a 2017 interview with P&Q. “You’re learning about the project and you’re learning hands-on in way where you’re learning to apply all the tools, techniques and concepts and ideas that you learned in the classroom.”

While the Class of 2020 may seem mid-size with 375 members, it is actually burrowed into a far larger business program. Counting undergrad, graduate, and executive students, the program features nearly 5,300 students and 330 professors. In the MBA program alone, there are 200 electives and 25 specializations – including rare options like Law & Business, Luxury Marketing, Social Innovation and Impact, and Entertainment, Media and Technology. In fact, students can complete up to three specializations to go along with their General Management MBA.

Such breadth of specializations, coupled with Stern’s traditional excellence in areas like finance, marketing, and international business, was a major factor for Obukwelu. “As a career switcher, I felt that the opportunity to specialize in something that directly spoke to my career aspirations would better position me for success after school.”

Sternies waiting for a cab.

For Phillips, that passion is entertainment. He found the volume and deepness of opportunities to be exclusive to NYU. “Stern offers so many incredible opportunities to learn more about the entertainment industry and I am really looking forward to taking advantage of activities with the Entertainment, Media and Tech Program and the Entertainment, Media and Sports Association student organization. From the experiential learning trip in May to the Cannes Film Festival to career programming with media companies like Time Warner here in New York, there is a lot to look forward to.”

EQ + IQ = STERN MBA

Along with its surplus of options, Stern is best-known for its IQ+EQ philosophy. In the MBA program, talent and credentials are only part of the equation. Beyond those, the Stern community is seeking emotional intelligence – self-awareness, self-control, empathy, warmth, openness, and generosity. It is something the program measures closely in admissions, be it an EQ endorsement letter or “Pick Six” picture captions that capture each applicant’s personality.

Francis Varrichio, a 2018 grad and P&Q Best & Brightest MBA, appreciated the approach during recruiting. It signaled to him the value of the “whole person” at Stern and how “personality and heart” matter as much as academics, resume, and technical skills.

This IQ+EQ philosophy also resonated with the 2018 Class as they were weighing their options.

“In my five years as a consultant,” Schnurman explains, “I’ve seen the impact of uncomfortable situations, and realized that integrity and empathy are key to being both a successful businesswoman and person.”

Abdisubhan noticed the difference when he attended the Discover Stern Fall Diversity Weekend. “My interactions with the students were more genuine, candid, engaging and frankly, enjoyable. I had an “ah ha” moment and realized that this was clearly EQ at work. It was evident that the students clearly adhered to the school’s mantra: As NYU emphasizes, it’s more than just IQ; it’s IQ + EQ. I am excited to live by this standard.”

A BUSY FUTURE

NYU’s Stern School of Business

What’s ahead for the Class of 2020? Schnurman, for one, has already devised a FOMO agenda that’d make any self-starting New Yorker proud. “I’m excited to join Stern Women in Business and help plan the conference! At my first consulting firm, I co-founded a Women’s Leadership Initiative to offer a forum for women and men to discuss workplace issues and find female mentors. The positive impact this had on morale and retention inspired me, and I’d love to continue working in this area. Also, I’m super pumped for Stern Cellar – I got married at a winery – and am talking to other incoming students about starting a Triathlon Club.”

Her plans after graduation are equally impressive. “According to my bucket list, I will finally be able to do crow pose in yoga, speak Russian, and keep a plant alive. Professionally, I will be making a positive impact on my organization, whether by mentoring others, promoting a culture of empathy, or implementing innovative business practices.”

In contrast, Kennedy is holding back and keeping an open mind, knowing there will be plenty of opportunities to come during her two years. “I would like to be in a role that allows me to combine both my technical and business knowledge while working on key opportunities or challenges that the business is facing. Being able to gain leadership experience and having substantial accountability in my role are two key factors that I will consider when recruiting.”

What led these professionals to enter business schools? Which programs did they also consider? What strategies did they use to choose their MBA program? What was the major event that defined them? Find the answers to these questions and many more in the in-depth profiles of these incoming MBA candidates. 

DON’T MISS: MEET THE MBA CLASS OF 2020: PROFILES IN COURAGE or MEET NYU STERN’S MBA CLASS OF 2019

Student	Hometown	Alma Mater	Employer
Sami Abdisubhan	Old Bridge, NJ	Georgetown University	Decision Lens
Rodrigo Acuna Cervantes	Mexico City, Mexico	Universidad Iberoamericana	Morgan Stanley
Jeff Battipaglia	Yardley, PA	U.S. Naval Academy	U.S. Marine Corps
Kelly Kennedy	Valparaiso, IN	Purdue University	Salesforce
Nica Langinger	Los Angeles, CA	Stanford University	Snapchat
Nnamdi C. Obukwelu	Brockton, MA	Harvard College	Hedgeye Risk Management
Patrick Phillips	Carlisle, PA	University of Southern California	U.S. Army
Alice Schnurman	New York City, NY	University of Pennsylvania	SSA & Company
Miguel van Zeller	Porto, Portugal	Universidade Catolica Portuguesa	McKinsey & Company
Arati Venkatram	Mumbai, India	University of Mumbai	Deloitte

Sami Abdisubhan

New York University, Stern School of Business

“An intellectually curious, charismatic and results-driven marketing enthusiast with a passion for sports.”

Hometown: Old Bridge, NJ

Fun Fact About Yourself: I escorted Vice President Joe Biden and his Secret Service detail to my freshman-year dorm on his granddaughter’s tour of Georgetown.

Undergraduate School and Major: Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business; Finance & Marketing

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Decision Lens, Business Development Representative

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I started my first job halfway through the fiscal year, and the sales director I worked for was at 17.5% of his annual revenue goal. With my campaigns and successful outreach, we were able to end the year at a mark that was 112.5% of his goal. As a result, we were named one of the most successful teams that year.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? My peers are all incredibly engaging. When we talk about our backgrounds, career aspirations or goals, each person I have met has always been fascinating and personable.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? I chose NYU Stern because of its strong emphasis on what it calls “EQ”, or emotional intelligence. All MBA programs tout their collaborative and communal environments, but Stern takes it further. Through administrators and the faculty, Stern encourages group emotional intelligence. EQ is strongly endorsed and is part of the school’s core philosophy.

When I visited NYU Stern for Discover Stern Fall Diversity Weekend, the difference in the atmosphere was clearly noticeable. My interactions with the students were more genuine, candid, engaging and frankly, enjoyable. I had an “ah ha” moment and realized that this was clearly EQ at work. It was evident that the students clearly adhered to the school’s mantra: As NYU emphasizes, it’s more than just IQ; it’s IQ + EQ. I am excited to live by this standard and look forward to starting school in the fall.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Stern Speaks, the student speaker series for MBA candidates, as I really value the importance of an open forum for community dialogue.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Having worked in sales and business development, I knew that my next position likely would have been in the same arena but from the relationship management side. However, my passion lies in marketing, which is hard to get into without the requisite experience. Therefore, I knew pursuing an MBA was the right decision to make the career pivot.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I thought about what is possible professionally with an MBA and what trajectories those with my desired career path had taken since graduating to assess the investment. An MBA isn’t just about the first job after school; it’s about putting your career on the right track for advancement and leadership. I also factored in whether my aspirations could be achieved without the MBA. Because I’m considering a career pivot, I concluded that they could not. With these two determinations, joined by the incredible network gained, I decided going to business school was worth the investment.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Wharton, Kellogg, McCombs, Goizueta, Owen

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I determined fit in two steps. First, I had to understand what I wanted professionally, personally and socially from a school. Second, I had to do my due diligence in researching programs. I used several different methods to research my prospective schools. With respect to the first step, I sought to enroll in a program with a strong marketing specialization in a large city with a class size of fewer than 500 students. In researching the various schools, I scoured the programs’ websites, read online MBA forums, and attended prospective student presentation and networking receptions to learn about the school. However, the most effective thing when evaluating schools is to connect with the current students and alumni, either through campus visits or informational conversations. Hearing from individuals going through the journey themselves and placing oneself on campus helps tremendously when assessing culture and fit.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? When I came to Georgetown, I anticipated working in finance on Wall Street. Yet, when I took my introductory marketing class, Principles of Marketing, I realized how intrigued I was by consumer behavior. I became excited at the prospect of studying human behavior, specifically on purchasing trends and the motivations behind consumers brand decisions. I started to think of myself as a consumer differently, and quickly found my career aspiration.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I plan to work in consumer goods marketing.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself continuing to work in brand management, rising to the level of an innovative and influential leader.

Rodrigo Acuna Cervantes

New York University, Stern School of Business

“Outgoing Mexican who has developed his whole career in an international context.”

Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico

Fun Fact About Yourself: In 2008 I was part of the team that won the Adidas Cup soccer competition.

Undergraduate School and Major: Universidad Iberoamericana, Major in Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Morgan Stanley, Private Wealth Management Analyst

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:  My biggest accomplishment in my career so far has been developing five asset allocation models for offshore clients. These models are now the base for my team’s advisory business. The project has captured more than $100MM in new investments.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Driven and adaptable. All of the classmates that I have already met have a very well-established set of goals for their MBA. Additionally, they all have very diverse backgrounds, including careers in multiple sectors and industries.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The number one factor that led me to choose Stern was location. Stern’s location in NYC can help me take advantage of the biggest financial hub in the world. The program location is best exploited by attending the full-time program. One of the most important advantages that Stern offers is the access to the financial institutions in the city. Stern has an unparalleled network of alumni and its footprint is embedded in all the major banks in NYC. This bond between the city and Stern is absolute when it comes to experiential learning, networking and recruiting.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Graduate Finance Association, Latin American Business Association, Stern Soccer Club and Stern Cellar

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? My short-term career goal is to gain experience in investment banking, which I plan to do through Stern’s MBA program. I hope to build on my exciting private wealth management background and the wonderful experiences I have had advising demanding clients and learning a great deal of the finance world in practice.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Ever since I finished my undergrad, I had my mind set to earn an MBA. I knew that an MBA would give me the analytical, communication and leadership tools needed to succeed in the business world. As my career grew and I started setting my long-term goals, I knew that an MBA would be of paramount value for me to develop in the next stage of my career.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? UCLA Anderson, Chicago Booth, Columbia Business School

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I wanted to study in a big city with access to the biggest financial markets and with a wide array of financial institutions to choose from in terms of recruiting. The shortlist came to three cities: New York, Chicago and LA. Out of those three, I researched the programs, spoke to alumni and current students to figure out how each program would help me achieve my goals. I ended up deciding that being in New York would give me a competitive advantage when recruiting for the next phase of my career.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? For me, my defining moment was when I left my home country of Mexico and arrived to a new city (Miami) in a different country, away from my family, friends and the business network that I had developed.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? My short-term career goal is to gain more experience in investment banking.

Where do you see yourself in five years? My long-term career goal is to continue to grow as leader, gain international experience, and incorporate the disruptive forces of fintech that will radically transform the face of the finance sector forever.

Jeff Battipaglia

New York University, Stern School of Business

“Firm believer in the golden rule, embracing new challenges/opportunities, and the power of sport.”

Hometown: Yardley, Pennsylvania

Fun Fact About Yourself: I met President George W. Bush on two separate occasions, on two different football fields, almost two years apart…and he remembered me!

Just kidding, he didn’t remember me, but the rest of that is true.

Undergraduate School and Major: United States Naval Academy, Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: United States Marine Corps, Logistics/Supply Officer.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: One of the great privileges in the Marine Corps includes being asked to promote junior Marines and sailors that one works with. Promotions are a source of pride for service members and are indicative of the additional schooling, training ,and sacrifices made to achieve them. I consider it my biggest accomplishment and honor to have been asked to promote several Marines and share in their special day.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Optimistic. So far, I have only had the opportunity to meet fellow veterans at Stern. Like me, they are coming from varied military backgrounds and are making a drastic career change as their service time ends. Everyone is excited for this opportunity and eager to learn, meet new life-long friends, and lay the foundations for their future careers.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Stern’s academic and professional reputation spanning industries and MBA programs is hardly any secret. What really piqued my interest in Stern was their emphasis on community and focus on individuals’ intellectual and emotional intelligence. Everyone has certain skills, qualities, and experiences that they can utilize to better the broader community. As a military veteran, this resonated with me. Sternies are a diverse group of ambitious students who embrace the principles above.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? As part of the Military Veterans Club, I am most eager to help future vets who are interested in attending an MBA program. I was fortunate enough to connect with several Stern MVC alums, who were invaluable to me throughout the whole application process. I feel a strong sense of responsibility to pay that forward.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? After some serious soul-searching, I decided that a 20+ year military career was not what I ultimately envisioned for myself. I spoke with family, friends, mentors, fellow veterans and others about pursuing an MBA and its many advantages. It became clear to me very quickly that attending a full-time program was too good of an opportunity to pass up on.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I have always believed that additional education can only benefit the individual seeking it. In other words, there are no drawbacks for going back to school. Couple that with the incredible career development and networking aspects of top-tier programs, and it becomes hard to put a price tag on an MBA.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Besides Stern, I applied to Wharton and Haas.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? Throughout my MBA search, I was looking for schools with a charismatic and collegial student body, a strong academic reputation, a tight-knit veterans club, and a location in places where I was generally interested. I visited as many as I could, and walked around campus with other veterans. I know that travel can be difficult for some, but I found those campus visits to be extremely helpful in identifying the different cultures and attitudes at each program. In the end, Stern checked all the boxes of what I hoped for in an MBA and then some. Additionally, its prime lower Manhattan location cannot be beat for practically any industry a candidate is interested in pursuing.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? When I decided to attend the Naval Academy, I knew that I was making a nine-year decision (four-year college plus five-year obligated military service time). It was a fairly daunting choice that would change my life forever. The Academy, and subsequently, the Marine Corps, taught me how to think, how to care, how to lead, and how to earn and give respect.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? After graduation, I hope to gain valuable work experience in strategy and finance, ultimately broadening my general management skills and business acumen.

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I see myself leading cohesive teams in the development of innovative, customer-centric business strategies and marketing techniques. I believe that Stern will help me get there.

Kelly Kennedy

New York University, Stern School of Business

“I am a self-motivated problem solver who enjoys learning new things and meeting new people.”

Hometown: Valparaiso, Indiana

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have a twin sister, and I did three years of competitive ballroom dance.

Undergraduate School and Major: Purdue University, B.S. Mathematics-Computer Science

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Salesforce, Partner Account Coordinator Intern

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Although I have just graduated from Purdue University, the biggest accomplishment in my career so far is that I was able to have the opportunity to work with senior leadership on both the projects I was working on and in meetings that I attended, through all three of my internships at Salesforce.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? The Stern classmates that I have met so far are very open and collaborative.  People are always willing to share their experiences and show a genuine interest in understanding others.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The key factor the led me to choose NYU Stern for my MBA was the flexible curriculum and expanding focus on tech.  Being able to take courses that will give me a strong business foundation, as well as courses that explore the way different business scenarios exist within the technology industry, was something that really drew my attention to Stern. Also, I was impressed by the wide variety of tech-focused extracurricular opportunities that have been growing or recently created such as the W. R. Berkley Innovation Labs, the Fubon Center for Technology, Business and Innovation, and the Stern Technology Association.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? The club that I am most looking forward to is the Stern Technology Association.  Coming from a tech background, I think it will be very interesting to also understand the tech industry from a business perspective.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I chose to pursue an MBA directly from undergrad to expand my business knowledge and leadership skills.  I am interested in pursuing a career that allows me to solve key business challenges while also leveraging my technical background, and the knowledge and experience that I will gain as a MBA student will be essential.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? For me, there was no question of whether pursuing my MBA would be worth the investment, as I received NYU Stern’s William R. Berkley Scholarship, which supports college seniors or recent college graduates who wish to pursue their MBA full time. Investing my time into Stern’s MBA program is an incredibly valuable experience and will set me up for great success in my career.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? University of Chicago Booth, MIT Sloan, UCLA Anderson, Carnegie Mellon Tepper

How did you determine your fit at various schools? When determining fit at different schools, I focused on the flexibility of the curriculum as well as the culture.  For me, it was important to be in a program where I could tailor my courses to best prepare me for my professional interests.  I found tours and interviews to be very useful when determining if a school was a culture fit for me. Being able to see what key qualities each program valued as well as meeting potential future classmates were both invaluable in my decision process.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I don’t have any one defining moment in my life that has had a huge impact on who I am.  Rather, it is the collection of all of the small moments that have shaped me. I focus on constant growth and improvement of my knowledge and skills to push me forward in both my professional and personal endeavors.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? At this point I am keeping an open mind, but I am strongly leaning towards staying in tech. I would like to be in a role that allows me to combine both my technical and business knowledge while working on key opportunities or challenges that the business is facing. Being able to gain leadership experience and having substantial accountability in my role are two key factors that I will consider when recruiting.

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I would like to be in a role where I feel challenged and am gaining valuable experiences and connections.  I hope to be leading a team or company that performs well and is known for solving critical problems.

Nica Langinger

New York University, Stern School of Business

“Social justice-minded Slytherin with high standards for both self and country.”

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

Fun Fact About Yourself: More than half of my wardrobe is thrifted!

Undergraduate School and Major: Stanford University, B.A. International Relations ‘12, M.A. Latin American Studies ‘12

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Snapchat, Senior Business Operations Specialist

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Growing Snap’s first B2B support team from 1 to 40+ employees and launching live chat support for our advertisers.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Clear-eyed—they know what they like, what they don’t like, and what they’re working toward.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? A major selling point for me personally was Stern’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. I chose to interview during Stern’s Diversity Weekend, where I got the chance to meet current members of AHBBS (Association of Hispanic and Black Business Students). Their deep love of Stern and the close-knit family they built there was both palpable and inspiring.

My incredible interviewer, a Stern alumna who now works as a senior director at Planned Parenthood, shared with me the many opportunities Stern students have to pursue social impact as a career. I left our conversation feeling inspired and energized to follow in her footsteps.

During that weekend, I also learned about the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management—an amazing organization committed to increasing the representation of Black, Latino and Native leaders in business—and was thrilled to hear that Stern was one of their 20 member schools.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Aside from my core curriculum, I’d say I’m most looking forward to improving my Portuguese and participating in Stern’s “Doing Business in…” program in Brazil.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? After six years working in enterprise technology and digital advertising, I was eager to make the transition to a more mission-driven industry and function.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed school and new experiences. When I tried to imagine what my top regrets would be at age 80, I knew they would have certainly included not taking these pivotal years to dedicate to self-improvement and exploration.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Columbia Business School

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I definitely factored in location—living in a diverse and vibrant city was a top requirement for me. Being a SoCal native, the prospect of East Coast weather was a bit scary, so I made sure to visit New York in various seasons to get the full picture of what I was in for. Finally, I made a point to connect with current MBA students who shared similar backgrounds and career aspirations in order to get a feel for the kind of community and professional network each school offered.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? The 2016 election definitely changed me. Though painful, it forced me to reassess many of the truths I held about my country and the role I played within it. Seeking work-life confluence became my primary focus, as I could no longer justify sitting in the sidelines as the most marginalized among us were left behind by both the public and private sectors.

I have a lot of hope for 2020, our graduation year, and fully intend to apply my learnings to make this country the absolute best it can be for all who call it home.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? While I’m open to a variety of paths, I’d like to work in DC for a few years as a political consultant, campaign manager, or lobbyist for progressive policies.

Nnamdi C. Obukwelu

New York University, Stern School of Business

“A team-oriented person who is not afraid of a good challenge.”

Hometown: Brockton, MA (a.k.a The City of Champions!)

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m the second oldest of five sons.

Undergraduate School and Major: Harvard College, Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Hedgeye Risk Management (Equity Research Analyst); State Street Bank (Senior Associate); National Football League (Defensive Lineman)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment came in my previous career as a National Football League defensive lineman. Sitting in my parents’ living room and signing my contract to play for the Indianapolis Colts was a childhood dream come true.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? “Team-oriented” best describes the Stern classmates I’ve met so far. Going back to school is more involved than people think, and there is a great deal of preparation (both mental and emotional) that goes into it. So far, my classmates have been eager to offer words of encouragement and to make professional connections. This quality is also something I saw in the Stern alumni I have had a chance to speak with, and think this goes back to Stern’s focus on IQ +EQ. The admissions team does an incredible job of finding candidates who exhibit both IQ and EQ, and this shines through in the interactions we have as classmates.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Stern’s MBA program is unique in that it offers a wider range of specializations than other MBA programs. This was a key factor in my decision to attend Stern, because as a career switcher, I felt that the opportunity to specialize in something that directly spoke to my career aspirations would better position me for success after school.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m excited for the opportunity to get involved in various student groups on campus. Stern in Africa and the Management Consulting Association are two groups at the top of my list. Additionally, I would love to take part in Stern’s Doing Business In…(DBi) Program. The opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by various businesses operating in other parts of the world is an unparalleled experience.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I knew that I wanted to pursue MBA even as far back as when I was still in college. My goal as a young person was to be a leader, and I realized that many of the business leaders I admired had MBAs. So, I decided early on that an MBA would be something I would eventually pursue.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I thought long and hard about how an MBA would position me for the type of career I want to have. Getting an MBA is not just a two-year commitment – it’s more of a 20-year commitment, as it has long-term implications. Once I was able to articulate what my professional goals were and how an MBA would help me achieve these goals, I knew an MBA would be worth the investment.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I also applied to Harvard Business School, Columbia Business School, MIT Sloan, The Wharton School, Yale School of Management.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? When it came to evaluating my fit at various schools, I created a checklist of factors that I wanted to research and I dove headfirst into learning as much as I could about each school. Fortunately, I knew people who were currently attending or had attended the majority of the schools I was applying to, so the network of current students and alumni played a huge role in my evaluation. For the schools where I did not personally know anyone, I leaned on the admissions officers and various liaisons. My list of factors included location, career prospects (as it related to my particular goals), offerings in the classroom, and the students. I knew I wanted to stay in the Northeast; I wanted to stretch myself in the classroom, and feel at home amongst my classmates. Fortunately, Stern checked the box for all of these, and I was able to gain admission.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? To be candid, my defining moment was making the transition from being a professional athlete to having to work a normal job and build a career outside of athletics. Athletics defined who I was for the majority of my life, so having to essentially rebrand myself was a tough transition to make. However, looking back on it, having to go through such a transition relatively early in my life has prepared me for other transitions I will have to make, notably from working full-time to becoming a full-time student.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?  I am very interested in how competitive dynamics affect businesses. After graduation, I hope to be working with large corporations to help them combat such dynamics. A career in management consulting first comes to mind, but roles that involve extensive strategic thinking are very appealing to me.

Where do you see yourself in five years?  I like to think of myself as a problem solver, and this characteristic has helped to mold my pursuits. In five years, I see myself working in a consultative role to help corporations find a new steady-state in this ever-changing business environment.

Patrick Phillips

New York University, Stern School of Business

“A film kid and Army veteran who is passionate about entertainment, business and pizza.”

Hometown: Carlisle, PA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am the third of seven kids – but I’m the only one to join the military and the only one pursuing a career in the entertainment industry.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Southern California, Cinematic Arts

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: United States Army – Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, S3 Operations Officer

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My first job in the Army was as a Platoon Leader in a Truck Company. It was a newly-formed platoon of about 50 soldiers and was made up primarily of new troops directly out of basic training. I had the opportunity to work and train with this team for about a year, and then deploy with my platoon. Getting the chance to know my soldiers from their first days in the Army and then watch them prove themselves while executing logistics missions throughout the Middle East was really incredible. Knowing that I played at least some role in that growth as their Platoon Leader was one of my proudest achievements in the Army.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? The Sternies I have met so far are both driven and generous. Everyone is passionate and focused on their future and career goals, but is simultaneously incredibly willing to help fellow classmates and prospective students. Even though the military has such a singular and unique culture, I definitely feel like there is a similar level of teamwork found here at Stern. People are always going to set you up for success.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? I was able to very clearly see how the different parts of who I am would fit into the Stern community. As I was in the business school application process, I reached out and spoke with current students in Stern’s Entertainment, Media and Tech program, as well as students in both the Military Veterans Club and OutClass, Stern’s LGBTQ organization. Within each, I found people who were passionate and driven but also who were not easily defined by one thing. I knew that Stern would be a place that would be incredibly supportive for me as I continued growing as a leader.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Stern offers so many incredible opportunities to learn more about the entertainment industry and I am really looking forward to taking advantage of activities with the Entertainment, Media and Tech Program and the Entertainment, Media and Sports Association student organization. From the experiential learning trip in May to the Cannes Film Festival to career programming with media companies like Time Warner here in New York, there is a lot to look forward to.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? My time as an Army Officer gave me the chance, at a young age, to learn so much about leadership and management. However, I wasn’t sure exactly how to keep building on that experience as I transitioned from the military back to my lifelong dream of working in the entertainment industry. An MBA made the most sense to me as a way to build on my leadership experience while giving me new skills that I knew I needed for my future career.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Ultimately, the MBA for me is an investment in the entirety of my future career, from immediately after business school to thirty years down the road. I knew that the chance to take two years now to study business would be an investment that would pay off for the rest of my life.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Columbia Business School and NYU Stern were the two schools I applied to.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? An important tool I used in helping narrow my search was the Employment Reports published by each business school. Because I knew I wanted to go into a career in entertainment, I narrowed my search by finding programs that consistently placed graduates into this more non-traditional industry. Stern immediately stood out. Additionally, I looked at schools located in cities where I could easily have access to network with working industry professionals and take on in-semester internships. Stern’s location in the heart of New York City makes connecting to the entertainment industry incredibly straightforward.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? During my sophomore year of high school, my friends and I made a movie for a class assignment and I instantly became hooked. I spent the rest of high school and all of college learning everything I could about film and the entertainment industry. There really is nothing like being a part of a creative team, making something from scratch, and then being able to show what you made to an audience. Even though my career path has been a little unconventional, that rush I got when I was 15 showing my movie to my classmates is still what drives me.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I plan to pursue a role within a film studio or smaller film distribution company in a function that builds on the skills I will gain from my MBA, such as marketing, strategy or finance.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I hope to work my way up to a leadership position within a film studio and begin taking on more responsibilities as I continue towards my goal of eventually becoming a creative producer and owning my own company.

Alice Schnurman

New York University, Stern School of Business

“I am happiest working in teams to solve puzzles, from crosswords to business cases.”

Hometown: New York, NY

Fun Fact About Yourself: I climbed the Great Wall of China one month after ACL surgery (Couldn’t pass up on the adventure!).

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Pennsylvania, Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Associate Consultant at SSA & Company

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: On a past project for the CFO of an insurance company, my team was working with a new analyst who sent over inaccurate financial statements, missed emails, and forgot instructions. At first, I was frustrated, but empathy won over. Instead of focusing on technical tasks, I took her to coffee for a heart-to-heart. As she confessed she wanted to quit, I remembered my own struggle to assimilate to corporate life post-college. So, I gave her tips on navigating office culture and set up daily touch points to review expectations. By the end of our project, she had been promoted! This moment not only cemented my love of mentorship, but also taught me to turn frustration into a productive opportunity.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? The quality I respect most about Sternies is their humility. This came across during the application process when my conversations with current students were more about connecting person-to-person than listing accomplishments. Sternies listen as much as they share. They ask questions about you. I had an entire lunch without once mentioning work – just interests, relationships, and life. Most recently, I was worried about discussing pre-MBA programs with MBA classmates – What if things got competitive? Would it be awkward? I found the complete opposite. Sternies celebrated each other’s successes, shared information freely, and injected humor into tough situations. I could not be more excited to begin working on group projects, surviving recruiting and planning events with my MBA class!

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Stern’s explicit focus on EQ (Emotional Quotient) aligns well with my personal philosophy toward business. In my five years as a consultant, I’ve seen the impact of uncomfortable situations, and realized that integrity and empathy are key to being both a successful businesswoman and person. Additionally, I was entering my MBA with strong technical skills, so I wanted a program that would help me grow as a leader. Stern’s Leadership Fellows and Signature Projects offered focused opportunities to reflect honestly on my weaknesses.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m excited to join Stern Women in Business and help plan the conference! At my first consulting firm, I co-founded a Women’s Leadership Initiative to offer a forum for women and men to discuss workplace issues and find female mentors. The positive impact this had on morale and retention inspired me, and I’d love to continue working in this area. Also, I’m super pumped for Stern Cellar – I got married at a winery – and am talking to other incoming students about starting a Triathlon Club.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? A natural career shift arose for me after a promotion at work, when I realized I wanted to take on more people management responsibilities. I wouldn’t necessarily have the chance to do that at my current firm due to its size, so my options were to recruit for other companies or go back to school. I wasn’t entirely set on getting an MBA until I met current students and researched schools; Isaw a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for personal growth. The timing also coincided with my husband’s graduation from medical school, so we could decide where to move together.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Once I figured out that my career goal was to become a senior leader in a global organization, I checked out the resumes and LinkedIn profiles of my role models and found that they all had MBAs. I also saw that at my current firm, getting an MBA was a prerequisite to being promoted to a certain level. For me, an MBA is worth the investment to jump-start my growth as a manager, develop a lifelong network, and be considered for leadership roles.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? HBS, Wharton, Booth, Kellogg

How did you determine your fit at various schools? To make my decision, I created an Excel spreadsheet that ranked schools by: prestige (based on U.S. News reports), academic flexibility (from school websites), leadership development opportunities (from school websites), job prospects (based on employment reports), alumni willingness to help (based on conversations with friends at those programs), social life (based on conversations with friends), cost, and closeness to family. Highest weightings went to job prospects / alumni, social life, and closeness to family.

I found that most schools have fantastic classes and recruiting options for traditional career paths, so I’d recommend to future MBA applicants not to get too caught up in the numbers. To determine fit, reach out to friends currently in MBA programs and meet their friends. They will give unfiltered commentary, and you’ll be able to tell which people you truly get along with.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I was born ten days after my mother fled Soviet Bulgaria to immigrate to New York City, with hopes of raising me with more opportunities than she was provided. I grew up speaking Bulgarian at home, attended a French elementary school, studied Spanish in Cuba during a semester abroad, and ran a Model UN conference in China the summer after my sophomore year of college. My multi-cultural upbringing instilled in me a deep interest in international affairs, and these experiences have shown me that cooperation between businesses, governments and communities is necessary for economic development.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? Right now, the plan is to go into corporate strategy, finance or a leadership development program at a company with a significant global presence. I’m hoping to translate the problem-solving skills I learned in consulting to an environment where I can see a longer-term impact. You never know what opportunities an MBA (and NYC) bring though, so I’m keeping an open mind.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Still pushing myself outside my comfort zone! According to my bucket list, I will finally be able to do crow pose in yoga, speak Russian, and keep a plant alive. Professionally, I will be making a positive impact on my organization, whether by mentoring others, promoting a culture of empathy, or implementing innovative business practices.

Miguel van Zeller

New York University, Stern School of Business

“From the small city of Porto to the center of the world.”

Hometown: Porto, Portugal

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have 53 stitches in my head from a company retreat in Spain.

Undergraduate School and Major: Universidade Catolica Portuguesa. Undergraduate in Business Administration and Master (MSc) in Finance

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Junior Associate at McKinsey & Company

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I was named the Best Financial Institutions Analyst of Portugal and Spain.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Highly motivated to conquer the world.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Finance excellence. After graduating in finance, I was always eager to learn from one of the biggest (if not the biggest) finance guru of our generation.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Stern Sports and Private Equity Club (one on the leisure side and the other on the professional).

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Best timing in terms of career maturity (4 years experience) and it is the best timing to change career (I wanted to graduate before 30 years old – it is more of a psychological barrier than a reality).

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? It is difficult to find someone that did not receive at least the full amount spent during the MBA in wage in the first year of employment (before tax).

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Harvard and Stanford.

How did you determine your fit at various schools?  Location and career outlook.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? The moment I did the first student exchange (in 2011 at Warsaw School of Economics). After that experience, I was eager to live in several countries in the world and have a job that allowed me to travel around and get to know different cultures (something that travel during holidays cannot give you – a real cultural experience).

What do you plan to do after you graduate? For now I plan to return to McKinsey & Company.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Starting to run the family business – Port Wine production and commercialization.

Arati Venkatram

New York University, Stern School of Business

“Pragmatic but also romantic, with a love for learning, traveling and engaging in philosophical discussions.”

Hometown: Mumbai, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: My peaceful honeymoon on an island ended up being more hectic than our three-day wedding as my husband and I impulsively certified ourselves as open-water scuba divers

Undergraduate School and Major: Chartered Accountant; Bachelor of Commerce from H.R. College of Commerce and Economics, University of Mumbai

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Deloitte, Senior Consultant

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I was the first analyst in my investment bank to be promoted to associate without an MBA – and in 18 months which is half the regular duration. Having joined during the Indian stock market boom in 2014, I was able to prove my quick pickup, multi-tasking abilities and love for the job in a short timeframe that helped me gain the trust of my team. My job role was instantly elevated from desk analysis to client engagement on business development initiatives and live transactions, and also included managing our market pipeline and budget.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? All the Sternies I have interacted with are both inspired and inspiring. There is ambition coupled with humility and the spirit of collective development that I admire.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? New York City! Coming from Mumbai, which is India’s financial capital and another city that never sleeps, New York feels like home. The city is teeming with opportunities, both personal and professional that I am excited to take advantage of. When I visited Stern last year, it became clear that this magnificent city would be my campus, and I can’t wait to explore it.

On a separate, but not so unrelated note, it certainly helps that my husband lives in NYC too!

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? As a strong believer in and promoter of women in business, I am excited to engage with the Stern Women in Business Club. Having worked in a male-dominated investment bank where I strove to have a strong impact on the mindset towards women at the workplace, I learned that we all have the power to make a difference. I am therefore excited to have such a strong platform that will support me and others in this endeavor.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? There are three key reasons that led me to pursue an MBA at this stage. The first was to enhance my knowledge in holistic business strategy as my education and work experience up until 2016 was heavily focused on finance. The second was to build my international exposure on a personal and professional level. Third, I wanted to further develop my leadership skills as I elevate my career to the next level.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? My friends and family will tell you that I have always advocated spending on experiences over material items. My belief is the MBA will reward me with a lifetime of pay-outs by positively shaping my personality and enhancing my network on a global scale which in turn will help me build a prosperous career.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? When researching business schools, I prioritized location, flexibility in curriculum and availability of goal specific resources. Information sessions, MBA websites like Poets & Quants, and chats with current students and alumni were very helpful in shortlisting schools. However, what really influenced my decision-making process was visiting schools and getting a feel of the culture and whether I would fit in. The MBA is a big investment. To gain the most of it, I believed it was important to not only be at a school that would nurture my professional goals but also enhance my happiness quotient!

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? The moment I qualified as a chartered accountant was special to me. Growing up, I always admired my fathers’ dedication to the accounting profession and aspired to emulate him. The rigorous course taught me the power of discipline, determination and positive thinking, and I carry those lessons with me through all my endeavors.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? Post-graduation, I aim to gain more experience in management consulting by preparing companies for the dynamic future, advising them on organization restructuring, emerging leadership models and change-management. Having said that, I am entering business school with an open mind and will explore varied opportunities that lead me toward the same ultimate goal.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself effecting positive change to organizations and society, either as a consultant or from within a powerful organization.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE MBA CLASS OF 2020: PROFILES IN COURAGE

The post Meet NYU Stern’s MBA Class of 2020 appeared first on Poets&Quants.

from Poets&Quants
via IFTTT