Meet Chicago Booth’s MBA Class Of 2020 - Poets&Quants

It is called the only class you’re required to take at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. Leadership Effectiveness and Development – or LEAD for short – is the cornerstone of the Booth curriculum. Think of it as the embodiment of Booth’s “Trust Your Students” and “Pay It Forward” culture. It just comes with a twist: The course is taught by second year MBAs, not Booth’s decorated faculty.

In reality, these facilitators – or “facils” – are culture carriers. Carefully chosen and trained, facils create and teach the LEAD content in two quarters, the longest course in the Booth handbook. Broken into 60 student cohorts, the course opens with an outdoor ropes exercise and concludes with a leadership challenge. In between, first-years roll through hands-on exercises related to such topics as team dynamics, diversity, ethics, and interpersonal communication. In the process, facils practice leading, setting the bar for what’s expected for those who follow…including the next crop of facils.

LEARNING TO LEAD BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE

It is a rite of passage that drew several members of the Class of 2020 to Hyde Park. Allie Can Lei, a Twitter sales strategist, looked forward to bonding with her classmates at LEAD. Grace Zimmerly, who most recently worked inside NYPD headquarters, appreciates how the LEAD approach is more inclusive, “expansive enough to include experiences outside of the VP – associate — analyst structure.” For Vanessa Buie, a general surgery resident at nearby University of Chicago Hospitals, LEAD was the missing piece in her training. ’

“As a physician I do not believe our training gives enough emphasis to developing hard leadership skills,” she admits. “I am looking forward to learning more about myself, how my personality and behaviors impact the way I lead, and ultimately how to become an effective and inspiring leader.”

Chicago Booth graduation

At Booth, leadership comes in all forms. John Tracey, a U.S. Navy platoon commander, led a security mission in Central America with a tight deadline and limited resources. Similarly, Matthew Corcoran, a foreign services officer in the U.S. Department of State, learned to adapt to unfamiliar – and dangerous – terrain when he accepted a two year tour in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This was despite possessing no experience in the region, let alone any command of the language. Then again, Corcoran wasn’t the only member of the 2020 Class to step out of his comfort zone.

STUDENTS INTERESTED IN FAR MORE THAN A BALANCE SHEET

“Right after graduating college, I decided to take improv at Second City,” shares Maggie Carton, a research analyst who is awaiting the results of her level III CFA exam. “I took Level A through Level E at Second City, preforming three shows live for friends and family. Improv pushed me out of my comfort zone. I usually like structured presentations that are planned carefully in advance. Improv forces you to let go and think more about your improv ensemble than yourself. Since then, I have tried to embrace a “yes, and” attitude.”

In other words, you never know quite what to expect from the 2020 Class. Going in, Grace Zimmerly expected business school to be an all-day round of talks about IPOs and P/E ratios. Instead, the talks veered into areas that she never would’ve expected. “If I had to define the common factor across my classmates, it would be intense curiosity, broadly applied,” she explains. “No idea is too off the wall. And while that kind of intellectual openness can be terrifying, it’s also exhilarating. Boothies are an idiosyncratic bunch, in the best way possible, and that contributes to an active and fast-paced learning environment.”

Idiosyncratic? Vanessa Buie uses a five cent word to describe her classmates. She calls them “full” – as in “full of life, energy, passion – you name it, they’ve got it, in abundance.” Maggie Carton is equally enthusiastic about her peers. “The classmates I have met thus far are kind, welcoming, passionate, and ambitious. A killer combination!”

FROM NFL CHEERLEADER TO FUTURE SURGEON

Atrium of the Harper Center, the main building of the Booth School of Business

Speaking of combinations, you’ll find class members with rich lives that don’t conform to script. Buie, for one, was a Minnesota Vikings cheerleader before joining medical school. While serving in the Congo, Matthew Corcoran took a stab at being a boat captain traveling up the Congo River. In fact, Corcoran has already visited 50 countries, a list that is strangely missing both the United Kingdom and Mexico. Perhaps he could swap stories with Sarah Russell, an HP engineer with a similar wanderlust. “As an avid traveler, I have found that the three most helpful phrases to learn in any language are “Hello”, “Thank You”, and “Cheers!” – So far, I have managed to pick up these phrases in 11 languages (and counting!).”

Travel isn’t the only form of adventure that appeals to these first years. Ankita Panwar lists surfing, sky-diving, scuba-diving [and] canyoning, among her hobbies. She’ll find a kindred spirit in Toby Mills, a Goldman Sachs associate who has “surfed, skied, skated, and snowboarded in the same day.” Think that’s pressure? Try being Maggie Carton. “I was a driver in a Presidential Motorcade – I have never driven so fast in my life!”

If there is a theme in the Class of 2020, it would be this: They aren’t afraid to take risks. Take Matthew Corcoran. After seven years in the U.S. State Department, he headed off to New Mexico to lead a Congressional campaign for his college roommate, Paul Moya. Then there’s Grace Zimmerly. Before enrolling at Booth, she worked on the New York-New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program, which is managed by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Here, she quickly realized that it took nearly six months to turn over fatal overdose data to leadership. She quickly reduced this lag to 18 hours. In the process, she was able to provide real time data needed for law enforcement for “allocating resources, developing timely and actionable strategies, and identifying emerging threats.”

MORE DATA-DRIVEN THAN FINANCE-DRIVEN

It is students like Zimmerly who increasingly fit the Booth profile. They are problem-solvers who apply a data-driven, analytical approach to identify patterns, and develop tools that offer clear decision-making pathways. That’s exactly what Zimmerly is determined to build upon during her next two years at Booth.

“We need people who understand the minute operations of our companies and institutions and society as they are,” she says. “However, we also need people who can look at that status quo, break it apart, and rebuild the pieces into something better… Regardless of sector, management and leadership in the modern world needs more creative thinkers and effective actors. I think those are some of the most important skills that the modern MBA education provides – it’s not just economics and corporate finance anymore.”

In other words, Booth is a place to use data to solve the toughest problems. This multidisciplinary, analytical approach has long been Booth’s calling card, even as it has sometimes been reduced to a “finance school.” It is a methodology that appeals to the never-satisfied; it requires constant testing, revision, and defense – and often produces the longest-lasting solutions that touch the largest swath of stakeholders.

Chicago Booth students in class. Courtesy photo

“Of the many factors that made Chicago Booth my ideal business school,” writes Sarah Russell, “the one that was most important to me was Booth’s emphasis on an analytical approach to business. Coming from a highly technical background, I found this methodology to mesh well with how I approach my current industry challenges. Starting my MBA marks a big shift in my career, and Booth’s style of teaching allows me to draw upon and expand what I have already learned in the engineering industry.”

TYING AN ALL-TIME HIGH IN PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN

Chicago Booth has traditionally ranked among the most popular business schools for applications. That remained true during the 2017-2018 cycle. Like most business schools, Booth experienced a drop in applications. This year, the number of applicants fell by 9% to 4,289 – a number more in line with the 2013 and 2014 classes. Despite this, the full-time program grew by 11 students in the 2020 Class. It also cut the number of applicants who were tendered offers, reducing its acceptance rate to 22.9%.

Such fluctuations had little impact on the 591 member class. Average GMATs actually rose a point to 731, just a point shy of Stanford GSB and two points above Harvard Business School. To put that number into context, it is a 16 point improvement over the 2013 Class. That said, Booth’s median GMAT fell 10 points to 730. Average GPAs, however, barely changed, slipping just a hundredth of a point to 3.60.

Another improvement came among women. The percentage of women in the 2020 Class rose two points over the previous class. Even more, this 42% represents a seven point improvement over the 2011-2015 classes, which were stuck on the 35% mark each year. The percentage of minority students also climbed four points. Still, the Class of 2020 (as a whole) will be remembered for a steep drop in international students – and Chicago Booth was hardly immune. The percentage of international students tumbled six points to 30% — the school’s lowest mark in over a decade. Overall, Americans account for a 70% share of the class, followed by Asia (13.4%),

In previous classes, business-related majors enjoyed a slight advantage in being accepted. However, that shifted slightly with the Class of 2020. Here, business majors compose 24% of the class, down five points. This five point swing was made up by engineering, which jumped from 19% to 24% over the previous year. True to the school’s economics roots, economics majors represented the largest segment of the class with 25% — the same as the previous year’s class. The percentage of liberal arts majors rose three points to 15%, with physical sciences students taking up another 7%.

Professionally, consultants account for nearly a quarter of Boothies at 24%. Statistically, that leads the class, though that is due to how Chicago Booth segments its classes. If financial services (21%) and private equity and venture capital (9%) were combined, these students would represent 30% of the class. Students with backgrounds in non-profit and government (9%), technology (9%), and healthcare (6%) also represent significant blocs of the incoming class.

Go to next page for 12 in-depth profiles of Booth first-years.

University of Chicago’s Hyde Park Campus

ALUMNI GENEROSITY SET TO BENEFIT MBAs

Make no mistake: the Class of 2020 is joining a school with momentum behind it. This year, Booth tied with Harvard Business School in the U.S. News & World Report, buoyed by a 97% placement rate for the 2017 Class – not to mention average starting pay packages of $200,415. The school also scored high in its annual surveys with core constituencies. In the Bloomberg Businessweek employer satisfaction survey, Booth ranked 3rd overall – and 10th in student scores. Booth’s career services ranked 5th and 7th in the Financial Times and Economist satisfaction surveys. In U.S. News, its finance program ranked 2nd only to Wharton. By the same token, the school’s executive and part-time programs ranked 1st and 2nd by U.S. News – a tip of the hat to the level of top-to-bottom quality in the program.

This momentum is expected to surge thanks to the increased generosity of Booth alumni, says Stacey Kole, the school’s deputy dean for MBA programs. “The arrival of Dean Madhav Rajan last year has sparked flood of giving, much of which is directed at scholarships,” she writes in a statement to P&Q. “The gifts in the past 12 months include $75 million from Amy Wallman, ’75, and Richard Wallman, ’74; $10 million from Dave Liguang Chenn, ’00; $5 million from Raymond Svider, ’89; and $5 million from Rattan L. Khosa, ’79. These Booth alumni have made new scholarships, fellowships or student programming enhancements a key component of their gifts.”

Such gifts have also enabled Booth to attract blue ribbon faculty. Notably, the program recruited renowned behavioral economist Sendhil Mullainathan away from Harvard University. However, it isn’t just the money where Booth’s 50,000 strong alumni network comes into play, Kole emphasizes. They are also heavily engaged, taking Booth’s ‘pay it forward’ philosophy with them long after graduation.

Stacey Kole, Deputy Dean for Alumni, Corporate Relations and the Full-Time MBA Program at Booth

“Booth has more than 70 active regional alumni groups around the world—helps students achieve their dreams. For example, the annual Booth 20/20 event invites graduates back to campus to share their successes and challenges with incoming students. Alumni are also actively involved in helping students explore careers and create new business ventures.”

START UP SUMMER COMPLETED BY 70 MEMBERS OF THE 2020 CLASS

Matthew Corcoran can certain vouch for that. So far, he has been impressed by a “collaborative team environment” that fosters grown and helps students “achieve more than they could on their own.” Before he ever set foot on Booth, it was the sense of community from Booth alumni that impressed him.

“Booth linked me up with multiple alumni with similar backgrounds and I was blown away by the responsiveness and helpfulness of Booth’s alumni network.”

When it comes to current programming, Kole is particularly pleased with the Start Up Summer Initiative, which Booth is expanding after a successful two year pilot. “The program offers incoming students who are curious about entrepreneurship the opportunity to work for a Booth-led startup during the summer before they begin their MBA studies, she adds. “More than 70 members of the Class of 2020 interned this summer around the globe.  This truly unique program is unmatched and showcases Booth’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The continued growth of this initiative, along with financial support for tuition, encourages more risk-taking on the career front.”

Ask the Class of 2020 about what sets Booth apart and you’re bound to get a series of unexpected responses. John Tracey touts the program for being unconventional, a culture committed to action and never afraid to challenge the status quo. Thus far, Grace Zimmerly has been struck by its “general unconcern for the beaten path.” In fact, she has experienced an undercurrent of openness, which values students from across the spectrum of academic and professional backgrounds.

“While we may have a steep learning curve in certain areas, MBA candidates from nontraditional backgrounds have fresh perspectives and unique experiences to share. Booth’s approach to both academics and culture makes it clear that that’s treated as a given.”

A CURRICULUM WHERE STUDENTS DECIDE WHAT’S IMPORTANT

Then, there is the matter of Booth’s flexibility and customization – which received the most praise from the Class of 2020. Technically, LEAD is the only ‘required’ class. However, students must also take one class each in the areas of finance, economics, and statistics. Even here, first years choose their courses and aren’t required to follow a set core curriculum. As a result, they can load up on courses that interest them immediately. Aside from giving them a head start on internships, it speeds up their career transitions to boot. Rather than being restricted to their 591 classmates, they are taking classes with second years early on and first years the following year – potentially tripling their network (and that doesn’t count the EMBA courses in which many full-time MBAs enroll).

Artwork in a first floor study area at Booth.

In short, students are trusted to tailor their coursework, giving them greater control over their education and schedule. That made quite an impression on several first years like Allie Can Lei, who has very specific goals during school and plans after graduation.

“Booth’s flexible curriculum is a huge draw,” she admits. “Given different backgrounds and priorities, it is important to be able to customize our classes and schedule to maximize what we want out of these two years. Personally, there are specific classes I want to take in a certain order, while being able to allocate time for myself to work on my start-up.”

A PLACE WHERE FACULTY JOIN STUDENTS FOR LUNCH

Booth may also boast one of the most laid back campuses too. The Harper Center, the hub of MBA activity, features a world class contemporary art collection. It fosters a stimulating atmosphere where, true to the school culture, students are challenged to think differently about what they see on the surface. By the same token, Booth may be one of the friendliest business school campuses, particularly when it comes to faculty-student relationships. One reason: the faculty is highly accessible, with many holding office hours 5-6 times a week. These interactions go far beyond office visits, says Stacey Kole.

“Big name faculty will go to lunch with students,” she explains in a 2018 interview with P&Q. “That happens because they’re all going to lunch anyway and they’re in the same physical space. The fact that we have one main home for our faculty, and it is also the home of the full-time program affords a level of interaction that very much fits our culture. This place is about ideas. We ask faculty to do brown bag lunches and 300 students will turn up… That dynamic happens here in a way I would argue just doesn’t happen in other programs.”

Long known for being the most academic rigorous of MBA programs, Booth has increasingly become defined by its sense of community. For Daniel Carlini, that started long before LEAD, when the A.T. Kearney consultant was busy making the move from his native Brazil. “Being out of the country until a few weeks before the beginning of the classes, I was lagging behind in the process to move to Chicago (get a visa, get an authorization for my dog to travel, finding an apartment, etc.). But I could count on my classmates to help me with the whole process, giving me tips and facilitating my process.”

A RUGBY RIVALRY WITH KELLOGG?

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

What’s next for the Class of 2020? With a new women’s rugby team starting up, Grace Zimmerly is looking forward to trying something new…and sticking it to the Kellogg ladies in the process. Ricardo Johnson, an investment manager from South Carolina, plans to tap into the Svider Private Equity Program – not to mention several other investment-themed clubs and competitions. In contrast, Matthew Corcoran is counting the days until Booth’s Global Social Impact Practicum (GSIP), which will take him to India to handle a social impact project.

At the same time, some classmates are scaling back their ambitions. Allie Can Lei, for one, is focused on being “a more mature and thoughtful individual.” At the same time, Grace Zimmerly hasn’t settled on the means…but she certainly knows the long-term goal.

“I hope to have a career that requires solving increasingly challenging problems, but also constantly gives me new skills and shows me new ways of thinking, but I’m not closing any doors,” she says. I’m always happy when I manage to surprise myself.”

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

Student	Hometown	Alma Mater	Employer
Vanessa Buie	West Des Moines, IA	University of Minnesota	University of Chicago Hospitals
Allie Can Lei	Singapore	Tufts University	Twitter
Daniel Carlini	Recife, Brazil	Instituto Tecnologico de Aeronautica	A.T. Kearney
Margaret (Maggie) Carton	Chicago, IL	University of Chicago	Ariel Investments
Matthew Corcoran	Wisconsin Rapids, WI	University of Notre Dame	U.S. Department of State
Rei Fukushima	Kagoshima, Japan	University of Tokyo	JX Nippon Oil & Energy Asia Pte. Ltd.
Ricardo Johnson	Orangeburg, SC	Howard University	Schroder Adveq
Toby Mills	Venice, CA	UCLA	Goldman Sachs
Ankita Panwar	Meerut, India	Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur	Sequoia Capital
Sarah Russell	Laguna Beach, CA	Cal Poly San Luis Obispo	HP, Inc.
John Tracey	Baltimore, MD	United States Naval Academy	Ascent Technologies
Grace Zimmerly	Waterford, PA	Yale University	New York / New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA)

Meet the Class of 2020 Series

London Business School

University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School

University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business

Yale School of Mnnagement

University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business

Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management

UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

New York University’s Stern School of Business

Emory’s Goizueta School of Business

Washington University’s Olin Business School

Vanessa Buie

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

“Honest, passionate, and driven.  Outgoing, fun-loving and excited about new adventures and opportunities.”

Hometown: West Des Moines, Iowa

Fun Fact About Yourself: Former Minnesota Vikings Cheerleader.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Minnesota – Twin Cities: Biomedical Engineering.  Vanderbilt University School of Medicine: Doctor of Medicine

Most Recent Employer and Job Title:  University of Chicago Hospitals, General Surgery Resident

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I am given the greatest privilege on a daily basis to take care of people in their most vulnerable state, asleep, in the operating room. My greatest accomplishment thus far was my role on the night team as a trauma surgery resident during the opening month of the University of Chicago Trauma Center. The experience was rewarding in the tangible lives saved, but also extremely challenging as I learned to lead and motivate an inter-professional trauma team; teach our junior trauma residents, manage and mitigate the systems issues that arise with any new system implementation; continue to improve myself through the education and feedback my superiors had to offer; and learn to manage the emotional stress that comes with seeing extreme violence and trauma on a regular basis.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why?  Full. The new Boothies I have met are full of life, energy, passion – you name it, they’ve got it, in abundance.

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?  Opportunity for scientific collaboration. The University of Chicago has some of the greatest minds in the world and the potential for collaboration with the other graduate schools and medical center presents endless opportunities for scientific innovation.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? LEAD (Leadership and Development Program). As a physician I do not believe our training gives enough emphasis to developing hard leadership skills. I am looking forward to learning more about myself, how my personality and behaviors impact the way I lead, and ultimately how to become an effective and inspiring leader.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? As a general surgery resident, we traditionally take two years to do full time research, often basic science or clinical research. I have always had a desire to obtain my MBA, but did not feel I had enough experience previously to make it worthwhile, for example, as a medical student or prior to medical school.  I now have three years of real work experience practicing medicine at both a large academic center and university affiliated hospital. I have a clear picture of what I want my future to look like and what skills I need to learn to get there.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment?  Everything has a cost, but the impact I hope to have on an institutional level with my MBA is well worth that cost.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? None

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I am who I am today because of many moments, and who I am continues to change as I experience new moments. We are ever-evolving and I hope that my experience at Booth creates multiple moments that I can look back on in ten years and recount as one of many defining moments. Up until now, my time as a cheerleader has had a significant impact on my views about teamwork, self-image and grit. I worked as a diabetes educator in Nashville during medical school and had the opportunity to work with patients and transform their lives by learning about the constraints of their situation (food deserts, transportation deserts, literacy, etc.) and then finding ways to work around a system that was built against them. That experience is what drives my passion for community healthcare. As a medical student on my general surgery rotation, I had the opportunity to observe a surgeon make the decision to NOT operate on a patient, as well as participate in the gift of organ donation through an organ harvest operation. It was that night that I decided to become a general surgeon. Those surgeons taught me that it is easy to say yes and to operate, but it is hard to say no – and a great surgeon knows when to say no.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? After I graduate, I will return to surgical residency to complete my training.  I hope to continue to use all of the skills Booth will have taught me and integrate them into my daily practice.

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years I will have completed a surgical fellowship and will be a new attending practicing surgery and working to improve healthcare delivery systems on a departmental, institutional or possibly national scale.

Allie Can Lei

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

Hometown: China & Singapore

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am a ramen lover and entrepreneur; I have tried almost every ramen restaurant in the bay area and I spent ten hours making my own ramen and selling it online.

Undergraduate School and Major: Tufts University, Quantitative Economics and International Relations double major.

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Twitter, Sales Strategy and Operations Associate

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I worked with our sales leaders at Twitter to implement our US turnaround strategy, building a new sales team dedicated to servicing our mid-size client accounts. During the process of building this team, I was heavily involved in identifying clients for the team to service, creating an organizational structure and executing our new go-to-market strategy. It was challenging and exciting to be testing hypothesis on the ground every day. The amount of exposure to leadership and resources also helped me understand organizational pains and the core values that would support sustained growth for a mature company.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? What gravitates me towards everyone is how genuine they are. While an MBA is usually associated with a lot of networking, I think being genuine and keeping things real are the foundation for the strongest relationships.

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? Booth’s flexible curriculum is a huge draw. Given different backgrounds and priorities, it is important to be able to customize our classes and schedule to maximize what we want out of these two years. Personally, there are specific classes I want to take in a certain order, while being able to allocate time for myself to work on my start-up.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am looking forward to LEAD, a leadership class we all have to take when we first start off. It will be a great experience to learn about ourselves and bond during the retreat.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Having the last two jobs where I discovered what I am passionate about and good at doing, I feel ready to start investing in the big direction I want to take my career long-term. MBA will allow me to gain the skills and experience I lack in an effective environment.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I feel that what I can learn in a job can be more restricted to the specific skills the job requires and the type of people it seeks. However, in a MBA environment, I will get exposed to a wider group of people and situations that challenge my ways of thinking and develop my skills in a more well-rounded way. I see it as not only a beneficial step for me to elevate myself in terms of personal and professional skills but also a long-term investment to be an effective leader.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I applied to a few other schools on the East Coast, as I wanted a change of environment from the West Coast.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? The most effective way for me was to talk to the current students. The culture is created by the people, so getting to know them in a personal way and spending time together, during campus visits or other events, allowed me to evaluate if I can see myself having a good time at the school.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Moving to the US for college exposed me to a culture that celebrated everyone’s individuality. It gave me a chance to redefine who I want to be and pick experiences that could shape my values. I learned to be grateful for the opportunities I get in life, such as the higher education I receive, and see it as a reminder for myself to pay it forward by doing something that has a greater social impact beyond my immediate surroundings.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I hope to continue working in the consumer Tech space, either in my own start-up or help companies expand internationally.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I hope I would be a more mature and thoughtful individual. In my career, I wish to be in a management role running point on a business unit or product.

Daniel Carlini

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

“I’m enthusiastic about learning and teaching, attached to family and friends, and a tireless “tryer”

Hometown:  Recife, Pernambuco – Brazil

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am a terrible cook. Nevertheless, I decided to open a Pastry shop. It has been very successful and I am respected by my employees. Well, by most of them – I was banned from the kitchen, as all my ideas of new products and product improvements were not very successful.  So I decided to focus on the management of financial aspects of my business.

Undergraduate School and Major:  Instituto Tecnologico de Aeronautica (ITA), Civil Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: A. T. Kearney, Associate

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I was part of a global team implementing a budgeting methodology to a consumer company around the world. I led the implementation in three different countries and, along with my team and the client, was able to deliver significant savings and substantial operational and process improvements.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Collaborative. Being out of the country until a few weeks before the beginning of the classes, I was lagging behind in the process to move to Chicago (get a visa, get an authorization for my dog to travel, finding an apartment, etc.). But I could count on my classmates to help me with the whole process, giving me tips and facilitating my process.

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? Flexibility. Not having a formal education in business, I’m coming to Chicago with a strong need to develop a diverse set of skills. Booth, more than any other school, offers a flexible curriculum that will allow me to fit my classes to my skills, knowledge gaps and ambitions.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Management Consulting Group, Booth Education Group, Epicurean Club and Wine Club

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I have evolved quickly as a consultant, mainly thorough on-the-job training, formal and informal guidance and a great deal of effort. Hitherto it has been enough, but in the next steps of my career, as I assume leadership positions in my company and start influencing junior consultants careers, I feel the need to become a better leader and consultant. I believe this way I will be able to positively impact my clients and my colleagues.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? After visiting the schools and talking to many alumni and students, I understood that to properly decide if an MBA was worth the investment, I would have to think beyond the numbers and try to evaluate the qualitative aspects of this experience. Once I took into consideration the life experience I would have, the classmates I would meet, the trips I would take, the clubs I would participate in, the Nobel prize winning professors I would have learn with, etc. it was very clear to me that the MBA was completely worth the investment of time and money.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Columbia Business School, Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan School of Management, Wharton Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business and Kellogg School of Management

How did you determine your fit at various schools? First of all, I visited all the schools I was considering applying to. I took into consideration the way I was received by staff and students. Secondly, I sought out schools with a strong sense of community. Since I was moving out of my country, it was very important for me to find a new family in my school. Finally, I researched the programs’ curriculum and employment history to understand whether it would fit my objectives. During this process, I found a lot of information online (either on the schools websites/official blogs, or in other sites like Poets & Quants), and I talked to a lot of alumni and students from each school.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? When I was only 11 years old I was expelled from school for bad behavior. Although I was just a child, I was told by the school director I had no chance in life. That moment was crucial to my development, I needed to prove her wrong. From then on, I significantly improved my behavior and lived life dedicated to my family, studies and career. It also gave me a great interest for basic education.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I plan to become a manager in A. T. Kearney, focused on the Education sector in Brazil.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Working on the improvement of the Brazilian education sector.

Margaret (Maggie) Carton

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

“Curious, loyal, and hard-working. Avid skier, fly fisherman, and runner (when I am not injured).”

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Fun Fact About Yourself: I was a driver in a Presidential Motorcade – I have never driven so fast in my life!

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Chicago – Major in Psychology, Minor in Statistics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Ariel Investments – Research Analyst

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Passing Level I and Level II of the CFA exam on my first attempt. I am still waiting on my level III results (fingers crossed)!

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? The classmates I have met thus far are kind, welcoming, passionate, and ambitious. A killer combination!

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 attended the University of Chicago for my undergraduate degree. As an undergrad, I took several classes at Chicago Booth; the faculty, facility, and coursework impressed me. University of Chicago cares an immense amount about intellectual curiosity and pushing its students to do their best. I believe Chicago Booth embraces this ethos.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Participating in the Private Equity Lab.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Getting an MBA has always been at the back of my mind. At Ariel Investments, the vast majority of Portfolio Managers and Research Analysts had MBAs from Chicago Booth.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Should I say Monte Carlo simulation with net payout as the dependent variable? Honestly, it is a very personal decision, but I believe in the power of education. Degrees last a lifetime.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I only applied to Booth!

How did you determine your fit at various schools? My research was done mostly through my experience taking Booth classes as an undergrad at the University of Chicago. The classes I took really sparked my interest in getting an MBA at Booth and, as a fourth year, I applied for early admission through the Booth Scholars program. I deferred for several years, working as a Research Analyst at Ariel Investments.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are?

Right after graduating college, I decided to take Improv at Second City. I took Level A through Level E at Second City, preforming three shows live for friends and family. Improv pushed me out of my comfort zone. I usually like structured presentations that are planned carefully in advance. Improv forces you to let go and think more about your Improv ensemble than yourself. Since then, I have tried to embrace a “yes, and” attitude.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I want to work in PE or VC, utilizing my skills in finance in a new capacity.

Where do you see yourself in five years?  Five years from now, I hope to be working in PE or VC, moving into a leadership role wherever I am working.

Matthew Corcoran

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

“Former U.S. diplomat and Congo River boat captain who enjoys meeting people over coffee.”

Hometown: Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Fun Fact About Yourself: While I’ve been to nearly 50 countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, and Niger, I have yet to visit the United Kingdom or Mexico.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Notre Dame, BBA in Finance and Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: U.S. Department of State, Foreign Service Officer

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I recently led a Congressional campaign for a former college roommate. After getting into Booth, I quit my job at the State Department and moved across the country to manage the campaign on a condensed timeline. I implemented a start-up mindset across the campaign staff and developed federal policy recommendations and social media content, with multiple posts obtaining more than 100K views. With a limited budget, I diversified ad spending beyond traditional media (TV, radio, print) and focused on digital media to optimize the costs per impression. Overall, it was an incredible opportunity to push myself to quickly succeed in a new industry while supporting one of my best friends.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Supportive. I attended First Day (Booth’s admitted students event) and was incredibly impressed by the caliber of fellow admits and their impressive backgrounds. However, I was more impressed with the generous offers to provide insights into their career fields, on case studies, and even help with moving to Chicago. I’ve already been helped by multiple classmates even before the program officially starts.

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? Booth’s collaborative team environment. This type of environment encourages risk-taking and individual growth, resulting in each student achieving more than he could on her own. As a student from a public-sector background looking to transition to management consulting, having classmates and professors invested in my success will help this transition. I really noticed this during my campus visit to Booth and believe it will greatly impact my two years here. I also have noticed this community in my interactions with alumni, which will continue to have an impact throughout life. Booth linked me up with multiple alumni with similar backgrounds and I was blown away by the responsiveness and helpfulness of Booth’s alumni network.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m looking forward to Booth’s Global Social Impact Practicum (GSIP), a course led by the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation in partnership with India’s Tata Trusts. GSIP includes a visit to India and coursework on a related development project. I’m extremely interested in the intersection of consulting and social impact, and GSIP is a great opportunity for Booth students to gain real-world experience in these areas.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? As I continued to grow as an individual, my short-term and long-term career goals no longer aligned with a career within the State Department. I’m pursuing an MBA to make an immediate career transition into management consulting and to continue my development as a leader and a teammate. An MBA is the perfect bridge for me to achieve these goals and grow personally and professionally.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I evaluated it as an investment in myself and reviewed the opportunity cost, the cost of attendance, and prospective future incomes. The access to recruiters during the MBA program and employment opportunities that follow are extremely valuable and absolutely made it a worthwhile investment.

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

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I learned as much as I could about each school. This included online research (including websites like Poets and Quants), road shows, speaking with alumni, and campus visits. The campus visits allowed me to compare perceptions with reality, understand the culture of each school, and visualize if I saw myself there for two years. I also prioritized schools that had a strong pipeline into management consulting as well as those with a focus on social impact. I reviewed the school’s employment reports to see where graduates were working and to make sure the school would set me up for professional success.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? It would be adapting to and thriving in difficult situations in unfamiliar (and sometimes dangerous) places. While this was repeated throughout my career at the State Department, my arrival in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2014 stands out as I started a two-year assignment with no experience in the region, knowing no one, and having a tentative grasp on the language. My ability to develop meaningful relationships, build friendships, and routinely go outside my comfort zone led to an extremely rewarding tour, both personally and professionally, and solidified a confidence in myself to tackle increasingly complex challenges. As I begin Booth and look to transition to management consulting, the skills and personality traits honed in those environments will continue to impact my personal and professional growth.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? Management consulting

Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself progressing at a management consulting firm and taking on additional responsibility by leading client projects and developing individual team members.

Rei Fukushima

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

“Born and raised in a small island in Japan, always looking for new adventures.”

Hometown: Kagoshima, Japan

Fun Fact About Yourself: After 26 years in Japan, spent 3-years living and working in Singapore and am very excited to stretch my legs even more.

Undergraduate School and Major:  The University of Tokyo, Bachelors and Masters in Mechanical Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: JX Nippon Oil & Energy Asia Pte. Ltd., Manager of lubricants business

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: This would have to be when I was working with a local Mauritanian distributor to improve West African sales. I was curious about declining sales in the region, so took the initiative to go to the region to revitalize sales, which we did by working together and involving the local community to develop a new campaign. Not just a business accomplishment, this experience also convinced me that I could succeed outside of Asia.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? The current students I’ve met are all supportive and friendly, the two traits I value most in my friends and peers. Especially during the application process, they have helped me so much by giving me essay and interview advice. I’ve also met several incoming students from Japan and Singapore, and it’s great to see that we share the same goal of achieving great things by supporting each other.

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 is truly the people at Chicago Booth whom I’ve met so far. Other than that, I admire Booth’s discipline-based approach in the classroom. I’m never satisfied until I understand the key parts of an issue, and I feel the discipline-based approach will allow me to do this. It fits my personality as a student as well as a professional.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m looking forward to joining the Energy Group. Through energy events, I will discuss energy issues with industry thought leaders and gain the insights of management level professionals.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I would have to say it was my experience of working abroad for 3 years in Singapore. I’ve been in a managerial position in Singapore and have enjoyed the responsibility that came with it. This experience has inspired me to gain more management skills and to continue my global career path.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? After speaking with current students, business school alumni, and working professionals, I determined that an MBA was well worth the investment.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I applied to HBS, MIT, Kellogg, CBS and LBS.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I prioritize first-hand experience, so I visited schools, attended classes, and talked with current students in person. Conversations with the students helped me to gain insight into my career path as well as the culture of the institution I will be attending.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Leaving my island hometown as a child to go to a middle school. Although it was difficult adjusting to a new life and environment, I had lots of exciting and memorable experiences. Since then, I’ve moved to new places looking for new experiences, for example going to Tokyo at 18 and Singapore at 26, and now going to the U.S. at 30.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? After graduation, I will continue working in the Energy industry but plan to switch from lubricants to electricity. This is what I’m most passionate about. I expect to work as a project manager in an international power company where I will plan and develop business schemes for electricity distribution.

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years I hope to see myself in more exciting and fulfilling roles than I could ever imagine.

Ricardo Johnson

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

“Just a country boy from South Carolina that believes in building meaningful relationships with people.”

Hometown: Orangeburg, South Carolina

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love oldies music, but more specifically, I love tracing the origins of modern songs that sampled classics from the past

Undergraduate School and Major: Howard University, BBA Finance

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Schroder Adveq, Investment Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment in my career thus far would be having the opportunity to lead due diligence on a number of private equity fund commitments very early in my career. These opportunities not only provided me with a great deal of responsibility early on, but also gave me the autonomy to be creative in sourcing new investment opportunities, which ultimately led to the thesis for which I enrolled in business school to pursue.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? I would best describe the classmates I’ve met thus far as passionately curious individuals. That curiosity is wide-ranging across a variety of topics from industrial automation to Big 3 Basketball (and yes, we actually went to a game). Everybody’s journey is so unique, but everybody shares a similar drive for trying to figure out the next chapter. More importantly, there aren’t a lot of egos or super-competitive spirits dominating those conversations. There’s a sense of humility and authenticity that embodies the culture of the school.

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 flexibility to create my own MBA experience is what attracted me to Booth. I didn’t view the MBA solely as an opportunity to get a good job and network, but I also viewed it as a launching pad for carrying an idea into fruition. Furthermore, the Chicago Approach has birthed many ideas and theories, so I was really drawn to the idea of having an academically rigorous curriculum that could be highly additive to my professional ambitions. Given that Booth provides the perfect environment for fostering these ambitions by providing resources for those who are pursuing a “non-traditional” path, much like myself, I knew that Booth was a perfect fit for me.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m most looking forward to engaging with the Svider Private Equity Program through the school’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Svider is unique in that it caters specifically to students who have an interest in Private Equity. With programs such as the Private Equity and Venture Capital Lab, Oxford Chicago Global Private Equity Challenge, and the Investment Thesis Challenge (to name a few), there are a lot of opportunities for students who want to develop greater depth of knowledge in the space.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I reached a point where I saw a huge opportunity to address a void in the private equity marketplace. Given that there are currently not a lot of solutions to address this specific industry bottleneck, I realized that the best way to pursue this strategy was to create it. After weighing the prospects of trying to pursue this on my own, I realized that business school, specifically Booth, offered resources that could be valuable in translating this idea into an actual strategy.

I also recognized that we’re amid a technological revolution that will fundamentally change how business is conducted over the next few decades. The opportunity to pursue an MBA now presents a unique opportunity to expand my skillset to focus on areas that are most relevant for a business world that will become increasingly more global and technologically advanced.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I started by seeking trusted advice from mentors and friends. While people had different reasons for why they chose to pursue an MBA, there were very few people who told me that the MBA would not be worth it. What I did discover from most of those conversations is that the decision to pursue an MBA is a deeply personal one and finding your purpose for pursuing the degree is just as important as finding the right fit.

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

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I started my search by spending countless hours on the internet researching various programs. I knew I wasn’t going to pursue a “traditional” MBA path, so I prioritized schools that provided resources for students looking to pursue entrepreneurial ventures. The most meaningful research for me during this period was the personal interactions with students, alumni, and faculty of the school. There are a lot of good MBA programs, but I paid close attention to how enthusiastic people were about their respective institutions. For me, the enthusiasm around Booth remained consistent no matter if I was at an information session in New York or an event on campus. It became very evident to me that Booth really emphasizes a family-oriented culture, which was an important factor for me during my recruiting process.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I cannot think of any one defining moment, rather a compilation of experiences and lessons learned that have pushed me to go where I‘ve never gone, to pursue avenues that I would not have ordinarily pursued. The road on my journey has not always been as scenic as I would like, but it’s because of every twist and turn, every bump and bruise, and every obstacle that I’ve had to overcome that has molded me into who I am today.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? After graduation, I plan to be in a place where I’ve conducted a great deal of primary research to validate whether there is a market opportunity for my thesis. A successful MBA experience for me will be positioning myself to be in a place to launch my concept independently or joining an organization where I’d have an opportunity to explore the concept that was researched and developed over the course of my MBA experience.

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I hope to be in a place where I can say that I’ve founded (or co-founded) a specialized private equity asset management firm that started from a crazy idea to address a void in the marketplace.

Toby Mills

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

“Born at the beach, moved to Seattle, and loves the outdoors.”

Hometown: Venice, CA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have surfed, skied, skated, and snowboarded in the same day.

Undergraduate School and Major: UCLA, Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Associate at Goldman Sachs 

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: The long-term relationships and trust I built with clients

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Excited and eager to enjoy their experience.

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? As an economics student, a huge amount of the research I studied in undergrad was performed at Chicago. The quality of the professors and academic experience set Booth apart. Beyond just academia, peers and employers know the quality of the Booth program.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? The wine club – I love learning about and tasting new wines.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I loved my role, but I wanted to enhance and broaden the impact of what I was doing, and an MBA will give me the tools to change the scope of my work.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I spoke to my mentors and did a lot of internal searching to make sure that I was ready to fully take advantage of the program.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? HBS, Stanford GSB, Berkeley Haas, MIT Sloan

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I focused on first determining what was important to me both professionally in developing my career, but also personally. I spent time reading P&Q, meeting with as many current and former students as possible, and traveling to campus when I could. I think being on campus, when possible, really helps you determine your fit.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I had never lived permanently outside of California and less than a month before graduating, I was contacted to pursue the opportunity I took in Seattle. I ended up loving my experience and it taught me that you can never plan too far ahead, and that flexibility and keeping an open mind are essential.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I am interested in pursuing strategy roles in Financial Services Technology.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Pursuing a career where I feel I have a broad and meaningful impact on the well-being of my firm’s clients.

Ankita Panwar

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

“Definitely an introvert, but always ready for hour-long discussions on life and philosophy.”

Hometown: Meerut, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love adventure. From surfing, sky-diving, scuba-diving to canyoning, tried it all and am looking forward to trying new things with my classmates.

Undergraduate School and Major: Integrated M.Sc. in Economics at Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Investment Analyst at Sequoia Capital

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Gaining my firm’s trust and being tasked to take the lead in running several investment deals. Being able to influence investment decisions and heading the due-diligence processes gave me a high sense of ownership and provided meaning to my job.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? They are all super helpful! Several of them have gone out of their way to help me with my many queries.

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 found Booth’s flexible curriculum to be very appealing. Being able to control my education and schedule would allow me to skip several basic courses in economics and dive deeper into the things I want to learn more.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? The Random walk! A 10-day trip in Costa Rica with my future classmates. I have heard people bond and make friends-for-life during the freewheeling tour of exotic locales, and am looking forward to that experience.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I wanted to build a global network of folks I could learn from. MBA seemed like the best path to do this.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Honestly, I am not sure if the dollar-return can be calculated with accuracy. But the opportunity to spend two years with fun, driven, interesting people from various walks of life is the real return here and it definitely justifies the investment.

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

How did you determine your fit at various schools? Talking to alumni (after having done basic research) is the best way to get an idea about your fit and the school’s culture. Fit and culture was the top-most factor in my mind. The second factor was alumni-reach in my target industry/geography. Latter can be compared for various schools easily via Linkedin.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I used to develop algorithmic investment strategies in my first job. Developing my first strategy after multiple failed attempts and night-outs was a moment which gave me immense confidence in my abilities and built my resilience.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I will continue in the buy-side investment space.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Partner at an investment firm. Living a fulfilling and meaningful life with family and friends.

Sarah Russell

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

“A life-long learner who is curious, analytical, and unable to resist a good puzzle.”

Hometown: Laguna Beach, California

Fun Fact About Yourself: As an avid traveler, I have found that the three most helpful phrases to learn in any language are “Hello”, “Thank You”, and “Cheers!” – So far, I have managed to pick up these phrases in 11 languages (and counting!).

Undergraduate School and Major: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, BS in Mechanical Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: HP Inc., R&D Mechanical Engineer

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My greatest accomplishment, thus far, was my work on a global development team aimed at defending market share in Asia. This team was comprised of experts from five branches across three continents. I was brought on as a mechanical design consultant for a new consumer product, which needed to be released on a highly accelerated schedule. My team was successful in this endeavor and was awarded with the company’s “Leading the Way Award” for the product’s positive impact on market share. This program also lead me to file my very first patent for one of the systems I had designed.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? The best description of my fellow Class of 2020 students would be ambitious. I continue to be impressed and inspired by both the previous accomplishments and future goals of my classmates. I am very proud to be one of their number.

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? Of the many factors that made Chicago Booth my ideal business school, the one that was most important to me was Booth’s emphasis on an analytical approach to business. Coming from a highly technical background, I found this methodology to mesh well with how I approach my current industry challenges. Starting my MBA marks a big shift in my career, and Booth’s style of teaching allows me to draw upon and expand what I have already learned in the engineering industry.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? A group that I am especially interested in joining is the European Business Group. I plan to follow the International Business concentration, and I believe this club could provide great opportunities to network with global companies and other like-minded students. That being said, the Wine Club is a close second that will definitely require some further investigation.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Before I had even finished my engineering degree, I decided I would return to school to get my MBA once I had gained enough industry experience. During my five years as an R&D Mechanical Engineer, I was able to work on multiple international teams with people from many diverse backgrounds and disciplines, ranging from industrial design to manufacturing to marketing. I had the opportunity to work on both mass-produced consumer hardware and highly specialized industrial machinery, which gave me great insight into the varying modes of operation within the tech industry. I am now ready to take the next step in my career and use what I have learned as an engineer to help me succeed as a manager and a leader.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Getting an MBA is indeed a big financial decision, and it is very important to determine the return on investment from a monetary perspective. No doubt, I will surely miss my bi-weekly paycheck as I return to the life of a starving student for the next two years. However, the most important part of my decision-making process was realizing that getting an MBA would be the gateway to new career opportunities where I could make a positive impact. By the time I decided to apply, I was ready for a change and I was excited to start learning again.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Northwestern Kellogg and MIT Sloan

How did you determine your fit at various schools? At the beginning of my research process, I relied heavily on online resources to help me determine which schools would provide the best fit for me, both academically and culturally. In fact, I remember reading through many articles just like this one to learn about the types of students that different schools attracted.  Once I had narrowed my list down to my top several schools, I started the actual application process, which turned out to be a great indicator of fit, in and of itself. In my experience, a school’s application reveals a lot about the prevailing mindset of the program. For example, it was clear to me that the main goal of Booth’s application was to gain understanding of how the applicant thinks and how he or she tackles open-ended problems. This approach appealed to me immensely and helped reinforce my decision that Booth was a good match for me.

Once I reached the interview phase of my applications, I started to visit campuses and attend networking sessions, which allowed me to meet both current students and alumni.  This was the most important part of my decision making process, as it provided accurate impressions of both student life and where different MBA degrees could take me after graduation.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? In my experience, we are not defined by a single moment, but by a multitude of smaller choices that shape our lives along the way. For me, the most impactful of these choices have occurred in situations where I had to step out of my comfort zone for the sake of learning something new. One of my favorite examples of this is when I traveled to Ireland on two days notice to act as a consultant for a new product team. When I arrived into Dublin at 8 PM, a couple of my new team members offered to meet me at a pub near my hotel. I was exhausted from the 16-hour journey and was fighting off a bad cold, so I wanted nothing more than to head straight to bed. However, I decided to go anyway. This turned out to be a vitally important decision, as this meeting provided great insight into both the scope of the project and the working environment that I was to enter the following morning. It also gave me a chance to bond with my new coworkers before the start of the project, effectively setting the stage for successful collaboration. This moment taught me that the willingness to sacrifice a bit of your own comfort for the sake of the team is often vastly rewarded.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? My current goal after graduation is to earn a program management position in a global tech company, where I would be responsible for managing international teams and helping to expand into foreign markets.  However, I am aware that a lot can change over the course of two years, so I am looking forward to seeing how business school will help me expand my horizons and discover new opportunities.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I must admit – this has never been my favorite interview question. Five years is a long time, during which priorities can shift immensely. One thing I can say with confidence is that I hope to be somewhere where I am making a positive difference and combining the knowledge gained from my time in the engineering industry with what I have learned at Booth.

John Tracey

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

“Ambitious and outgoing leader, mentor and team player with a passion for paying it forward.”

Hometown: Baltimore, MD

Fun Fact About Yourself: My nickname is Jock (it’s Scottish)

Undergraduate School and Major: United States Naval Academy, BS Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Company: Ascent Technologies. Position: Intern, participating in Chicago Booth’s Start-Up Summer

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Successfully leading a team of sailors on an independent security mission in Central America. This was a very challenging experience in which I had to build a cohesive team to overcome a lack of resources and a compressed timeline in an unstructured environment. This refined my leadership style in building a flat environment to work collaboratively as a team, coordinating with international agencies and developing solutions to unique problems.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Gregarious. Each person I have met has been outgoing and engaging. I think this speaks to the flexibility of Booth, both academically and socially, in that the program attracts individuals who are eager to extend themselves, explore areas outside of their comfort zone and build new relationships.

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? One of the most influential factors was Booth’s culture of a commitment to action. The boldness of action resonated with me. As with my experience in the Navy, it is not only important to work collaboratively with your team to develop the best plans but to move these ideas forward, act and make an impact. This aspect, combined with resources available outside of the classroom at Booth such as the PE/VC lab or Start-Up summer, made it clear that not only would students challenge the status quo in the classroom, but the opportunity existed to realize the real-world impact of these ideas immediately.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? The Armed Forces Group this year and the Mentor Program as a mentor in my second year. I am very excited to pass on the lessons I have learned and pay forward the assistance I have received throughout my career.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Having developed as a leader through many diverse experiences in the Navy, I wanted to pursue my interests in the business world and felt an MBA would provide the ability to explore new opportunities at great depth, continue my professional and personal development, and therefore have a more immediate impact in my career upon graduation.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? It was clear that the ability to discover multiple careers at business school would be critical in my development and my ability to find a meaningful and impactful role. This was particularly evident with Booth’s flexible curriculum and class structure in facilitating this exploration and encouraging a breaking of the norm to find new and unique opportunities which would not be available without an MBA.

Grace Zimmerly

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

 “Stubborn small-town idealist who enjoys unknotting intractable problems.”

Hometown: Waterford, PA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have received medical attention for injuries sustained during four separate bike commuting accidents.

Undergraduate School and Major:  Yale University, B.A. in Ethics, Politics, & Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: New York / New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA); Lead – Overdose Reduction Initiatives

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In June 2016, I had the opportunity to spend nine months embedded at NYPD headquarters in what was then the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Operations (now the Chief of Crime Control Strategies). At that point, city agencies outside of the health department were just beginning to realize the scale of the opioid overdose epidemic across the five boroughs. It was especially important for the NYPD to get ahead of the problem, as their 25,000 uniformed officers are among the most likely of city employees to encounter individuals struggling with substance use disorder or an acute intoxication.

I was asked to develop a way to track fatal overdoses in as close to real time as possible. This was challenging because of the lag time between death, the finalization of the death certificate, and the official reporting by the health department. But a solution had to be found, because real time data is necessary for allocating resources, developing timely and actionable strategies, and identifying emerging threats.

The interagency data collection and reporting system that I designed and implemented has since reduced NYPD’s reporting time on fatal overdoses from six months to approximately 36 hours. This allows leadership to drill down into what’s happening on the illicit substance scene in the immediate term, which has led to both new initiatives within the Department and to collaborative projects with partner agencies to reduce overdose fatalities.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Coming from the government, I didn’t know what to expect from conversations with my business school peers – I guess I thought we’d sit around talking about IPOs and P/E ratios all day. This is not at all true of the Booth students I’ve met so far, who are more than willing to jump into unusual conversations and activities.

If I had to define the common factor across my classmates, it would be intense curiosity, broadly applied. No idea is too off the wall. And while that kind of intellectual openness can be terrifying, it’s also exhilarating. Boothies are an idiosyncratic bunch, in the best way possible, and that contributes to an active and fast-paced learning environment.

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? Booth is particularly open-minded about the origins of good leadership and new ideas. I think this is reflective of the University of Chicago’s general unconcern with the beaten path; how else do you get a Nobel Prize in economics out of your behavioral science department? On a personal level, this agnosticism was important because I didn’t want my prior work history to define my business school experience.

Anyone applying to business school from a nontraditional background is intimately familiar with their top schools’ “pre-MBA industries” pie charts – the ones that show that 15 percent School X’s incoming students come from consulting, 15 percent from tech, 10 percent from financial services. These charts usually combine education, nonprofits, and the government into a single segment, and it almost always sums to less than 10 percent.

Those ratios didn’t vary much between the schools that I applied to, but the way that Booth levels the playing field across different backgrounds stood out to me. I appreciate that Booth doesn’t have a set core curriculum, because someone who spent five years at Goldman Sachs has different gaps to fill in her knowledge than I do. Also, the LEAD program we participate in before classes start is a chance for all members of the incoming class to think about leadership with a wide lens, one that’s expansive enough to include experiences outside of the VP – associate — analyst structure. Even during the application process, I felt that Booth’s comparatively unusual essays were a chance to move beyond retelling anecdotes from the classic corporate narrative.

While we may have a steep learning curve in certain areas, MBA candidates from nontraditional backgrounds have fresh perspectives and unique experiences to share. Booth’s approach to both academics and culture makes it clear that that’s treated as a given.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Booth students have recently decided to field a women’s rugby team. I don’t yet play rugby, which means that this has the potential to unite three of my favorite things: helping build something new, trying something I’ve never tried, and good old-fashioned competition. Let’s go, Kellogg ladies.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I spent the past four years working for the City of New York, first in gang intelligence and then in overdose reduction. This means that everyone in my former work life is hugely confused about my grad school plans. They’re more of a law and policy school crowd.

I considered law school seriously. And after spending a lot of time with brilliant, idealistic, hard-working lawyers, I still believe that a legal education is the best way to understand the ins-and-outs of the way the world works now. That’s just not the kind of thinking that I want to apply in my career.

We need people who understand the minute operations of our companies and institutions and society as they are. However, we also need people who can look at that status quo, break it apart, and rebuild the pieces into something better. I was at a point in my professional career where I felt that I needed to double down on one of those tracks. For me, the choice was obvious.

Regardless of sector, management and leadership in the modern world needs more creative thinkers and effective actors. I think those are some of the most important skills that the modern MBA education provides – it’s not just economics and corporate finance anymore.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Berkeley, Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Yale.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? Since I didn’t have any mentors or coworkers who’d played the MBA game, my priority in evaluating schools was understanding the perceptions that people within the business world held about my top programs. I had a few conversations with current students, but directed most of my questions to recent graduates who were working at firms I’d be interested in, as well as hiring managers and directors at those firms. Everyone I spoke to was open in discussing not only what they liked about their favored programs, but also the pros of competitor schools and the challenges at their alma maters.

As for assessing culture, I’m glad that I did in-person interviews wherever I could. Seeing the pace at different schools was useful to me. Plus, being in the winter garden at Booth in early February did a lot to soothe my fears about Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I hope to have a career that requires solving increasingly challenging problems, but also constantly gives me new skills and shows me new ways of thinking. I’m also interested in trying out the brave new world of the private sector. I think that combination might put me in consulting or a start-up in five years, but I’m not closing any doors. I’m always happy when I manage to surprise myself.

Meet the Class of 2020 Series

London Business School

University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School

University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business

Yale School of Mnnagement

University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business

Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management

UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

New York University’s Stern School of Business

Emory’s Goizueta School of Business

Washington University’s Olin Business School

 

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