Meet Cornell Johnson’s MBA Class Of 2020 - Poets&Quants

You could call Cornell University’s Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management a tale of two campuses. A study in contrasts, the program boasts homes in upstate Ithaca and New York City. On the surface, they couldn’t be any more different. Ithaca is a mix of The Saturday Evening Post and campustown – a throwback to a simpler times…with choice restaurants to boot. And New York City is, well, high tech and high finance, a metropolis steeped in energy, creativity, and opportunity.

In other words, Johnson offers the best of both worlds to prospective MBAs. Aside from a world class education, Ithaca boasts the Finger Lakes Region, a year-round outdoors Shangri-la, replete with gorges, waterfalls, hiking, and skiing. Four hours south, on New York’s Roosevelt Island, students can flock to the Cornell Tech campus for a curriculum devoted to interdisciplinary, project-based learning – often in partnership with leading tech employers and plucky startups. That’s two very different experiences, one that blends a small school community spirit with a big city surplus of access and networking.

A ONE YEAR MBA…OR A SEMESTER IN NEW YORK

“Johnson’s Full-Time MBA students can now spend time on both our Ithaca and New York City campuses,” explains Mark W. Nelson, the school’s dean, in a statement to P&Q. “Ithaca-based MBA students can join their NYC-based colleagues for weekends or a semester at the Cornell Tech campus, making Johnson the only school to offer a true “one-school, two-campus model.” This was made possible through the Johnson NYC curriculum launched last year to create business education in fintech, digital marketing, and other aspects of the digital economy. This exciting new dimension adds to Johnson’s strength in performance learning, building on its eight first-year immersions, the Cayuga Fund, Big Red Consulting, Big Red Ventures, Big Red Tech Strategy, and many other programs.”

The Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City

Cornell Tech is really two programs. The first is a one-year tech-focused MBA program. Focused on product development and management, Cornell Tech applies a studio-based, team-driven, experiential learning model to train students how to take ideas to market. Working with firms like Google, JP Morgan, and the New York Mayor’s Office, student teams survey the market, develop strategy, prototype solutions, and present their work to executive leaders. Afterwards, students take their shot at launching their own venture. Over 60 students strong, the program is designed to both plug Cornell students into New York’s startup scene and tech powers. In fact, Citigroup and Cigna occupy the top floors of the Roosevelt Island campus.

One-year MBAs aren’t the only students who benefit from Cornell Tech. Ithaca MBAs can also opt to spend their final semester at Cornell Tech, including seven week intensives for fintech and digital marketing. At the same time, two-year MBAs can complete weekend electives on Roosevelt Island related to areas like design thinking and cryptocurrencies. Bottom line, however, it is a program that taps into the organizational structures and creative processes that serve as the backbone of the digital economy.

ITHACA IS A FOUR SEASONS MECCA FOR STUDENTS WHO LOVE THE OUTDOORS

“It’s about building things with multi-disciplinary teams, putting into practice the classroom instruction. That is the core part,” says Mukti Khaire, a professor of practice at the school in a 2017 interview with P&Q. “It enables all of the students on campus to work really hard at building things and to learn the relevant soft skills to be really effective. This is the future of the workplace because problems will always have a better outcome when they are approached from different perspectives and expertise.”

That’s not to say that every Cornell MBA is itching to race down to the New York City. Just ask the Class of 2018, who were plenty busy in their Ithaca digs. Forget early nights and long weekends. The Ithaca bunch found plenty to fill their schedules, whether it is the endless dinner parties or winery visits. Forget FOMO. At Cornell, you encounter AAMO – an abundance of activities, merriment, and opportunities.

“Not only is there plenty to do in the area, but we also have full access to the larger Cornell community, which draws so much talent and activity,” writes Lucie Coats, a 2018 Best & Brightest MBA. “In the past two years, I have gone sailing on Cayuga Lake, (kind of) learned to ski, taken salsa classes, and signed up for a rock climbing class…to name a few. Ithaca has plenty of restaurants, festivals, hiking trails, performances, and more to keep anyone busy.”

You can expect the Class of 2020 to follow in Coats’ footsteps. Starting out, many are already heralding Cornell’s trademark small college feel. “I wanted a program with a “bunker mentality,” where all students are invested in seeing their peers succeed,” writes Steven Van Vechten. “Many programs tout their schools’ “tight-knit community,” and this idea rang truest at Johnson.”

IS SCORPION AN APPETIZER…OR AN ENTRÉE?

Interior of the business school

Thus far, Serena Elavia has met most of her classmates. She describes them as “generous” and “always willing to help out. By the same token, Grace Ko, who holds a master’s in accounting in the field’s top program (Texas), calls her classmates “diverse and intellectually curious.”

“Ranging from wine marketers at Napa Valley to dental school students from Harvard, my Cornell classmates bring so much passion and energy from their respective fields and I look forward to learning from their experiences as well as sharing my own,” she says.

The class has plenty of great stories to share. Ko, for one, is a professionally-trained sushi chef. A curious class, you say? Carlos Acevedo is the class Anthony Bourdain. He samples all kinds of foods…including a scorpion. “It was delicious,” he says. Then again, Australian Alyssa Johnson brings a certain bravado to the dinner table too. “I love eating at restaurants that don’t have a menu in English and picking a dish at random.”

PLANNING PRESIDENT OBAMA’S FINAL STATE DINNER

Those are just the start. By day, Luis Carlos Sarmiento III worked as a mild-mannered financial associate. Outside the office, he was a professional soccer player for Miami United FC. Believe in serendipity? You might after introducing yourself to Sarah Doyle, who met her husband in the Philadelphia airport when they were both on their way to the Peace Corps. Serena Elavia practices a special faith – Zoroastrianism – which traces itself back to the Persian Empire and counts just 200,000 followers worldwide. If you want to learn business in college, Steve Van Vechten suggests the best place might under a mascot costume.

“As a freshman undergrad, I auditioned and was selected to become “Bart” the Statesman, the school mascot and singular personification of Hobart College,” he explains. “A great way to get comfortable with laughing at yourself is to dress up as an eight-foot-tall colonial patriarch and dance in front of hundreds of sports fans. I never expected “mascoting” to change my career path, but while sweating profusely under the layers of the woolen costume and peering out through a nine-inch-wide smile, I discovered the power of a brand. “Bart” sparked my passion for branding.”

Their achievements would also make for memorable cocktail banter. Take the political realm. Thomas Stelle, a restaurant consultant, was responsible for overseeing the logistics of President Obama’s final state dinner. As a FOX Business reporter in 2016, Serena Elavia thought he landed a scoop: a one-on-one with Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who was running for president that year. Despite a last minute cancellation, she wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer, choosing the “Blue Ocean” strategy of hanging out by the exit door instead of the stage where the other reporters waited.

PEACE CORPS VET FINDS STRENGTH IN BETRAYAL

Cornell’s Johnson Graduate School of Management i

“He would have to walk past me,” she recalls. “My strategy worked and he stopped to answer my question. I was the only reporter he spoke to at the event. Later, I published an exclusive quote in the story, and it was the most read article on the website that day. It might have been a brief episode, but I learned not to take no for an answer and find another way around obstacles.”

Sarah Doyle’s rite of passage required far more perseverance. During her first month in the Peace Corps, some locals had stolen her “bed, suitcases, and electronics.” Feeling betrayed, she weighed whether to return to home. Instead, she toughed it out, inspired by a student who was expelled from school for getting pregnant.

“From that moment, I was committed to equipping my students with life skills necessary to excel,” she shares. “I rewrote lessons for my English classes to incorporate topics like goal setting and I adapted the Peace Corps GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) program and planned a camp for 60 girls. My three years with the Peace Corps serve as the foundation for who I am today. Beyond learning to listen more and take the time to connect with people, I learned that I can overcome adversity and be comfortable in the most uncomfortable of circumstances.”

HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN EVER

The inputs for Johnson’s Class of 2020 were a mixed bag during the 2017-2018 cycle, no different than most top MBA programs. The big news involved the percentage of women, which jumped from 27% to 33% with the incoming class. It also eclipses the 31% and 30% marks set by the Class of 2018 and 2015, respectively. The school also experienced a 3% increase in the percentage of underrepresented minorities over the previous year. In fact, this percentage more than doubles to 32% when all U.S. minorities are factored into the equation – the largest class share since 2015. At the same time, Johnson followed the general trend when it comes to international students, with the percentage tumbling seven points to 27%.

In terms of applications, Johnson witnessed demand dip from 1,653 to 1,600. However, the class actually grew from 277 to 280 members over the previous year. This number also contributed to the school’s acceptance rate rising from 30% to 33%. Academically, the 2020 Class measures up closely to its predecessors. Average GMAT did slip from 700 to 699. More striking, median GMAT dropped from 710 to 700. In contrast, average GPAs climbed from 3.36 to 3.41.

Academically, the class lines up in neat, even blocs. Like previous years, business majors comprise the largest segment of the class at 29% – a 12 point drop over the previous two classes. Social sciences and engineering account for 21% and 20% respectively, with science, humanities, and “Other” each coming in at 10%.  Professionally, nearly a fourth of the class worked in financial services, followed by consulting (17%), technology (6%), and healthcare (5%)…with 41% being covered under a mishmash “Other” category. That number includes U.S. Military veterans, who represent 7% of the 2020 class.

Go to next page to see 12 in-depth profiles of Cornell Johnson MBAs. 

Cornell Johnson College of Business Class of 2020. Jon Reis Photography

SCHOOL BEEFS UP RESOURCES IN DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

In recent years, Cornell Johson, winner of P&Q’s Inaugural Program of the Year award in 2017, has been grabbing headlines left-and-right. Three years ago, it began the laborious process to combine its graduate school of management with the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and the School of Hotel Administration. In the process, it emerged as one of the world’s largest business schools, including nearly 3,000 students and 150 faculty. Last year, the school also received a $150 million gift from H. Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of S. C. Johnson & Son – and a 1984 Johnson MBA. With two-thirds of the gift earmarked to future investment in scholarships, faculty, and curriculum development, Johnson is poised for more breakthroughs like Cornell Tech in the coming years.

In the meantime, Johnson continues heavily into its full-time MBA program. This is particularly true in the areas of diversity and inclusion, says Dean Nelson. He cites the Sage Women program, a mix of new curriculum, club activities and events designed to help female students achieve success in a diverse workplace. The school has also launched a Fiery Topics Series, where the Johnson community –

students, faculty, and staff – come together to deliberate major issues. In addition, Johnson has made allyship and unconscious bias training mandatory for all first-years, with faculty and staff undergoing similar training. Such efforts, among others, resulted in the school receiving the T.E.A.M. (Together Everyone Achieves More) Award from The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management in 2018.

Interior of the business school in Ithaca.

However, Dean Nelson notes, such programs simply reinforce the program’s strength: “a tight-knit and collaborative community that evolves into an exceptionally strong life-long alumni network.” It is a virtue that enabled the school to rank 3rd-best in Bloomberg Businessweek’s 2017 student satisfaction survey. It was also the virtue that stood out to Grace Ko during the recruiting process.

SMALL BUSINESS SCHOOL…WITH AN IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL BEHIND IT

“Each of the current students I reached out to went above-and-beyond in helping me decide if Johnson was the place for me – and if they didn’t have the answers I needed, they were more than happy to connect me with someone else in their network,” Ko explains. “The tight-knit community feel was even more evident during Destination Johnson (DJ), a weekend-long event for admitted students, at which I was able to connect with current and prospective students, faculty, staff, and alums. Upon attending DJ weekend, I felt that Johnson was a special place where I could see myself grow personally and professionally with the strong support of a real community.”

Another advantage, Dean Nelson adds, is the scope of Cornell University itself. Cornell Tech is just the start. As part of the school’s “Any Person, Any Study” tradition, Nelson points out that students can “individualize their studies” by taking courses with the Schools of Law, Engineering, Computer Science, and Industrial and Labor Relations – not to mention coursework with Johnson in areas like hospitality, sustainability, real estate, and entrepreneurship. In other words, the full Cornell community makes the class size far larger.

That’s an added advantage for students like Delia Hughes, an entrepreneur who hopes to launch her startup in the food space. “Being able to access Cornell University and take courses across six different colleges was a huge factor in my decision. I plan to launch my food company while pursuing an MBA. Being able to access and work with professors and students from the Food Science Department, Agriculture School, and Engineering College will be a huge asset for my company.”

FIRST YEAR GREW UP IN A CORNELL CULTURE

Perhaps the biggest allure of the Johnson experience – at least in the Class of 2020 – comes in the form of “immersions.” Think of them as preparation for summer internships. Each spring, students complete an array of classroom and field work experiences in their area of interest, which can cover anything from investment banking to strategic operations to data analytics. Students even have the option to customize their immersion, with recent choices including healthcare and hospitality. Thanks to these immersions, which include everything from a partner project to company visits, career changers can get more quickly up to speed in the industries or roles that they plan to pursue.

“I love the program because it has an intense first semester for the core, followed by immersions, which allow for specialization,” says Mercedes Moran, a theater buff who has already transitioned from engineering to strategy. “The curriculum related to emerging markets, digitalization, and sustainable entrepreneurship fits perfectly with the knowledge and skills I want to acquire. All of this is supported by amazing faculty such as Lourdes Casanova, who is one of the most recognized academics in emerging markets.”

Cornell University’s Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management

For Luis Carlos Sarmiento, a Cornell MBA was a deeply emotional choice. “My dad was a Johnson graduate in 1985 and it has been a lifelong dream of mine to get my MBA at Cornell. Ever since I can remember, the Cornell culture has been a big part of my family and upbringing. After my undergrad, I was determined to take every necessary step to make my MBA at Johnson goal into a reality.”

CLASS OPEN TO A ‘BRIEF DETOUR OR A NEW PATH ALTOGETHER’

What’s ahead for the Class of 2020? Mercedes Moran, for one, plans to apply her financial prowess to serve those in need. “I’ve been working for several years in the financial services industry and have become hyper-aware that with the digital revolution comes opportunities and challenges for low-income customers. I am curious about how to open the financial system to them, as I am convinced that fair credit conditions and savings promote progress.”

Steven Van Vechten envisions a career in brand management at a CPG firm. That said, he is wise enough not to hold himself too tightly to those plans. “Though my current five-year plan has me climbing the brand management ladder at a CPG company, heavily investing myself in innovation roles, penetrating emerging markets, and landing an international job posting, I am also refusing to close any doors. Things are changing rapidly these days, and I know that taking a brief detour or exploring an entirely new path might turn out to be the best career decision I ever make.”

Then again, before venturing too far into the next, the class may want to take a page from Carlos Acevedo and just live in the moment.

“Before continuing my career in New York, I would like to sail through the Artic,” he says.

Student	Hometown	Alma Mater	Last Employer
Carlos Acevedo	Santiago, Chile	Universidad Adolfo Ibanez	Banco de Credito e Inversiones
Sarah Doyle	Harwich, MA	Johns Hopkins University	EarthEnable
Serena Elavia	New York City, NY	Trinity College	Finsbury
Delia Hughes	Eastchester, NY	Cornell University	Atalanta Corporation
Alyssa Johnson	Melbourne, Australia	University of Sydney	ANZ Bank
Grace Ko	Seoul, South Korea	University of Texas at Austin	KKR Fiinancial Services
Mercedes Moran	Mexico City, Mexico	Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores	Citibanamex
Yewande Salau	Rosedale, NY	Vanderbilt University	Prep for Prep
Luis Carlos Sarmiento III	Bogota, Columbia	University of Miami	WE Family Offices
Thomas Stelle	Sag Harbor, NY	Trinity College	BBHG
Daniel Titterington	Oklahoma City, OK	U.S. Military Academy	U.S. Army
Steven Van Vechten	Canandaigua, NY	Hobart and William Smith Colleges	MMB Advertising

Carlos Acevedo

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University

“An explorer who believes that stepping into the unknown is risky, but probably the best way to live.”

Hometown: Santiago, Chile

Fun Fact About Yourself: During my travels, I have eaten all kinds of food. One of them was a scorpion, and it was delicious!

Undergraduate School and Major: Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, Business & Administration (Msc in Finance)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Banco de Credito e Inversiones, FX Sales Trader

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment has been to lead the hedge operations at the bank’s leasing subsidiary. The project previously experienced difficulties between business units with the major challenge in tailoring the leasing needs both financially and operationally.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? I would say each classmate has a great sense of community. I had the chance to meet many of them during Destination Johnson and we have been in contact since that event. There are many students who have already started organizing activities for the start of classes.

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 key factor when deciding which school to invest in was employability. Johnson not only has good numbers, but also offers the immersion programs, which will allow me to better prepare for a summer internship and hopefully land a job offer.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I look forward to participating in the Outdoor Club. My biggest passions are climbing and photography, so I can’t wait to get out there and discover new places.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? After completing the CFA program and years of work, it felt natural to pursue an MBA to complement my technical knowledge. I always wanted to take my career abroad, so an MBA in the United States was a great fit.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Every MBA alum I spoke with before applying to business school told me not to worry about the program costs. They shared that all my calculations would leave out the most important asset of the process, which includes the experience and memories, which are priceless.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Columbia, NYU, UVA and UPenn.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? The first filter was to narrow schools with a strong finance background. I used tools such as rankings, program curriculums and the market place view of each school. I then researched the culture by reading more about campus events. After visiting Johnson, I just knew it was the place that I would like to invest two years, so the decision came easily.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I believe it was during my exchange in Denmark during my undergraduate degree. It was my first international experience and itallowed me to broaden my perception of life. That was the moment when I decided I wanted to live my life as an outgoing adventurer, looking for new challenges in every corner.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?  Before continuing my career in New York, I would like to sail through the Artic.

Where do you see yourself in five years?  I see myself in the decision making process, a role in which my ideas and arguments are considered and are based on my experiences.

Sarah Doyle

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University

“Compassionate leader with a love for new cultures, good people, and delivering the seemingly impossible.”

Hometown: Harwich, Mass.

Fun Fact About Yourself: My husband and I met at the Philadelphia airport on our way to serve with the Peace Corps in Rwanda.

Undergraduate School and Major: Johns Hopkins University, International Studies and French

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: EarthEnable (a social enterprise in Rwanda and Uganda), Global Director of Operations

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: As the COO for a produce distribution startup in Rwanda, I had the opportunity to build and manage a team that worked with smallholder farmers and cooperatives to build ISO compliant supply chains for more than 80 value chains. This had never been done in Rwanda, and we became the first ISO 22000-certified company in the country. I had no supply chain experience, and to this day I am very proud of what we accomplished.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Passionate. They all seem to be not only invested in personal goals, but also passionate about the greater impact, whether on their peers or the larger community.

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 Park Leadership Fellows program was the determining factor in choosing Johnson. Though the scholarship is helpful, I am most excited about spending time with my cohort and growing as leaders. After spending the last eight years devoted to my career, I’m looking forward to taking time to reflect on my path to date, better define who I want to be as a leader, and begin developing skills and self-awareness. I believe the Fellows program will allow me to learn and grow.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Sustainable Global Enterprise Club (and Wine Club!)

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Three years ago, I made the jump from the NGO world into business in Africa. I had the opportunity to run operations for two startups in Rwanda and Uganda, and though I learned a lot on the job, I felt like it was time to formalize my business skillset and prepare to be a stronger leader in the years to come.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? For most of my life, I’ve prioritized work and volunteer opportunities that have a positive impact. I considered working my way up the corporate ladder to gain experience and knowledge, or staying in the African startup space. Ultimately, I chose to spend two years working on an MBA program so that I can return to the work that allows me to contribute to accelerated sustainable business and social impact.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Harvard, Wharton, Columbia, Yale SOM, McDonough

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I strongly believe that businesses can do well while still doing good in communities in which they operate. I believe a strong core business education exists at most schools, but the nuances of the curriculum, access to other departments, the values, and the people, truly set the programs apart. Once I had a short list of schools and did my initial online research. I talked with people familiar with the programs — current students, alumni, and staff — so I could get a well-rounded idea for fit.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? During my first month as a Peace Corps volunteer, my house was broken into and my valuables, including my bed, suitcases, and electronics, were stolen. I felt so betrayed by the community, but chose to stay. A month later, I knew why I stayed. One of my students was kicked out of school for being pregnant. From that moment, I was committed to equipping my students with life skills necessary to excel. I rewrote lessons for my English classes to incorporate topics like goal setting and I adapted the Peace Corps GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) program and planned a camp for 60 girls. My three years with the Peace Corps serve as the foundation for who I am today. Beyond learning to listen more and take the time to connect with people, I learned that I can overcome adversity and be comfortable in the most uncomfortable of circumstances.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? With the majority of my business experience in early-stage startups, I’m looking forward to gaining greater exposure to various aspects of corporate business through management consulting or a leadership development program with a consumer goods or services firm. I hope to leverage my background in emerging markets to inform company growth in new or existing markets, while learning about company structure, interdepartmental coordination, and strategy development.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I know there is incredible opportunity for business in emerging markets, from manufacturing to agribusiness to product development and sales to the bottom of the pyramid. Over the next five to 10 years, I plan to define my niche and build a strong and sustainable business that has a positive impact on many stakeholders along the value chain.

Serena Elavia

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University

“Bold, bookish and blissful.”

Hometown: New York City, NY

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m blessed in the Zoroastrian faith, one of the world’s oldest and smallest religions. There are just under 200,000 Zoroastrians worldwide, so you could call me an endangered species!

Undergraduate School and Major: Trinity College (CT), Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Finsbury (public relations agency), Senior Associate

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Before I worked in public relations, I was a reporter at FOX Business and covered the 2016 presidential election. I was scheduled to interview presidential hopeful Senator Ted Cruz during a College Republicans event at the 2016 Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., but he canceled at the last minute. I had to strategize quickly and figure out how to get a quote from Cruz to replace the interview. While the other reporters were waiting by the stage, I decided to wait by the exit so he would have to walk past me. My strategy worked and he stopped to answer my question. I was the only reporter he spoke to at the event. Later, I published an exclusive quote in the story, and it was the most read article on the website that day. It might have been a brief episode, but I learned not to take no for an answer and find another way around obstacles. This lesson has served me well in the rest of my career.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Because Johnson has a small class, I’ve been lucky enough to meet many of my classmates, and they each share the quality of generosity. Whether they’re sharing their time to chat about recruiting tips or provide edits for others’ résumés, Johnson students are always willing to help out. I’m excited to get to know my classmates when we start the program in a few weeks.

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 a high school and college which focused on a sense of community and knew I wanted that aspect in an MBA program. Johnson is known for its emphasis on community both on and off campus and I learned this the day I started my application. After applying online, I received a call from Johnson admissions asking if I needed anything or wanted to speak to a current student. Having that kind of individualized attention for its applicants showed me that Johnson truly has a warm and supportive community. I’ve also met several Johnson alums and current students who have provided excellent advice about the program. This strong sense of community proved that Johnson was the right school for me.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Because of my interest in marketing, I’m excited to join the marketing club and learn about roles in various industries. I’m looking forward to not only meeting second-year students and hearing about their internship experiences, but also fellow first-year students and the backgrounds they bring.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Since my career in journalism and PR, I realized that I wanted to oversee the creation and management of a consumer product. Because I don’t have the marketing or product development/management skillset, I realized an MBA would provide me with the tools I required.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? My sisters both earned MBAs and benefited greatly from the program. I witnessed their “MBA journeys” and knew that building a network, having access to recruiters, and acquiring a new skillset was extremely valuable to future career success.

What other MBA programs did you apply to?  McDonough, Ross, Tepper, NYU Stern, and Fuqua. Johnson was my number one choice, and I’m thrilled to be a member of the class of 2020.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? When looking at schools, I prioritized the feeling of community, the list of recruiting companies, alumni engagement and student life. My primary research tools included contact with alumni, current students, admissions officers, in addition to referring to websites like Poets & Quants and U.S. News & World Report. I knew that Johnson fit my career goals based on the employment report, which showed a wide variety of employers, especially in the CPG sector. While I’m targeting CPG companies at the moment, I knew that if I changed my mind down the line, I would have success at Johnson as the school places graduates at many different companies.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? When I was 17, during a family vacation, I went ice climbing in Iceland, not knowing what I had signed up for. It was one of the most terrifying experiences. Looking down into bottomless crevasses was not exactly my idea of fun. As much as I wanted to, it’s not easy to give up and turn around while hiking in the middle of an enormous glacier. I had to persist and finish the trip. After stepping off the glacier (and running for solid ground and hot chocolate), I felt proud of myself for accomplishing this amazing feat. Giving up is always an easier option, but it won’t show you anything new or provide you with a reward. Since then, I’ve tried to challenge myself, work hard in everything I do, and most importantly not give up when a situation becomes difficult!

What do you plan to do after you graduate? While I’m still exploring various career paths and industries, I know that I want to work in marketing and product development at a B2C company.

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I see myself in a management role responsible for a product at line.

Delia Hughes

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University

“I am enthusiastic and passionate with a love of travel, fitness, nature, and cheese.”

Hometown: Eastchester, NY

Fun Fact About Yourself: I studied abroad in Parma, Italy for six months learning how to make Prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano Reggiano.

Undergraduate School and Major: Cornell University, Food Science Major

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Atalanta Corporation (largest privately-owned food importer in the U.S.), Business Development Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:  The biggest accomplishment in my career has been to develop a new program for a national retailer which eventually drove a 150 percent sales and profit increase. I worked as a business development manager for a food importer managing $25M and was responsible for negotiating costs, setting prices, growing sales and profit, managing brand development, and implementing marketing promotions. The Belgian cheese brand which I represented had experienced stagnant growth and in response our team’s challenge was to create a seasonal concept of distinctive cheeses. We developed the logistics chain for these new items for distribution and successfully sold the concept to the retailer. The project tested my innovative and creative skills, my financial skills, and my project management and communication skills.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Collaborative. My classmates have been extremely helpful in answering questions and sharing experiences. I was not expecting this open environment and the apparent eagerness to help! It will be a refreshing environment to live in and I believe we will become true teammates, rather than simply classmates. This collaborative nature will help us succeed in whatever we choose to pursue.

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 inviting community was the key factor that led me to choose Johnson. The Johnson community has a welcoming nature and attending Destination Johnson program was an amazing experience. All of the professors and current students could not be more gracious with their time and attention. I was introduced to many fellow entrepreneurs and to entrepreneurial alumni via email. Everyone took the extra effort to network and it was a wonderful feeling. I also wanted a school where I could develop life-long relationships. Being able to access Cornell University and take courses across six different colleges was a huge factor in my decision. I plan to launch my food company while pursuing an MBA. Being able to access and work with professors and students from the Food Science department, Agriculture school, and Engineering College will be a huge asset for my company.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? My focus at Johnson will be on entrepreneurship, as I aspire to start my own food venture or lead a food company. I look forward to becoming involved in the entrepreneurial community and forming meaningful relationships with my peers. Seeking out a leadership role in the E Club (entrepreneurship club) to help build the entrepreneurship community is a serious interest. I also want to get involved in BR Venture Fund to assist small businesses and learn what it takes to successfully acquire investors.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I decided to pursue an MBA to acquire the tools and knowledge to transition from executing strategy to formulating strategy. Ultimately, I want to be at the executive level or in an entrepreneurial role within the food industry, where I can lead a team propelled by my vision. One of my areas of focus is to further develop core accounting and finance skills. Since I have been involved in the food industry, I hope to use my MBA to gain exposure to other industries, such as technology, to enable me to think broadly and find cross industry opportunities. An MBA, coupled with my acquired skills, industry relationships, and proven creativity, will provide the necessary foundation to reach my long-term goal.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? An MBA is a significant financial investment and something I thought a lot about when deciding whether to do a full-time or a part-time program. I realize I am going to need assistance with developing my business; whether it is sourcing capital, determining sell price or finding efficiencies in logistics. As I grow the business, being able to access the resources of experts and professors will be invaluable.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Stern, Baruch Zicklin, Anderson, Darden, Columbia

How did you determine your fit at various schools? Three factors I reviewed when choosing MBA programs were the strength of the entrepreneurship program, a strong dedication to building core business skills, and the alumni network. I determined fit at various schools by taking time to speak with students. Since entrepreneurship is a main focus, I contacted the entrepreneurship society/club at each school and spoke with professors or program coordinators to obtain information about the course offerings, clubs, trips, etc. Taking the initiative to schedule conversations with students and professors definitely made a huge impact in determining personal fit.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment was right after I graduated from college when my product development team of five won first place at the International Food Technology Student Association Disney Competition. The competition was a national competition and our task was to create a Disney movie-themed food item targeted for children ages five-to-ten years old. My team was a mix of undergrad and graduate students and we came up with our product “Finding Dory”. The product was a gummy-based snack which contained one serving of fruit. We completed a business plan, built the product from initial concept, and created real samples to give to industry professionals. Our team came up with a concept by analyzing the market gap for children and created the scale-up process, then developed packaging, costing, and marketing strategy to launch the item. Winning first place in this competition was a defining moment and fueled my entrepreneurial desire. It gave me confidence and inspired me to launch my own food product company.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? My goal is to launch my business during my MBA. If the company is progressing, I will plan to work for my company after I graduate. Most likely my time will be in the consumer division with obtaining capital, going on sales calls and building the brand. If that doesn’t work out, I see myself working for a successful food start-up in a leadership strategy role.

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I see myself running my own food company and taking the business to the next level to include brand extensions and new product launches.

Alyssa Johnson

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University

“Lawyer-turned-banker, food and wine enthusiast, avid explorer.”

Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I love eating at restaurants that don’t have a menu in English and picking a dish at random.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Sydney, Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honors)/ Bachelor of Arts in Spanish & Latin American Studies

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: ANZ Bank, Senior Relationship Credit Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: It would be my promotion from Relationship Manager to Senior Relationship Credit Manager at ANZ. Banking in Australia is a male-dominated profession and following my promotion I was one of two female senior managers in my division. I was proud to be a role model for junior women at the bank who aspired to management roles.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Talented. Each of the classmates that I’ve met has been talented in a unique and often amazing way. From marathon running to running their own businesses, I am constantly impressed by the diverse achievements of everyone I meet.

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 Johnson because of the school’s focus on community. When I was exploring MBA programs, I knew I wanted to be part of a small, tight-knit program where I could greet classmates by name. Johnson really stood out as all of the students and alumni I spoke with highlighted the supportive, community-minded atmosphere in Ithaca.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Women’s Management Council – a key reason I chose Johnson was the focus on increasing the number of women completing MBAs and supporting women in business. At Johnson, I look forward to supporting my current classmates and meeting potential future classmates through the Women’s Management Council.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? After five years of full-time work, I was in a management role and climbing the career ladder. I knew that in order to become a well-rounded and inclusive leader, I needed to take the time to pursue an MBA.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I’ve always viewed education as the best investment I can make in myself. I viewed the MBA as a good investment that would constantly challenge me and put me outside of my comfort zone from both an academic and personal perspective.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Duke, Darden, Tuck and Yale.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? The main way I analyzed fit was by reaching out to our current students and asking about their experiences. I tried to connect with students that had similar interests or backgrounds to my own, be it nationality, career or personal interests. After these discussions, I asked myself if I could see myself

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? As a five year-old, my family moved from Australia to the Philippines. Living abroad at a young age fueled my life-long love of travel and interest in other cultures. Thus far, I’ve been fortunate to live on four continents!

What do you plan to do after you graduate? After I graduate, I plan on working internationally for an organization that values employee (and customer) diversity, and challenges me to continue to develop my leadership skills.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Living and working abroad for a global company.

Grace Ko

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University

“I’m a friendly Texan at heart, active Californian in spirit, and ambitious New Yorker by trade.”

Hometown: Originally born in Seoul, South Korea. I’ve lived in California, Texas, and New York.

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am a professionally trained sushi chef and worked at a sushi restaurant part-time during college.

Undergraduate School and Major:

The University of Texas at Austin, Bachelor of Business Administration (2012)

The University of Texas at Austin, Master of Professional Accounting (2013)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: KKR Financial Services Company, LLC – Senior Accountant

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My employer provides onsite catering services for its employees, inevitably resulting in leftover food daily. To address this issue, I explored the possibility of having the leftover food donated to a local shelter by proposing a strategic partnership with a nonprofit organization dedicated to food recovery. I arranged a number of meetings between the nonprofit and my company’s head of citizenship to pitch the idea. The verdict was not exactly what I had hoped for: the buffet-style operation of the catering service meant leftover food had been “plated,” making it ineligible for donation. Nevertheless, I was able to introduce a new corporate social responsibility partner to my employer and encourage the firm to think creatively about using firm assets for the greater good.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Diverse and intellectually curious. I recently had the pleasure of connecting with a number of incoming Johnson MBA women at the Forte Leadership Conference and was blown away by the wide array of experiences, backgrounds and interests. Ranging from wine marketers at Napa Valley to dental school students from Harvard, my Cornell classmates bring so much passion and energy from their respective fields and I look forward to learning from their experiences as well as sharing my own.

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 thing that made Johnson stand out among the rest was the truly collaborative, tight-knit community I encountered throughout the application process. Each of the current students I reached out to went above-and-beyond in helping me decide if Johnson was the place for me – and if they didn’t have the answers I needed, they were more than happy to connect me with someone else in their network. The tight-knit community feel was even more evident during Destination Johnson (DJ), a weekend-long event for admitted students, at which I was able to connect with current and prospective students, faculty, staff, and alums. Upon attending DJ weekend, I felt that Johnson was a special place where I could see myself grow personally and professionally with the strong support of a real community.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Given my career interest in Tech, I’m looking forward to becoming an active member of Johnson’s High-Tech Club and Big Red Tech Strategy Club.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I had worked in the wealth management space focusing on financial due diligence and investment reporting for high net worth clients. In my role, I came across a number of venture capital deals focused on the technology sector and found myself drawn to the workings of the tech industry and its ability to make a tangible impact on people’s lives at scale. Taking my passion for tech one step further, I decided that pursing an MBA would give me the skills to explore these interests while helping me build the technical and business acumen that would help me transition into the tech industry.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I decide by talking to people in my network to find out what motivated them to pursue an MBA and what they ultimately took away from their experiences. Pursuing an MBA is a significant investment in terms of time, money, and even personal life. I think it’s also important to hear from both sides of the spectrum – so while I spoke to many people who pursued the MBA route, I also reached out to those who decided against it to learn their side. This approach helped me decide what made the most sense in terms of fulfilling my career goals.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Kellogg, Stern, and Sloan

How did you determine your fit at various schools? The best way to determine fit was the campus visit. Each campus and student community embodies a particular “feel” that you can only experience by visiting. I would take advantage of the class visits, info sessions, and coffee chats. I also took a close look at each program’s employment report to gauge the programs’ hiring outcomes.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? The defining moment of my life was the rescindment of DACA in 2017. I would not be the person I am today without the protections and opportunities granted through former President Obama’s DACA program. When the program was temporarily rescinded last year, it felt as if my life was in limbo and that my future was being thwarted by obstacles outside my control. However, making it through this period of my life taught me the values of grit and perseverance and I am very grateful for the opportunities presented today.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? Post-MBA, I hope to transition into the tech industry. I’m still deciding on which role or capacity in tech, but I have no doubt that my time at Johnson will help me solidify my career aspirations.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Five years from now, I hope to become a more seasoned professional in the tech industry, an invaluable contributor, a mentor to someone trying to break into my field, and a success story for Johnson’s MBA program.

Mercedes Moran

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University

“A Mexican engineering female who writes, asks many questions, advocates all things digital, and wanders around.”

Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love musical theatre, so when I hear about a new play, I download it, and if I like it, I listen and sing along until I know the lyrics. When I finally see the play, I usually cry because it is the moment I put faces to the characters. People look at me strangely, like “Hey, nothing is happening, why are you crying?”

Undergraduate School and Major: Computer Science Engineer, Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey Campus, Santa Fe, Mexico

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Citibanamex, Assistant Vice President in Digital Strategy & Planning

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I am very proud of the data analytics models and processes my team built in my organization during the past three years. Our data is not an isolated number — it tells stories about our customers and their needs, which has allowed us to make better decisions about how to promote digital usage and adoption. The most relevant story I discovered focused on low-income customers, their financial behavior, habits and how the industry views them.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Very warm and friendly.  Everyone has been helpful, open, and kind. I already felt part of the community before even arriving. I had heard about the competitive nature of MBA programs and was expecting a colder environment. Instead, I found the Johnson community to be exceptionally talented and open to collaboration.

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 love the program because it has an intense first semester for the core, followed by immersions, which allow for specialization. The curriculum related to emerging markets, digitalization, and sustainable entrepreneurship fits perfectly with the knowledge and skills I want to acquire. All of this is supported by amazing faculty such as Lourdes Casanova, who is one of the most recognized academics in emerging markets. The Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise (CSGE) is committed to socially and environmentally sustainable businesses which have expertise in international development, financial inclusion, and green energy. In addition, I hope to take advantage of the intensive courses in fintech and digital marketing offered at the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I look forward to participating in Big Red Microenterprise, which helps small-business owners and entrepreneurs to become more profitable. It’s a great way to give back to the community. I’d also like to collaborate with the Emerging Markets Institute by conducting some research and writing about digitalization in emerging markets. As a hobby, I would like to participate as a writer for the Johnson Follies. I like making people laugh, and I find comedy is a great tool to connect with people.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I’ve been working for several years in the financial services industry and have become hyper-aware that with the digital revolution comes opportunities and challenges for low-income customers. I am curious about how to open the financial system to them, as I am convinced that fair credit conditions and savings promote progress. I believe the MBA program at Johnson has the right curriculum, faculty, environment, and community in order for me to tackle some of these challenges.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? The investment gives you more than the academic experience and a nice title for your CV. It gives you access to a new network of smart and talented people, inspires you to ask questions, and gives you access to a wealth of resources.

What other MBA programs did you apply to?  MIT, UCLA, Michigan Ross, Darden.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I am a planner, so I spent a lot of time comparing schools. I referred to the school profiles on the Poets & Quants website which was a great resource. I read about the curriculum, the school values, the faculty, students, and location profiles. After selecting my finalists, I read graduate CVs on LinkedIn and forums about school traditions and the environment. All of this research gave me a clear picture about the type of community I was seeking.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment was a very quiet one. My cousin and I are almost the same age, and his lifestyle is very different from mine. He is a surfer in northern Spain and lives in the country where he cultivates his own vegetables. I work at a bank and live in one of the biggest cities in the world. One night, we were sitting on the roof and having a conversation about our goals and dreams, and suddenly it became very clear to me that we looked for the same things: security, joy, and fulfillment. After this, I have been paying attention to this idea in everything I read, listen to, or watch in my daily interactions with people – and this common purpose is confirmed. This has made me empathetic and open to people with different ideas and beliefs. This is the reason I am committed to making sure my work gives opportunities to people to find joy, fulfillment, and security.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I will go back to the financial industry and develop solutions and products for low-income communities, focusing on women.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself as a positive figure in the financial industry and collaborating in a big bank with government and private organizations to develop a sustainable and inclusive digital ecosystem that helps reduce inequity in my country. I also see myself mentoring entrepreneurial women. Finally, on the personal side, I would love to one day start a family.

Yewande Salau

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University

“Passionate about connecting people, ideas, and resources to create new opportunities and networks.”

Hometown: Rosedale, NY

Fun Fact About Yourself: I competed in a pentathlon and my specialty was the pole vault.

Undergraduate School and Major: Vanderbilt University, BS in Human and Organizational Development with a concentration in International Leadership and Development

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Prep for Prep, Middle School Post Placement Counselor

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment was at Prep for Prep. In this role, I worked to find discount test prep options for students who were struggling with entrance exams to New York City’s elite independent schools. Admission for students increased from 85 percent to 100 percent after the test prep program was instituted.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? My classmates are passionate. I have met people who want to solve problems in financial technology, healthcare, real estate, and banking. Their energy and passion come through in our conversations. We want to help each other succeed and reach our respective goals.

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? Informational interviews. The summer before applying to business school, I conducted informational interviews and discovered that Johnson students and alumni were working at companies making an impact in businesses ranging from technology to nonprofits. As a result of these conversations, I believed that Johnson would be a great place to realize my dreams. I wanted to have access to a network of people who are passionate about creating opportunities for diverse groups.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? The Human Capital Association. Connecting with other like-minded people who are passionate about human capital strategy in organizations is so exciting. I am also looking forward to participating in case competitions and believe those experiences may provide innovative solutions for challenges in organizations.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? At this point, I have been fortunate enough to work in retail, entrepreneurship, and education. With these experiences, I realized it is important to learn how to manage people and resources to be the best leader you can be in a given organization. The MBA is a great catalyst to help refine my management skills and redirect my career to lead “people strategy” and diversity and inclusion at leading organizations.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? After conducting informational interviews, I learned that the MBA experience provided skills, confidence, and a network. I see myself leading the people strategy for a major organization. In order to speak the language of the C-suite, it is important to have the frame of reference to align people strategy with the bottom line.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Ross, Fuqua, Wharton, Kellogg, Goizueta, Olin.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? There were three factors that I used to determine if a school would be a good fit: career placement, class size, and learning style. To research this, I attended career fairs and student visit weekends and read print and online material on the school’s website. It was also important to have a small, tight-knit community of students, and I was able to see this in action during the Johnson Means Business weekend and a school-sponsored admissions dinner in NYC. Interviewing alumni and students allowed me to learn more about Johnson’s strong core curriculum and immersion experience. I want the technical skills to set me apart from the rest during my summer internship and during my first few years out of school.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Having a younger brother on the autism spectrum has been a defining moment in my life. I constantly think about what will happen after he graduates from school. Organizations such as Tech Kids Unlimited and Lime Connect work with individuals coping with autism, but I think there is more that can be done. I’m passionate about how to bring opportunities to those who may be overlooked in a traditional recruiting sense, and I’m also interested in how to design work that adds value while creating opportunity for a diverse workforce.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? After I graduate, I hope to be in a human resources or general management leadership program at a technology or a consumer packaged goods organization. This would be a great way to learn as much as I can and apply the skills that I have gained from my business school training.

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I hope to be a human resources manager in a technology or consumer packaged goods company, leading the people strategy. I am interested in including people from diverse and nontraditional backgrounds in the hiring process and business strategy in these types of organizations. It is with this inclusion that organizations can open themselves to new markets and customers.

Luis Carlos Sarmiento III  

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University

“I’m extremely competitive and goal-oriented. I take challenges head on and Johnson was next on my bucket list.”

Hometown: Bogota, Colombia

Fun Fact About Yourself: Played Soccer professionally for two years in Miami.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Miami, Management and Accounting

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: WE Family Offices, Financial Associate

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Graduating magna cum laude from the University of Miami and achieving my goal to be a professional athlete. I worked as a Financial Associate during regular work hours while participating in a professional soccer league after work.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Reliability. The entire community is closely knit and understands that one favorable outcome is in everyone’s best interest. After only a few conversations with Johnson students, you can see how they rely on each other in order to succeed.

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? My dad was a Johnson graduate in 1985 and it has been a lifelong dream of mine to get my MBA at Cornell. Ever since I can remember, the Cornell culture has been a big part of my family and upbringing. After my undergrad, I was determined to take every necessary step to make my MBA at Johnson goal into a reality.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school?

1. Family Business Club: My end-goal has always been to work in the family business. We are a banking conglomerate in Colombia where my father is the CEO and my grandfather is the founder and head of the board. I was excited to speak with students who are in a similar position.
2. Old Ezra: One of the oldest and most influential clubs at Johnson.
3. LABA: I’m proud to be Colombian and the Latino culture is a big part of me. I’m eager to see how this organization interacts with the Latin American community.
4. Soccer Club: Played professionally for two years in Miami, and would love to be part of the squad at Johnson, which recently won a national tournament.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Professional growth and learning are two driving factors. Although I learned a lot from working in the financial industry, my goal is to end up in a banking conglomerate and I felt an MBA could make me a better-rounded individual.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? An MBA has always been in my plans, however I truly want to earn the opportunity to make a difference in our family business. I believe the combination of an undergrad education, my work experience, and an MBA, will help me become a well-rounded individual and a true asset for our company.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I only applied to Johnson. I have known for a long time that Cornell was the place for me.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? Cornell’s culture has been a big part of my family for many years. The fact that Johnson is an elite top 10 program in the country was a natural choice. I was looking for the next big challenge.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My aunt was kidnapped in Colombia when I was seven years old by “The FARC.” She was kept away from our family for 11 months. This was one of the most horrific and defining experiences of my life. At a very young age this embedded the value of family and ever since it has been the strongest driving factor in my life. It also helped me pinpoint what I want the future to look like and the fact I was going to work in the family business and hopefully be able to help make Colombia a safer and better place.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I’m still juggling between the options of going back to Colombia and working in the family business or working for a couple of years on Wall Street and then returning to Colombia.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Working for Grupo Aval in Bogota, Colombia.

Thomas Stelle

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University

“I’m a hardworking, family-oriented person whose life is driven by a keen interest in hospitality.”

Hometown: Sag Harbor, NY

Fun Fact About Yourself: I spearfished a 250-pound yellowfin tuna off Ascension Island.

Undergraduate School and Major: Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., Literature Major

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: BBHG, Restaurant Consultant

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Several years after working at Mario Batali’s flagship restaurant, Babbo, my leadership and dedication led to the honor of overseeing the logistics of President Obama’s 14th and final state dinner.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? I would say commitment is the best quality I have experienced by meeting other Johnson students. Whether it’s about Cornell, the Johnson curriculum, or the MBA culture, Cornell stands out to prospective MBA students immediately.

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? Coming from a food and beverage background, Cornell stood out because of classes in hospitality and real estate offered at the School of Hotel Administration and classes in entrepreneurship, sustainability and business at Johnson. All of these offerings exist within Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, which comprises Johnson, Dyson (undergraduate business), and the School of Hotel Administration.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m most excited to get involved in the Sustainable Global Enterprise Club, because this is something that has moved to the forefront in terms of creating a business and being a more responsible citizen in the world.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? After working in restaurant operations and consulting for four years, I felt as though I had reached my ceiling at BBHG and decided that in order to start my own business I needed to become more educated about the foundations of business.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? An MBA was clearly worth the investment because everything from the core courses to the more specialized electives were going to provide me with a necessary set of skills and knowledge to start and successfully run my own hospitality group.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Columbia and Dartmouth.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I approached the process of picking a school by considering “the whole package,” and not one particular aspect of the MBA program. This spans from the actual campus feel to the MBA curriculum and extracurricular opportunities. Having a strong connection to the school, a robust sense of community, and well-known entrepreneurship and social enterprise programs were specific requirements.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I can’t say that I have a defining moment per se, but I can say that my mother and father have actively shaped me into the person I am today. From a young age, they allowed my sisters and me to follow our dreams, whether that involved hobbies, education, or in our careers, with a support system that fostered passion. Through this passion, and their focus on instilling kindness, I was able to bring hospitality into my life and live out my dream of making people happy through my work.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? After graduating, I’m planning to work for an investment or private equity fund and work specifically in the sector of food and beverage, restaurant technology, and fast casual concepts. This is an emerging part of the investment world, and I think by taking my operational expertise and combining it with an MBA I will be able to approach the business in a very holistic and comprehensive manner.

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, after forming my flagship restaurant, I plan to build a hybrid hospitality group with a focus on sustainability and social impact that combines restaurant and real estate investments, food production, and product branding. I’ll diversify my portfolio of investments throughout the food, wine, and hospitality industries, as well as associated markets, using these mediums to address social issues such as residential development, sustainability, and healthy living.

Daniel Titterington

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University

An Army veteran who is passionate about working towards a sustainable future.

Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Fun Fact About Yourself: I grew up in a house with 12 dogs! My mom bred golden retrievers, corgis, and Irish wolfhounds, so our home was always full of pups.

Undergraduate School and Major: United States Military Academy at West Point – Management

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: U.S. Army – Battalion Operations Planner at the “Old Guard”

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishments in the Army were achieved while operating as a member of a team. My first stint as a Platoon Leader provided the opportunity to serve as a change agent for a 35-soldier organization following its return from Afghanistan. I wanted to instill a learning culture to assist with the unit’s transition. Through candor and empathy, the organization was able to effectively understand what it needed to become successful. It wasn’t always easy, but over the course of a year, I was able to lead the unit through a transition in which we collectively attained the skills and competencies necessary to operate effectively in conventional environments. In this capacity, that same organization has since deployed everywhere from Germany to South Korea, serving with distinction each time.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Authentic. I have been very impressed by my fellow MBA classmates at Johnson. You can really tell the passion each person brings to the program within seconds of conversing. That, coupled with their diverse backgrounds, makes Johnson truly a great place to learn from 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? Johnson’s Sustainable Global Enterprise Immersion program was integral in my decision to attend. After sitting through an informational seminar, I was able to fully realize that Johnson had the professors, programs, and tools necessary to help me successfully transition from an Army officer into a professional within the renewables industry. The intensive and immersive nature of the SGE program affords me the greatest opportunity to become fully versed and competent in a field in which I have no prior experience.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Cornell Energy Club!

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? West Point provided me with a strong academic and ethical foundation, and the Army gave me a lot of practical experiences managing and leading teams. Before I could successfully make the transition from the military to the renewable energy industry, I realized that I possessed analytical, functional, and social weaknesses that needed to be addressed. Pursuing an MBA affords me the opportunity to become better-versed in the language of data analytics, acquire formal skills in operations management, and take the time necessary to become better at the art of networking, while learning the nuances of a culture outside of the military.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment?

I approached the question of whether or not an MBA was worth the investment based primarily on timing and monetary considerations. Timing-wise, there was never going to be a better period or age to pursue an MBA. I was going to need to change professions anyway, so why not spend two years setting up for success prior to jumping into a new industry? Monetarily speaking, I had accrued a benefit, the GI bill, that would be wasted if I didn’t utilize it. That, coupled with the scholarship I received from Johnson, dramatically decreased the debt burden I would have to incur to pursue an MBA.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? MIT Sloan, Yale, Wharton and Darden

How did you determine your fit at various schools? First, I reflected. I think too often individuals get wrapped up in moving directly from their current position to envisioning themselves at their “dream” school without allowing time to think through ideas and planning. After reflection, I reached out to every school I was interested in and asked to speak with a current student. I did this by reaching out to each school’s veteran’s community. After getting a general feel for the school, I then completed extensive research. I found that the employment reports were very helpful. After narrowing the list down to my top five choices, I visited each school. During these visits I attended a class, toured the campus, and got a feel for the local community. I was able to gain a firm understanding of each school’s culture through the amalgamation of these events.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I don’t believe there has been any singular moment that I can say has defined me as an individual. Successes, failures, and life events have all caused me to evolve into who I am today. The foundation of this evolution has been guided by world events I became attuned to during my adolescence and teenage years. The events of the early 2000’s imbued a strong sense of duty and service to causes greater than myself. Although I am now switching professions, these sensibilities still guide how I find professional value and meaning.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? Project management for utility scale renewable energy solutions.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I will be on the west coast working in project development for First Solar.

Steven Van Vechten

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University

“Ever-curious and constantly looking for new ways to improve myself personally, professionally, and socially.”

Hometown: Canandaigua, NY

Fun Fact About Yourself: While living in Wales, I mastered the pronunciation of the longest town name in the world: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch

Undergraduate School and Major: Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY; Double Major in Psychology and Media Studies, Minor in Sociology  

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: MMB Advertising, Senior Account Executive

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My favorite (and perhaps most challenging) professional project to date was working with a small team to identify areas for growth for the Toyota Prius. At a time when the 2016 presidential election had polarized the U.S., my team sought to make the Prius, which has always been an icon of liberalism, culturally relevant and appealing to consumers, in some of the most historically conservative states in the country.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? I knew I had found my tribe when my level of curiosity and excitement was matched by the Johnson students I met. Johnson students are incredibly accomplished individuals, but never flex their egos. I found the passion and humility at Johnson to be refreshing and love that it is a place where everyone encourages one another to dream big. The Johnson community motivates you to achieve more than you ever thought you could.

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? Some aspects of my MBA search were nonnegotiable. Because I plan to pivot to brand management, I wanted a program that would allow me to delve deeply into marketing, such as Johnson’s Strategic Marketing Immersion. I was also adamant that my program would have strong recruiting relationships with top consumer packaged goods companies. While speaking with current students, alumni, and career management staff, it was clear that Johnson had the necessary recruitment pipeline. I was also highly motivated to find a program with a robust leadership development curriculum. With the rate that technology and business are evolving, I believe that the most valuable hard skills will change.  Opportunities such as Johnson Leadership Fellows, Leadership Expeditions, Board Fellows, etc., will help me to develop the soft skills that will maintain their value throughout my career.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? International travel. Johnson offers phenomenal opportunities for international travel, and I plan to take full advantage of this offering. While some trips are designed to expose students to international business, others focus more on leadership building in unpredictable situations, like the Leadership Expeditions to Patagonia and USMC Quantico. I am a firm believer in the value of regularly vaulting outside of my comfort zone so I am eager to get uncomfortable and grow alongside my classmates.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Working at an advertising agency was energizing, and I enjoyed working with clients to solve business problems, but ultimately I wanted more ownership over the brand and to be the final decision maker. Pivoting from an agency to brand management will allow me to widen my scope of influence to include new product development, innovation, R&D, as well as augment pricing, supply chain, packaging, and the sales experience.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Pursuing an MBA certainly requires both a financial investment as well as a substantial time commitment. Diving into an MBA program was primarily about elevating my career to a level where I could grapple with big, messy questions and make a greater impact. After speaking with some Johnson alums, I was certain that Cornell’s MBA program would springboard me directly into a career that would stimulate me.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Fuqua, Tuck, Darden, Yale SOM

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I wanted a program with a “bunker mentality,” where all students are invested in seeing their peers succeed. Many programs tout their schools’ “tight-knit community,” and this idea rang truest at Johnson. One strategy that was helpful in assessing programs was to visit schools and sit where students congregate, observing the tone of their conversations and the expressions on their faces. In Johnson’s Sage Atrium, which is bathed in natural light, it was clear to me that the students were extremely bright and high-achieving, but also they were enjoying themselves. They were just as passionate about the successes of their peers as they were about their own. In this regard, Johnson was truly in a class of its own.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? As a freshman undergrad, I auditioned and was selected to become “Bart” the Statesman, the school mascot and singular personification of Hobart College. A great way to get comfortable with laughing at yourself is to dress up as an eight-foot-tall colonial patriarch and dance in front of hundreds of sports fans. I never expected “mascoting” to change my career path, but while sweating profusely under the layers of the woolen costume and peering out through a nine-inch-wide smile, I discovered the power of a brand. “Bart” sparked my passion for branding.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? My primary strengths and interests lie in the fusion of business and the psychology of consumer motivation. After Cornell, I plan to work in brand management at a CPG company, where I intend to help steer brands through exciting new trends in consumer preferences and e-commerce.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Though my current five-year plan has me climbing the brand management ladder at a CPG company, heavily investing myself in innovation roles, penetrating emerging markets, and landing an international job posting, I am also refusing to close any doors. Things are changing rapidly these days, and I know that taking a brief detour or exploring an entirely new path might turn out to be the best career decision I ever make.

 

 

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