What makes Tuck Tick?
That’s an age-old question for the world’s oldest graduate business program. Known for their openness, generosity, and togetherness, Tuckies are a breed all their own. That’s exactly how they want to stay – and that’s exactly who the Class of 2020 want to be!
Call it the “pay-it-forward” spirit that pervades the program – a commitment from the students to repay the blessings they once enjoyed. The incoming class has been beneficiaries of this goodwill – much like classes before them. Soon enough, it will be their duty to return the favor. That’s was true of Vivian Guo, who arrived in Hanover from China this summer. Once here, her family received a red carpet treatment you’d only find in a Marriott case study.
STUDENTS GET THE 5-STAR TREATMENT WHEN THEY ARRIVE
“Tuckies are kind,” she shares. “They will go out of their way to help one another. Take my experience as an example. Our neighbor offered to pick us pick from the bus station (around midnight) and let us crash at their place for as long as we needed to set things ready for our house. I cannot imagine how hard it would have been for us to set things up at the beginning without their help, and this does not only happen to us. Most students and partners I have met so far have either hosted other students, offered rides to others to get around, helped with furniture moving, babysitting, dog care, and more.”
Colin Chapin got an early taste of this trademark closeness during Tuck Bridge, a summer program that exposes liberal arts majors to business fundamentals. In just four weeks, Chapin developed strong bonds with faculty and students. He was treated like an MBA, indulging in the Tuck rituals of small group dinners, tripod hockey, and drinks at Murphy’s. Long before he decided to pursue an MBA, he became privy to one reason why Tuck students were so warm and engaged.
“Students here self-select into a small, rural program,” he observes. “There is no city to disappear into or metaphorical backrow to coast in.”
Tuck students in class
In other words, Tuck is the “all-in” business school where students take up more than a seat in class. Instead, every student is expected to be indispensable. They came to Tuck to be part of a group – and that means personifying the values, becoming heavily involved in activities, and tending to their classmates. Call it a communal culture that prepares students for always-on jobs that demand teamwork guided by servant leadership. Since the school carefully chooses students who fit this profile, buy-in is quick and lasting.
A LEGACY TO UPHOLD
“The rate at which you go from “strangers living in Hanover” to “of course you can borrow my car in the middle of the night” at Tuck is rapid,” jokes Claire Shaw, a business development manager who grew up in Alaska.
This “share the love” ethos doesn’t happen by accident. Instead, it is constantly reinforced at all levels according to Jonathan Masland, executive director for career development at Tuck, in a 2018 interview with P&Q. Tuck’s structure and scale, he says, is designed so everyone knows each other. This closeness creates an urgency to pitch in whenever they can. And the commitment to the Tuck ideal reminds them that their responsibility to their peers ultimately extends to the classes who follow them.
“They’ve had this great experience. They understand, to have this community, it is something that really requires them to give back.” Marsland notes.
Some might call that “nice.” Sure enough, “nice” or even “soft” is the label that’s often slapped on Tuckies. “Nice” was the first word that came to mind for Irina Titkova, a Belarus native and KPMG finance whiz, when she came to Hanover this summer. However, this first year defines “nice” as “humble, brilliant, ambitious” – a body of students with “open minds, big hearts and with wonderful personal stories.” In contrast, Martina Ravelli, a 2018 grad and member of P&Q’s MBAs To Watch list, acknowledges the nice part. However, she ultimately replaces “nice” with “collaborative competitiveness” – a mindset that’s a refreshing departure from the cutthroat antics of many graduate programs.
“I believe that we are all pushing each other to do better and do more every day.”
WHAT TUCK “NICE” REALLY MEANS
The school, itself, doesn’t shy away from “nice.” Taking a page from Berkeley Haas’ Four Guiding Principles, Tuck fully embraced “nice” by including it among its four admissions evaluation criteria unveiled in June. The list, which also included smart, accomplished, and engaged, treats “nice” as far more than easy smiles, calm demeanors, supportive words, and occasional kind acts. For Luke Anthony Peña, executive director of admissions and financial aid at Tuck, “nice” is part of a much deeper social contract between the school and its students.
“For us, “nice” means that our candidates will have practiced a habit of kindness,” Peña tells P&Q in a 2018 interview. “It means that applicants are invested not only in their own success but also in the success of others…In order to build the right teams, our wise leaders need to engage others effectively, motivate others, empower others, and have empathy for the diverse experience of others — and in order to do that, we believe that our students should care for others, be kind to others, respect others, lift others up.”
Just be careful not to mistake being nice for being weak at Tuck, Peña adds. “When you care about another person and are invested in that relationship, you have the courage to stand up to them. You have the courage to challenge them tactfully and thoughtfully, and you have the courage to act with principle with that person even when it’s not easy or convenient.”
Luke Anthony Peña, Executive Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Tuck
FIRST FEMALE BATTERY COMMANDER LEARNS LEADERSHIP HIGHS AND LOWS
“Nice” is just one part of the equation. Accomplishments count too. Along with the new admissions criteria touting results, it clarifies exactly what that means. At Tuck, the criteria reads, “Great performance goes beyond measurable outcomes; it also reflects your underlying behavior. Accomplished Tuck candidates don’t just go through the motions, don’t seek to win at any cost, and don’t wilt in tough moments.”
That spirit is alive-and-well with the Class of 2020. Just look at Makena Timmins Harris – the first female M777A2 battery commander in U.S. Army history. Her job? Blast 100-pound bombs out of a cannon to hit precise targets miles away. A technical challenge, no doubt, but commanding 80 soldier teams to work as a team turned out to be a leadership laboratory for her.
“I quickly learned that the success of the battery was not how well I performed as an artillery (wo)man, but how well I set conditions for my subordinates to perform their individual jobs to the best of their abilities,” she explains. “Although I failed a few times in the beginning, I learned that sometimes being the leader means taking a step back and empowering those below you to accomplish their given tasks.”
SEEING THE WORLD…FROM AN AIRPORT
Vivian Guo achieved the near impossible. While employees naturally gravitate towards sales and service cutures, she nurtured a ‘compliance’ culture in her 500 member firm. That’s right: her outreach led to staff embracing concepts like risk, restriction, and regulation. After learning the ropes and paying her dues, Claire Shaw became the first person to move from entry level sales to global business development – where she was the youngest (and only female) member of the team. As a researcher with the Council of Economic Advisors, Cordaye Ogletree work helped pinpoint when the United States would achieve energy independence. At the same time, Roberto Vásquez designed the acquisition structure when Peru’s second-largest pharmacy chain was being purchased. Then there is Shailendra Khemka, whose twin brother joined him at Tuck. In 2017, Khemka was the only person in Deutsche Bank’s Asia-Pacific region client team to earn the company’s Recognition Award for “exceptional contributions.”
Like his peers, Shailendra Khemka also boasts an adventurous spirit. He has already worked in four countries since graduation: Singapore, London, India, and the United States. That’d be child’s play for Irina Titkova, who hit five countries in two countries…but only saw them from the airport. Then again, Vivian Guo spent 20 months backpacking solo through India, Nepal, and China – not to mention Central and South America.
It was quite the trip. “I did a volunteer program in Macedonia, visited the Amazon Jungle, thru-hiked Salkantay to Machu Picchu, summited Huayna Potosi in La Paz, trekked in the Patagonia region, and learned tango dancing in Buenos Aires,” she reminisces.
APPS UP IN DISMAL YEAR FOR OTHER BUSINESS SCHOOLS
Outdoors near the Tuck campus
During the 2017-2018 application cycle, just two of the top 20 full-MBA programs received more applications than the year before. Turns out, Tuck was one of the schools that bucked the trend. This year, Tuck received 2,621 applicants – up 11 applications over the previous year. Unimpressed? To put that into context, consider Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan. These schools reported decreases of 4.5% and 4.3% respectively. That doesn’t count Wharton, which suffered a 6.7% loss in applications. By those measures, Tuck’s performance was impressive…if not miraculous.
That wasn’t the only big news. The class also reported women make up 46% of the class, the highest percentage of any Top 10 full-time MBA program. It is also an improvement over the past two classes, which were stuck at 44%. Although many programs reported steep losses in international student populations, Tuck experienced just a 1% drop to 36%. Overall, 71% of the class consists of American and Canadian citizens. The rest hail from Asia (16%), Europe (8%) and Latin America (7%).
Academically, average GMAT scores held steady at 722, with average GPAs falling from 3.51 to 3.39. Traditionally, Tuck caters to career transitioners with non-business backgrounds. The Class of 2020 epitomizes this trend. Notably, 51% of the class majored in arts- and humanities-related subjects, which is actually down 4 points from its Class of 2019 high. STEM-related majors constitute another 29% – with business-related majors making up just 20% of the class. The 287 member class also attended 152 undergraduate programs, with 99 based in the United States. Another 14% of the class holds advanced degrees.
To read 11 in-depth profiles of the Class of 2020, go to the next page.
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
A TRULY IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE
By the same token, the incoming class has worked for 225 unique employees. The largest bloc is represented by the financial services sector, which accounts for 26% of the class. Consulting follows at 19%, with non-profit and government taking a higher-than-average 15% share. Technology also breaks double digits at 12%, with other substantive blocs of the class including consumer goods (6%), energy (6%), healthcare (5%), and media and entertainment (5%).
Such diverse classmates, coupled with an “all-in” attitude, makes for a happy place to live and study. In the 2017 Forbes MBA bi-annual graduate survey, Tuck ranked 3rd among the top MBA globally for satisfaction – which comes on the heels of a 2nd place finish in 2015. One reason for this? MBAs are showered with attention, including a 7-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio that ensures Tuckies receive the best possible guidance and education. In fact, the entire business program is geared exclusively to the full-time MBA program, says Luke Anthony Peña in a 2018 interview.
“Tuck does not have a Ph.D. program, Tuck does not have an undergraduate program or a part-time program or an executive MBA. All of our faculty resources, our initiatives, and the classmates within the community are focusing on one another and pushing each other beyond their limits.”
Another advantage for MBAs, Peña adds, is Tuck’s Ivy League parent, Dartmouth College – which he believes helps create an unrivaled immersive experience for MBAs. “[There are] lots of opportunity for outdoor adventure and contemplative reflection close by,” he notes. “At Tuck, you cultivate both [critical thinking ability and your relationships] through full immersion…The students here study free from distraction and free from disruption, and focus fully on the transformative experience of the two-year MBA program. That allows our students to extract maximum value from the experience and leave very well-equipped to be the wise leader that they aspire to be.”
GETTING TO KNOW EVERYONE BY MORE THAN JUST A NAME
Tuck students hanging out (outside) in the winter months.
The class size helps with the transformational process as well. The Class of 2020 ranks as the smallest full-time MBA class among the Top 10. Peña believes such scale helps students get to know each other better, as well as foster a sense of trust and supportiveness that translates to a school where everyone makes great teammates. It was this difference that most appealed to Cordaye Ogletree as he prepared to start classes.
“I am a more engaged student when I’m not distracted. Tuck’s bucolic setting will help me stay focused on the mission at hand: excelling in the classroom, leveraging recruiting opportunities, and getting to know the select group of people who are my classmates.”
Erica Toews, a 2018 grad who has moved into the Bay Area edtech sector, believes the structure of the MBA program further facilitates class camaraderie. In a 2018 interview with Poets&Quants, Toews points out a key difference in how classes are organized. Instead of being locked into one cohort, students are mixed together, enabling them to know more people sooner. “Each term, you get a new study group,” she explains. At most schools, you have the same study group all year. We switch them, which is a really amazing way to meet and get to know different groups of people since we work with them so closely.”
That just makes coming together outside class that much easier, Toews adds. ““Every Thursday, we have Tucktails, which is a happy hour. “Because the school is so small, we can all get together in one room and drink beer and wine and just talk and catch up on the week. That’s really special. I was just talking to friends the other day about how there is usually one party on Friday and one party on Saturday that the whole school has decided on and it’s nice that it’s not cliquey because we’re all going to the same places.”
RURAL SETTING IS THE HIDDEN ADVANTAGE
Not that there are all that many places to go in Hanover. Well, that’s what the cynics would say. Ask past graduating classes and you’ll hear the exact opposite. “I think there is a perception that Tuck is in the middle of nowhere and isolated,” writes Alex Amini, a 2018 Best & Brightest who somehow managed to be involved in over two dozen activities at Tuck while commuting to Boston to earn an MBA at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. “While it is not in a major metropolitan area, the location engenders an authentic community where students really get to know, support, and learn from one another.”
Sravya Yeleswarapu, another 2018 Best & Brightest from Tuck, takes a different tact when asked if Hanover is a disadvantage. “I think it’s the opposite. Being in Hanover makes the Tuck network as strong as it is. It amplifies the connections, interactions, and bonds that you develop here.”
You won’t find much of a disadvantage in terms of outputs. Last year, 92% of graduates landed positions within three months of graduation. Total starting pay came out at an impressive $177,842. Even more,
the biggest consumers of Tuck talent remain MBA hiring royalty: Amazon, Bain, BCG, Google, McKinsey, and JP Morgan. Just two hours from Boston (and two more from NYC), Hanover is hardly a town that recruiters shy away from visiting. All of that is beside the point for Peña.
Incoming MBA students in the Class of 2020 at Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business
“If your goals for business school include spending most of your time in the city outside of the school, I would challenge you on whether you really need business school at all.”
ALUMNI OPEN THEIR WALLETS…AND THEIR SCHEDULES FOR STUDENTS
Indeed, Tuck is one of those schools that take on the identity of its surroundings to bring out the best in its community. “We’re in this beautiful outdoorsy part of the country where each season is incredibly stark and beautiful,” Erica Toews asserts. “Because the environment and the surroundings and outdoor area is so beautiful, it makes us go outside and do things together and be really active in a way that you wouldn’t do in a school in the city.”
Roberto Vásquez has already experienced city life in Lima, Peru, home to 10 million people. He had been looking forward to moving from a desert environment to four definitive seasons. “The location of Tuck, with so much greenery and nature, is like a little paradise but with great cities nearby when I want a little bit of hustle and bustle. I know that here I will get a very intense, 24/7 learning experience, surrounded by classmates and faculty who also live nearby. Coming from a very big, chaotic city, Tuck’s setting really resonated with me.”
Being remote also creates time and opportunity for long-lasting relationships to form. Coupled with a small class size, this dynamic creates loyal networks, particularly with alumni. Notably, nearly 70% of alumni make a gift each year—a generosity unmatched by any other MBA program. In April, Tuck launched a $250 million dollar capital campaign – one that has already raised $142.8 million dollars. Two months earlier, the school received its largest gift, $15 million dollars, from Paul Raether to support scholarship funding to align with the school’s “wise leadership” mission.
Beyond picking up the check, the Tuck alumni network also goes above-and-beyond when it comes to supporting the current students. Much of the heavy lifting is performed by the career services team led by Jonathan Masland, executive director of career development. His secret? Channel the alumni’s natural love for Tuck by finding ways to engage them, whether it is bringing them to campus for educational programming or involving them in supporting student job searches.
“As we get into the year, we’ll get fairly detailed profiles from students for their summer internship or full-time job,” said Masland in a 2018 interview. “We’ll group them. Let’s say you want to work on the West Coast in early stage tech. We’ll share those things with alums who work in that precise area. We’ll ask the alums to see what they can do to help the student. We connect with 2,000-3000 alumni across a whole breadth of subsectors based on student interests.”
BUILDING A NETWORK…THROUGH ICE HOCKEY
Students ice skating on the Dartmouth campus.
What is the Class of 2020 looking forward to over the next two years? Certainly the overseas travel component has stirred their imaginations. The TuckGO requirement, where students work around the world, remains popular. The requirement can be met in numerous ways, such on-site consulting projects or first-year team projects. Global Insight Expeditions (GIX), where students travel with faculty overseas during March break also counts, as do school exchanges. In fact, Luke Anthony Peña likens Tuck to a base camp, a well-supplied hub where students can launch their efforts far beyond the Northeast.
“Our students travel the globe for projects, internships, to engage socially, and to visit companies, so there is significant engagement with the world beyond Hanover,” he explains. “We regularly welcome alumni, executive speakers, and visiting scholars to our campus. And when our students are on campus, they are deeply and meaningfully engaged with our visiting experts and each other without the distractions and disruptions of a large city.”
Outside of travel, the class also intends to embrace winter sports. Just ask Ijele Adimora, who regrets avoiding these activities when she previously studied medicine there. “I do not think I will ever have as big an opportunity to play hockey and go skiing as I do here,” she says. “Luckily, Tuck creates several avenues for that through tripod hockey (I admittedly cannot ice skate), and other sporting groups. After three years of reluctance, I am ready to step out of my comfort-zone and let my inner New-Englander thrive.”
Maybe Adimora should think twice about picking up a stick. Turns out, tripod hockey is the “language of a Tuck alum” according to Jonathan Masland – and a way for students to bond with alumni, whether they are man or woman or young or old.
“Here, tripod hockey is the stuff of memory for many students. “I believe at least 50% of class goes out and plays hockey in the evenings,” says Masland. “It is something the alums did too. They can remember being on the ice, where your stick is like your third leg, and they remember it fondly. So students can talk to alums about it and they can relate to that shared experience.”
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.
| Student | Hometown | Alma Mater | Previous Employer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ijele Adimora | Greenville SC | Duke University | Duke Global Health Institute |
| Colin Chapin | Phoenixville, PA | Hamilton College | Cambridge Associates |
| Vivian Guo | Tacheng, China | Shanghai International Studies University | BBDO |
| Corine Graber Alvarez | Goshen, IN | Goshen College | AlixPartners |
| Shailendra Khemka | Assam, India | National University of Singapore | MatchMove Pay |
| Sudhanshu Khemka | Assam, India | National University of Singapore | Deutsche Bank |
| Cordaye Ogletree | Detroit, MI | University of Michigan | RAND Corporation |
| Claire Shaw | Anchorage, AK | Scripps College | Twilio |
| Makena Timmins Harris | Seattle, WA | The University of the South | U.S. Army |
| Irina Titkova | Mogilev, Belarus | Brooklyn College | KPMG |
| Roberto Vásquez | Lima, Peru | Universidad del Pacífico | Intercorp Retail |
Ijele Adimora
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
“I like learning about other people’s stories, and am still working to create my own.”
Hometown: Greenville, SC
Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m learning how to swim this year.
Undergraduate School and Major: Duke University, Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology; The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, MD Candidate
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Duke Global Health Institute, Research Assistant
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I was awarded a grant to conduct research on a project I developed centered on sickle cell disease in Nigeria. As a Nigerian-American, I live my life constantly aware of the immense privilege I have been afforded that shields me from experiencing the daily challenges faced by my relatives abroad. Not only was it an honor for my project to be awarded funding, it was really incredible to be working alongside such dedicated hematologists on a project to which I have such a personal connection.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? My classmates are incredibly conscious. It has been refreshing to meet people who see the value of bringing social impact and responsibility to the world of business.
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? It was really important to me to go to a business school where I would not feel like a complete outsider as someone coming from a non-traditional background. In that respect, Tuck has so many qualities that make me feel like there is no such thing as a “traditional business school student.” Tuck has a diverse, tight-knit class that welcomes students who hail from various backgrounds and are embarking on creative journeys. Tuck is a place where I can both create and discover my own opportunities to pursue the kind of career I want.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I have lived in Hanover for three years already and have yet to embrace winter sports! I do not think I will ever have as big an opportunity to play hockey and go skiing as I do here, and luckily Tuck creates several avenues for that through tripod hockey (I admittedly cannot ice skate), and other sporting groups. After three years of reluctance, I am ready to step out of my comfort-zone and let my inner New-Englander thrive.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I realized that in order to solve many of the difficulties facing patients and providers that bother me the most, I will need a set of skills that go far beyond the ones I will develop as a doctor. Many of the battles that are being fought in this country surrounding affordability of healthcare resonate in other parts of the globe as well, although they may manifest differently because of geopolitical and infrastructural influences. I eventually want to be able to leverage my medical and business degrees to identify and create private sector opportunities that meet the lack of availability of healthcare resources both in the U.S. and in the developing world. With a medical degree alone, I would have less knowledge about how healthcare is financed; how to find and navigate viable business opportunities in a developing economy; and the language to be able to negotiate with potential stakeholders. By attending business school, I will have the opportunity to find multidisciplinary ways to tackle some of the most complex challenges of healthcare.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? For me, it was never a question of whether or not to get the MBA, it was more of a question of when it would be most useful. Ultimately, I decided that down the line it would be more difficult for me to step away from clinical practice to pursue an MBA. If I really wanted an MBA, I had to do it at a time in my life where I could pursue it whole-heartedly.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? I only applied to Tuck because it was the perfect fit for me!
How did you determine your fit at various schools? When making my decision, it was important to me that I would have the flexibility necessary to be a business school student whilst being a medical school student. It was important that my final year of the dual degree be very integrated, and Tuck has created a very well-molded, and inclusive environment for its MD-MBA students. I also value Tuck’s emphasis on global experiences and was happy to see that I could combine my interests in emerging markets with healthcare through the curriculum.
Additionally, I had the luxury of getting to talk to many of the students that I already knew at Tuck from my time in Hanover as a medical student. All of the students I talked to only had good things to say about Tuck, and confirmed my desire to apply.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Before coming to medical school, I went by “Jessica,” which is my middle name. “Ijele” is my first name, which I had never used up until about three years ago. A part of me always resented the fact that I went along with people referring to me by my middle name, which was easier for everyone else to pronounce. Choosing to go by my first name was such a defining moment for me as a person because my identity as a Nigerian-American is such an important part of who I am, and what I want my life to be centered upon. “Ijele” is an unusual name even for Nigerians, and it has emboldened me to be different and to be confident in the choices that I make.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? After I graduate, I plan to pursue a residency in Internal Medicine and possibly a fellowship in Hematology-Oncology.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I will just be graduating from residency, and either continuing clinical training in hematology or transitioning into more administrative roles within healthcare.
Colin Chapin
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
“Liberal arts poster child – government major turned English teacher turned investment professional.”
Hometown: Phoenixville, PA
Fun Fact About Yourself: Growing up, I spent summers on 22-day long canoe and backpacking trips in Northern Maine.
Undergraduate School and Major: Hamilton College, Government
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Cambridge Associates, Associate Investment Director
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Although my experience at Cambridge Associates was incredible – for the diversity of experiences, wealth of responsibilities, and exceptional colleagues – completing my commitment to Teach for America’s Mississippi Delta Corp remains my biggest accomplishment as well as one of the most formative experiences of my young professional career.
After a discouraging first year, I combined some hard-learned lessons in management with new approaches to data-tracking that I developed while at Tuck’s summer Business Bridge Program, to completely and successfully re-imagine my classroom. Two years with TFA taught me more about perseverance, hard work, and creative and quick problem solving than I think I could have learned over several decades in another industry.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Intellectually gregarious. Tuckies aren’t just sharp and accomplished, but are exceptionally outgoing and enthusiastic about sharing both their own and their classmates’ interests.
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? Tuck’s close community, both as a student and as alumni. Through conversations with Tuck students and alums, as well as my experience at Tuck Bridge, it became very clear that Tuck fosters an environment that builds strong bonds across students, professors, and the broader Tuck community. Such bonds enrich the MBA experience and last well beyond the bounds of Hanover. Students here self-select into a small, rural program. There is no city to disappear into or metaphorical backrow to coast in. Tuckies value participation, togetherness, and an openness to new experiences, as demonstrated through a myriad of minor day-to-day experiences—small group dinners, tripod hockey, participation in centers, or even just dropping by Murphy’s after class. Conversations with alumni invariably led to rhapsodies about their time at Tuck. More often than not, I got a phone number and introduction to another alumni with another new and enthusiastic perspective on the program.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Tuck’s Center for Private Equity and Venture Capital. After my role at Cambridge, where a number of my clients had large private investment programs, I’m looking forward to gaining additional general partner-oriented perspective and adding to my technical skillset.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? An MBA hones the technical skills necessary to continue working in the investment and finance world, but also focuses on the soft skills needed for leadership roles that a purely technical certification (i.e. CFA) does not.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Speaking with other professionals who have and have not pursued the MBA.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Only Tuck
How did you determine your fit at various schools? I prioritized programs’ academic caliber, size, and student culture (within which I prioritized a high degree of student engagement inside and outside of the classroom). I tried to gain a sense for the program offerings and differentiating factors among the schools on my short list through their websites and sites like Poets & Quants. I spent a lot of time attending events in Boston as school representatives came through, attending webinars, visiting schools, and talking with current students and alumni.
Conversations with students and alums were the most helpful in terms of evaluating culture. I was fortunate that Cambridge has sent a number of former Associates to the programs I was evaluating, and found that the conversations I had with them were candid. These conversations often yielded additional contacts, and I found that following through with these contacts helped me paint full pictures of the total experience at each program I evaluated.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? From a professional standpoint, the Tuck Business Bridge Program. I completed Tuck’s four-week “mini” MBA program, designed to marry a liberal arts education with practical business knowledge, after my first year with Teach for America. I applied to the program hoping it would help me explore and be more competitive with my career switch, but was surprised by the extent to which it helped me join together many of my passions from Hamilton, skills I learned with TFA, and genuine interests in the investment world. I left Tuck Bridge with tools to improve my classroom as well as a much clearer sense of who I wanted to be as a professional, which eventually led me to my role at Cambridge Associates. It also didn’t hurt that I got such an incredible introduction to the people that make Tuck tick!
What do you plan to do after you graduate? Investment banking or shifting towards a more direct role in investment management.
Where do you see yourself in five years? I hope to have landed at a firm that I can be successful not just within my role, but that offers the same type of continual learning environment and opportunities for impact that I had at Cambridge Associates.
Vivian Guo
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
“Chinese lawyer seeking for skillset expansion, enthusiastic tango dancer, scuba diver, accordion player.”
Hometown: Tacheng, Xinjiang, China
Fun Fact About Yourself: I backpacked solo for about 20 months through China, Nepal, India, Central and South America. During the trip, I did a volunteer program in Macedonia, visited the Amazon Jungle, thru-hiked Salkantay to Machu Picchu, summited Huayna Potosi in La Paz, trekked in the Patagonia region, and learned tango dancing in Buenos Aires.
Undergraduate School and Major: Shanghai International Studies University, International Economic Law
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: BBDO, Asia Chief Legal Counsel
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far. Coming on board as BBDO’s chief legal counsel for its Asia network, I was entrusted with the task of setting up a legal department and the process to facilitate business operations, client engagement, and compliance management across the network. Building the process from nearly scratch without a clear roadmap was challenging, but it provided a unique opportunity to stretch my capabilities.
By continuously reaching out to and collaborating with stakeholders, we streamlined the support process and clarified the output and rationales behind each compliance program. I was able to define the legal process and integrate it into daily business operations and grow trust with function and service teams across the network to implement compliance programs. The end results of which were encouraging – advertising regulatory inquiries, IPR claims and employment complaints lowered by more than 50% and the client engagement legal review timeline shorten significantly.
My proudest accomplishment during this time was to have over 500 employees embrace compliance programs, sign up for regular legal training sessions, and recognize their value in raising legal awareness and mitigating the risks for the network. I received recognition from senior management of each office for the legal division’s support in making client engagement more efficient. Perhaps the biggest satisfaction, however, came from a few of our largest clients who complimented BBDO for being the best creative company with in-depth knowledge of advertising regulatory restrictions.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Tuckies are kind. They will go out of their way to help one another. Take my experience as an example, when my husband and I first arrived in Hanover. Our neighbor offered to pick us pick from the bus station (around midnight) and let us crash at their place for as long as we needed to set things ready for our house. I cannot imagine how hard it would have been for us to set things up at the beginning without their help, and this does not only happen to us. Most students and partners I have met so far have either hosted other students, offered rides to others to get around, helped with furniture moving, babysitting, dog care and more.
Tuckies are genuinely happy to help others out, and those receiving the help are always eager to pay it forward to others in need of help. This pay-it-forward spirit permeates the entire 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? Tuck is the top MBA program with a personal and close-knit community. Born and raised in a small town, I felt at home when I first visited Tuck. Students and faculty are super friendly and welcoming. During my school visit, I had the opportunity to stay with a T’18 and participate in a small group dinner, which showed me how tight and diversified the community is and how generous and kind Tuck students are to one another. I have found the Tuck community to be a very strong, reliable and personal support system for students from all backgrounds and all ethnicities. I knew from visiting that at Tuck I would not only get an excellent MBA education, but also build deep and lasting friendships.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Consulting club and Center for Digital Strategies. I am also looking forward to trying Tripod Hockey.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I am looking to stretch my capabilities and expand my skillset to become a better rounded leader who can bridge the knowledge gap between business and law and make a greater impact.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment?
- New knowledge, skillset and perspective. With industry and function lines blurring more and more, I believe just having knowledge in one specific field may not be enough one day. The MBA is a good platform to acquire knowledge in business management, expand the skillset necessary to influence and lead people, and learn how to approach issues from a different perspective.
- The MBA leads to a whole lot of different career options and job opportunities that may not be available through other recruitment channels.
- I see my MBA program as a place where I can build meaningful and lasting relationships, which I know I will be able to reply upon when I need help or guidance. This is especially true in Tuck.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Yale
How did you determine your fit at various schools? The factors influencing my decision over MBA programs were: 1) academic excellence; 2) career resources and assistance provided to international students; 3) modest school size for a higher faculty-to-student ratio and personal and connected learning environment; 4) class composition and cultural diversity.
The tools I used to evaluate schools were: 1) school websites; 2) MBA program-related forums; 3) LinkedIn for reaching out to current students and alumni.
Talking to current students and alumni and visiting schools in person helped me get a sense of different school’s cultures.
I also had a system to evaluate career goal fit: 1) checking the career reports for previous years; 2) talking to alumni; 3) researching alumni’s career choice and path on LinkedIn — this provided quite a comprehensive picture on whether the school has experience and resources to help me pursue the similar career path.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Backpacking across half of the world was my defining moment. The backpacking trip was a mind-opening adventure and one of the best things I have done in my life. It offered me the opportunity to see the world and people from a broader perspective. By getting past stereotypes and misconceptions about cultures different from my own, I managed to form friendships with people of different backgrounds. I came to believe that the diversity of cultures, people and their perspectives is what makes the world strong and vibrant, and that despite the difference in cultures, languages and ethnicities, we are all interconnected and share similar values. The trip internalized in me the ability and willingness to learn and work with people different from myself and appreciate other cultures.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? My plan is to work in a strategy consulting firm after graduation.
Where do you see yourself in five years? I would like to grow at a consulting firm, learning from the best and acquiring knowledge and experiences in different functions across different industries. Hopefully in five years I will be in a managerial role, demonstrating leadership capabilities.
Corine Graber Alvarez
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
“Puerto Rican, Mennonite, marathoner, tennis fan, planner, taco aficionado seeking challenge and adventure.”
Hometown: Goshen, Indiana
Fun Fact About Yourself: I enjoy singing hymns in four-part harmony and rapping in karaoke.
Undergraduate School and Major: Goshen College, Accounting
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Financial Advisory Service Vice President, AlixPartners
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishments are when I see my staff and clients thrive after I’ve invested time to train them on a new skill or idea. As a senior consultant at Deloitte, I trained my staff to communicate with clients, track ongoing projects, and analyze the impact of global tax matters. I enjoyed the challenge of figuring out how my staff learned. Were they detail-oriented learners who wanted a process document? Were they big picture learners who wanted reinforcement of the high-level goal before walking through steps together? Tailoring effective trainings and testing hypotheses helped me develop as a leader and as a learner. There is no greater feeling of accomplishment than seeing someone grow and take pride in their work, and this gets compounded when they train others, continuing the cycle of development.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Authentically caring. Tuck students stand out because they are invested in the community and care deeply about each other. I saw this in action well before classes even started. People offered to help me prepare for interviews, gave me a lift to Hanover from the airport in Boston, invited neighbors to a casual outdoor barbecue, helped one another move furniture, and more. My classmates are brilliant and have broad knowledge, but they are humble. They care about getting to know others by asking deep questions and sharing their experiences in a way that fosters an inclusive community and validates others’ experiences.
Not only do my classmates care about getting to know me, but they also care about my husband (known here as my TP or Tuck Partner) who moved to Hanover with me. I was seeking an MBA community where he would be fully integrated, and Tuck was the only place where reality exceeded my expectations.
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? Tuck stood out because of its deliberate view on leadership. Tuck strives to develop wise leaders who will better the world of business and exemplify a unique skill: confident humility. This resonated with me. As I moved frequently growing up, I learned that multiple perspectives—not just one and not just my own—are valid. When I think about the leadership reputation I want to cultivate, the key tenets are wisdom, empathy and humility. I want to carefully reflect on personal and team strengths, leverage networks to accomplish goals, and balance diverse stakeholder priorities.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Tuck’s Women in Business Club and Symposium, Outdoor Club, and trying to learn how to play ice hockey!
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I am a Certified Public Accountant with audit, tax, finance, and forensic accounting experience. When I reflected on what interests and matters most to me, I recognized that I wanted to broaden my skills and shift from accounting and finance into more strategic leadership positions where I can impact the workplace of the future. Obtaining my MBA from a top business school seemed like a direct pathway toward that goal.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I weighed the benefits (enhanced skills, expanded networks, increased career opportunities) against the payback period and the opportunity cost of not working full-time for the next two years. To me, the benefits exceeded the costs.
However, the investment impacted my MBA application strategy in two key ways: I tried to do as well on the GMAT as possible. That way, I would be competitive not only for admission but also for scholarships – and I applied through the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management. The Consortium’s mission is to enhance diversity and inclusion in business education and leadership. Obtaining admission as a Consortium member has multiple benefits: a streamlined application process, networking with companies and MBAs from other schools before classes start, and the opportunity to receive scholarships. Finding additional ways of broadening networks and increasing the value of obtaining my MBA make the investment more meaningful.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? I applied and was admitted to Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Kelley School of Business.
How did you determine your fit at various schools? I prioritized three factors: cultural fit, career opportunities, and partner experience.
I wanted my MBA experience to be a distinct chapter, so I prioritized programs that involved moving to a new place and that had an intimate culture similar to my undergraduate experience. To analyze fit, I engaged with my target programs often and in person. I started my application process by researching school websites, poring through pages on Poets & Quants, reading GMAT forums, and attending MBA fairs. After solidifying my target schools, I signed up for admission alerts to let me know when the schools would be hosting events in Chicago, where I lived and worked. Attending these events allowed me to meet the programs’ local alumni to hear more about their experiences and see how their program choices impacted their lives and careers.
The single most important step for me to evaluate a program was to visit in person. I attended Tuck’s Diversity Conference in November and instantly felt at home. My host during the program had a major accounting exam the next morning, but she spent four hours chatting with me about her experiences at Tuck before returning to the library to study. Visiting before applying not only gave me more context for my admissions essays and interviews, but it helped me reflect on whether the program met my expectations and whether I pictured myself thriving in the environment. Culture is a huge factor for me, and being able to spend a few days on campus interacting with students, partners, and professors gave me a genuine sense of Tuck’s culture.
Finally, after I was admitted, I attended admitted student weekends with my spouse. It was helpful to have a fresh perspective to evaluate the programs. He knows me intimately and helped me reflect on the nuances of the cultures, opportunities and program experiences.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I moved frequently growing up, living in Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Texas, and Indiana all before high school. From an early age, I was learning key life skills when making new friends and finding my place on the playground. I became more observant and a stronger listener as I adapted to my new environments. I learned about diversity, including different political viewpoints, religions, ethnicities, cuisines, and more. I also recognized that diverse people have commonalities, including hobbies, valuing family, and seeking community. I recognize that multiple viewpoints are valid, and I enjoy trying to understand the other perspective. Because I know what it is like to be new, I also care deeply about making people feel welcomed and connected to community.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? My primary intention is to contribute at the intersection of business, data, and people, thinking strategically about enhancing environments where people can thrive and be authentic in the context of technological innovation and increased global connectivity. I hope to empower others to exceed their perceived potential through raising awareness of opportunities, skills training, and fostering community in the corporate context.
Where do you see yourself in five years? I want to be a leader in an environment where I am challenging myself to continuously grow and adapt to complex situations while developing a team of passionate people. I hope to use my business foundation to give back and empower small businesses and entrepreneurs through volunteering and board advocacy. Wherever I am, I will continue to contribute to the communities that impacted my career, including Goshen College, INROADS, the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, and Tuck.
Shailendra Khemka
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
“A computer scientist with a strong love for finance.”
Hometown: Assam, India
Fun Fact About Yourself: I have lived and worked in four different countries: Singapore, London, India, and the USA. Also, I am attending business school with my twin brother, Sudhanshu.
Undergraduate School and Major: Computer Science, National University of Singapore
Only student to be awarded a Gold Medal for Computing, university-wide recognition, for exceptional performance in Computer Science.
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Senior Product Manager, MatchMove Pay – a venture backed financial technology company
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: To promote financial inclusion of the unbanked, I launched a nationwide cash digitization strategy in Singapore in collaboration with Singapore Post, capitalizing on a multi-million dollar market opportunity for my company.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Collaborative: Be it interview preparation or resume polishing, my classmates have unselfishly shared the best tips I have ever come across – the team spirit pervades Tuck.
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 value add of the MBA for me was the network. Tuck’s small class size (about 285) really enables Tuckies to know each other at a personal level, laying the foundation for lifelong friendships.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? The Tuck Social Venture Fund – during the later stages of my career, I want to get involved in impact investing. Tuck is among the very few MBA programs that have a social venture fund.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Having led 20+ member engineering teams at Deutsche Bank and launched multi-million dollar financial products at a fintech startup, I developed expertise in technology and product management. However, I also realized that it is imperative to get the financial and fundraising part right to ensure the success of any technological venture. Through the MBA, I want to develop a strength in finance.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I wanted to develop a global network, strong financial skills, and leadership abilities. An MBA was worth the investment for me because it enabled me to develop all of the abovementioned skills.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Yale, Michigan and Wharton
How did you determine your fit at various schools? I was looking for a school with a small class size that would enable me to develop a strong but global network. Moreover, a robust finance curriculum and opportunities to develop leadership qualities were important to me. Tuck provided me all of the above. To evaluate schools and research their culture, I spoke to current students and attended information sessions.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? The defining moment in my life was when my parents sent me to a boarding school at the young age of six. Studying in a boarding school from ages six to eighteen, I deeply inculcated the qualities of responsibility, independence, and teamwork – attributes required to thrive in such schools where all of your work is done in collaboration with your fellow peers as your parents are far away.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? Investment banking
Where do you see yourself in five years? Leveraging my technical skills and MBA, I hope to be advising technology companies about their strategic business direction.
Sudhanshu Khemka
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Hard working, resilient individual with a strong interest in finance and technology. Hobbies include teaching tennis and running.
Hometown: Assam, India
Fun Fact About Yourself: I have a twin brother, Shailendra Khemka, who is also attending Tuck with me. I am a certified tennis coach and taught tennis to kids every weekend for two years.
Undergraduate School and Major: National University of Singapore, Computer Science (Graduated with First Class Honors)
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Deutsche Bank, Regional Product Manager – I was responsible for defining the product vision of the bank’s flagship cash management platform across the Asia-Pacific region
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Only member in Deutsche Bank’s “Client Access” team across the Asia-Pacific region to be awarded the “Recognition Award” in 2017 for exceptional contributions to the bank; key contributions include moving the bank’s APAC clients to the bank’s flagship cash management platform and enhancing the platform to ensure regulatory compliance across APAC.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? “Helpful” is the quality that best describes my new MBA classmates. Tuckies go out of their way to support each other. Before joining Tuck, whenever I needed information, I would Google for it first. Now, I just post the query to our class’ global WhatsApp – this speaks volumes about how helpful the community is.
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 small class size. I highly value Tuck’s small class size because it allows me to build deep bonds with each of my classmates – a bigger cohort does not offer this opportunity. Being a strong believer in the adage “who you know is as important as what you know,” I was keen to attend a business school that offered a small class size to allow me to build ever-lasting relationships with my peers.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Tripod Hockey! Every alumni that I spoke with recommended the sport to me.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? After working at Deutsche Bank for five years, I felt the need to pursue an MBA to both hone my financial knowledge – I hold a Computer Science degree – and improve my leadership skills to take my career to the next level.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? For me, the opportunity cost to pursue an MBA was low when compared to the benefits I will get once I complete the degree. Moreover, since I am not married yet and have little family obligations, I decided now would be a good time to get an MBA.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Yale SOM and Kellogg
How did you determine your fit at various schools? For each school, I spoke to several alumni and attended informational events to learn about the school’s culture and evaluate fit. The factors I prioritized were:
- Class size – prefer small class size
- Rankings on popular websites, including P&Q
- Culture
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? In sophomore year of my undergraduate education, Microsoft flew me from Singapore to its headquarters in Redmond, Seattle for its summer internship program. This was a defining moment in my life because it enforced in me the belief that even the biggest corporations in the world could value my talent. Since then I have never looked back and always go for what I want.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? Finance or product management.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I see myself as a senior executive in a financial services or technology firm.
Cordaye Ogletree
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
“Classically trained policy wonk with an affinity for the environment and American Akitas.”
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Fun Fact About Yourself: I once hitchhiked from Monrovia, Liberia to Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Undergraduate School and Major: University of Michigan, Anthropology and Political Science; Carnegie Mellon University, MPP.
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Policy Analyst, RAND Corporation
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: While I was a junior researcher at the Council of Economic Advisers, I created a chart illustrating the closing gap between foreign oil imports and domestic oil production. After presenting it to the CEA chair, an EOP wide team was formed to forecast the month when oil production would exceed imports, a major U.S. geopolitical milestone. When the actual crossing occurred, the Obama Administration organized a full press briefing to inform and congratulate the American people.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Fun! We’ve bonded well so far and I look forward to enjoying Camp Dartmouth with them.
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 small class size. Coming from a big public institution for undergrad (and having experienced a smaller sized program in grad school), I developed a preference for academic settings. I am a more engaged student when I’m not distracted. Tuck’s bucolic setting will help me stay focused on the mission at hand: excelling in the classroom, leveraging recruiting opportunities, and getting to know the select group of people who are my classmates.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? The Tuck Sailing Club. My sight is set on the Bocconi MBA Regatta 2019.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? My entire career up to 2018 has been in public service. I’m ready to do something more for myself, and I want to make a splash when I hit the private sector labor market.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? A quick review of lifetime earnings of MBA graduates informed my cost-benefit analysis.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Harvard, MIT, and Chicago
How did you determine your fit at various schools? Fit is important. I dare say, each school attracts and offers admissions to distinct groups of people. To get a sense of that, I looked at schools’ employment reports, student profiles, and videos. The differences across schools helped me to think through what parts of my personality would be accentuated and how I might evolve while attending the various schools. I paid attention to years of prior work experience, educational background, and post-MBA job functions/industries. I also noted if a school was primarily case method or not; the extent to which students traveled; and noted who their famous alum were. All of that helped me gain a sense of the shared experiences of their students and the size and scope of the alumni network I’d be joining. Throughout my research, I remained open-minded. It’s hard to know if something fits unless you try it on.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Too many to count. Most recently, I started training Capoeira Angola. When I started playing the berimbau with proficiency, I truly accepted that hard work really does pay off.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? At the moment, it would be investment banking. But I do plan to explore career opportunities in the multiple sectors including tech and sustainable energy.
Where do you see yourself in five years? Living on the East Coast, free of student loan debt.
Claire Shaw
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
“Faithful composer of New Year’s resolutions. Moderately faithful keeper of resolutions.”
Hometown: Anchorage, AK
Fun Fact About Yourself: I was the Chinese translator for the USA men’s and women’s swimming teams at the Beijing Olympics.
Undergraduate School and Major: Scripps College; History Major, Chinese Minor
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Twilio, Global Business Development Manager
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I began working at Twilio in an entry level sales position, a role that was a funnel for new employees to gain insights into the business and ultimately move into more senior roles within the company. Early on, it seemed to me that the most exciting team was clearly Global Business Development, whose members traveled around the world meeting with new and existing suppliers and negotiating business deals worth millions. The team sounded exotic and important and, naturally, was populated by very experienced and knowledgeable people. I was not one of them. I had pretty much no relative experience or industry knowledge and no former business development rep had ever successfully made the switch. Nevertheless, I set my sights on transferring to that team. A little over two years later, I joined as the youngest and only female member of the department.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? If I had to choose one quality, I’d say my classmates are genuine. They’re also incredibly kind, interesting and bright. The rate at which you go from “strangers living in Hanover” to “of course you can borrow my car in the middle of the night” at Tuck is rapid. It’s a very close community and you feel buoyed by it from your first days on campus.
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 wanted to join an MBA program with a community that would extend long beyond the relatively short two years I would spend on campus, and the strength of Tuck’s alumni network is unparalleled.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? My “career” in politics had a tenure of just a few months—I recently served as the Deputy Finance Director for Alyse Galvin’s AK-AL Congressional campaign—but I enjoyed it so much that I’m most looking forward to becoming involved with Tuck’s Center for Business, Government & Society. I’m also excited about Glen Tuck, which is the whiskey, scotch and bourbon appreciation club.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I loved working for my former employer and was lucky to participate on different teams in different roles and even in different countries. I decided it was time to pursue an MBA because I feared that as I advanced in the company and took on projects with greater impact to our bottom line, I was on less stable footing personally. Coming from a liberal arts background, I felt that I didn’t have the strong foundation in the fundamental business skills that I need to provide significant value to a company and take on the high-level roles that I want to tackle later in my career.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Everyone’s personal financial calculus and priorities are different, so I don’t think my rationale for choosing an MBA is universally applicable. I felt strongly that I was unsure of my career path and that there was a knowledge gap between me and my professional mentors. Could these concerns have been resolved without pursuing an MBA? Yes, and probably for a lot less money. However, I felt that an MBA program would give me both the opportunity to explore other professions in-depth and acquire fundamental business skills in ways that I simply couldn’t while working full-time.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Cambridge
How did you determine your fit at various schools? Reflecting on my past educational and professional experiences, I felt that I was happiest in relatively smaller communities, so school size was fairly important. While location is a high priority for a lot of prospective students, it wasn’t for me. I grew up in a small, very cold town (Anchorage, AK) and have lived in large cities in different parts of the world (Copenhagen, Singapore, Beijing, San Francisco), so I felt pretty confident I could make my way in rural or urban environments.
I lived in Singapore while I was applying so I wasn’t able to visit any U.S. schools during the application process. I researched culture by speaking to current students and alumni from each school. I think most applicants and current students will say that’s the best way to find out what a program is really like and if you’ll feel comfortable there.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My most character-defining moments have been personal and professional setbacks. The last year I worked at Twilio, I enthusiastically offered to relocate to our APAC headquarters in Singapore. Having lived outside the U.S. several times before, I didn’t think twice about what it would mean to start a job in a new country. To my and no one else’s surprise, it was a huge adjustment that came with a healthy dose of humility.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? I hope to join a venture capital firm that has either an exclusive or significant focus on investing in women entrepreneurs.
Where do you see yourself in five years? It sounds cliché, but I hope that in five years I’m doing something personally meaningful that has a positive impact on the world. Where or what that might be is still up in the air.
Makena Timmins Harris
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
“Focused on the future while enjoying the present.”
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Fun Fact About Yourself: I was the first female M777A2 battery commander in U.S. Army history.
Undergraduate School and Major: The University of the South, Sewanee; BA in Economics
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: United States Army Field Artillery Officer (Rank: Captain), Fort Wainwright, AK.
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment is successfully commanding a U.S. Army field artillery battery for over a year. Taking command of 80+ U.S. soldiers, who shoot over 100-pound bombs many miles out of a cannon, was an incredibly humbling experience. I quickly learned that the success of the battery was not how well I performed as an artillery (wo)man, but how well I set conditions for my subordinates to perform their individual jobs to the best of their abilities. This was the best professional development I have had so far in my career, and it gave me a new perspective on what leadership is all about. Although I failed a few times in the beginning, I learned that sometimes being the leader means taking a step back and empowering those below you to accomplish their given tasks.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? I have found my classmates to be very friendly, intelligent, humble, and diverse.
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? Having spent my entire professional career as an officer in the U.S. Army, deciding to exit the military to attend business school was intimidating. I wanted a program that was going to best prepare and support me in my transition from the military to the civilian workforce. Tuck’s core curriculum, real-world educational opportunities through Tuck Go and the First-Year Project, and close-knit, supportive environment was exactly what I wanted in a business school.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Growing up in Seattle, I skied almost every weekend in the winter. I am looking forward to ski season at Killington and Stowe this winter!
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Pursuing an MBA was something I have wanted since I was an undergraduate (I majored in economics, after all!). After accomplishing all my goals in the military, including successfully commanding a firing artillery battery, I developed a yearning for a new professional challenge. I was at the point in my military career where it was time to make the decision to either stay in the military and make the Army a 20+ year career or exit the service to pursue a new career in the business world.
After attending Military Visit Day at Tuck last fall, I knew it was time for me to leave the military. Not only did I feel as if I had found the perfect school for me, but I was exposed to the many career opportunities that Tuckies were pursuing all over the world. I realized the vast professional opportunities “on the outside (of the military)” that appealed to me. I couldn’t wait to begin my Tuck journey!
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Although I have gained a significant amount of leadership experience over the past eight years, I knew I lacked some important fundamental skills needed to be successful in business. When I took into consideration the education I will receive while at Tuck, I absolutely felt that the 20 months of school was worth the time investment. I could not gain the same depth of knowledge in two years working, that I could through Tuck’s rigorous and diverse curriculum. Financially, I am 100% eligible for the Post 9/11 GI, and I will use it to pay for most of my education at Tuck.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? CBS, Darden, Fuqua, HBS, Sloan
How did you determine your fit at various schools? Last fall, I took two weeks of leave and did my “Tour de MBA” to visit every school I was interested in. I found visiting each campus gave me a better sense of whether I was a good fit for each school. There were a few schools I visited that I did not end up applying to, simply because I didn’t feel like they were the right fit for me. Besides the “gut instinct” that comes from visiting each campus, I looked at each school’s core academic curriculum, recruiting statistics (notably management consulting), and opportunities for real-world learning. When I considered these factors, Tuck stood out as the number one school for me.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment was taking the Oath of Office when I commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. When I took that oath for the first time, I immediately realized the importance of my position. There is a line in the Oath of Office that reads, “I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.” This really resonated with me because I believe this sense of duty applies not only to my duties as a military officer, but also to my duty to be a productive and contributing member of society. To me, this part of the oath means that I should always do my best every day, because my “team” depends on me, whether that team is on the battlefield or in the classroom.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? I plan on pursuing a career in management consulting post-graduation.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I see myself as a team leader at a management consulting firm.
Irina Titkova
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
“I believe in the power of paying it forward. I’m blessed with great guides and aspire to guide others.”
Hometown: Mogilev, Belarus
Fun Fact About Yourself: I recently traveled around the globe in two days! My sightseeing involved admiring five countries, but sadly only from the airports.
Undergraduate School and Major: Brooklyn College, Business Management – Public Accounting and Finance
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: KPMG, Experienced Associate
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In college, I was hired as an office assistant at a diamond company. After some time, I noticed that the business could not grow because it was not adequately managed financially, so I offered to take on those responsibilities. As a result, the company got a substantial loan from a bank to expand inventory and even sell internationally.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? They are nice, and they have the Tuck ethos. Humble, brilliant, ambitious – and yet they come across as people with open minds, big hearts and with wonderful personal stories.
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 Tuck because of the emphasis on global exposure, its well-organized alumni network, and career placement services. Tuck encourages students to study abroad through the TuckGO requirement, and I am interested in taking advantage of this opportunity. The strong emphasis on alumni connections and career placement attracted me as well because I am a career-oriented person. I also envision myself helping and guiding other Tuckies in their career journeys.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I want to become a member of the Consulting Club, Tuck Public Speaking Club, and Net Impact.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I have always been passionate about growth and sustainability. Professionally, I have enjoyed creating value for businesses by helping them improve their strategies or making their internal operations more efficient. My experiences so far, although very enriching, were also insightful. Watching others, I realized that there are areas where I need to learn and grow more. I believe that the intense Tuck MBA curriculum, paired with perspectives from the class of 2020, is exactly what I need to improve and round out my background.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I sought advice from many professionals with an MBA degree from highly-ranked schools. Most recalled their own MBA experiences as life-changing and professionally transformational. They recalled this time in their lives as a time where they could reflect and introspect, alongside brilliant people, on their strengths, weaknesses, and passions. I liked the fact that they never emphasized the job title or the money, but instead talked about the conviction they developed in their career direction and the self-confidence they gained in pursuing their own passions to make a difference in the world. I may have had a selection bias in my sample set, but most enjoyed their post-MBA careers more than pre-MBA careers.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Kellogg and NYU
How did you determine your fit at various schools? I was looking for three things: 1) Style of teaching; 2) Culture of institution; and 3) Ability to form strong bonds with peers at school. I was always interested in a small program, but one that was highly-rated. A strong focus on culture and peer networking was perhaps the most significant factors for me.
I did a lot of primary research, which included reading how schools positioned their programs, how alumni wrote about the experiences, and how the blogs reflected the curriculum and culture. I supplemented this with actual alumni interaction – meeting with as many as I could – and that perhaps helped me the most in forming my own conclusions.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? It was my decision to stay in the United States as an asylee with 400 dollars in my pocket, no connections, and poor English. Through this experience, not only have I learned the value of being able to dream with conviction, but it also instilled in me the passion for persevering against adversity and taking personal accountability for outcomes.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? I am planning to work with consumer brands – companies that help transform consumer lives, either working through consulting companies, through private equity, or directly as an employee.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I hope to work with one of the leading consulting firms, working on strategy and transformation projects that matter. I also hope to be able to help Tuck alumni and future Tuck MBA students in any way I can with their own careers.
Roberto Vásquez
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
“Born and raised in Peru, ready to take on the world.”
Hometown: Lima, Peru
Fun Fact About Yourself: When I was a child I had a terrible fear of dogs (no matter how cute). Nowadays I just love them.
Undergraduate School and Major: Universidad del Pacífico, Economics
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Intercorp Retail, Senior Financial Analyst
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: One of the best experiences I had at Intercorp Retail was participating in the acquisition of Peru’s second largest pharmacy chain. The task I remember the most is being in charge of designing the acquisition structure. I had to talk with many people, from lawyers to accountants and bankers, in order to assess the costs and risks on every stage of the operation. I also had to present the plan to the company’s senior management, which approved it with very little changes. Seeing how the acquisition scheme I designed was being implemented in the following months gave me a great feeling of accomplishment.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? My classmates are so friendly and kind that I almost cannot believe it. For example, this summer I met a group of future classmates during their trek to Peru. Even though we had known each other for just one day, I felt like we had already been friends for much longer. Already I am realizing it will be hard to leave Tuck.
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? Aside from its extraordinary community, the thing I like the most from Tuck is its environment. I grew up in the desert environment of Lima, so the location of Tuck, with so much greenery and nature, is like a little paradise but with great cities nearby when I want a little bit of hustle and bustle. I know that here I will get a very intense, 24/7 learning experience, surrounded by classmates and faculty who also live nearby. Coming from a very big, chaotic city, Tuck’s setting really resonated with me.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? One of the activities I am looking forward to the most at Tuck is the Global Insight Expedition (GIX). It combines two of my favorite things: traveling and learning. I think that being able to see how business is done in a completely different part of the world will give me a valuable new perspective. For example, during my work experience in Peru, I was able to see how innovations implemented by companies in other countries can also be completely applicable in the local market.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? The work environment at Intercorp promotes the idea of pursuing an MBA. All my former bosses were MBA graduates, and I learned a lot about their business school experiences. I wanted to follow the same path. After six years working in Peru, I felt like I was ready for an MBA and to share experiences with my class and learn new things from them.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I am exploring what I want to do after business school in the short term and in the long term, so I am prepared to take full advantage of the experience, particularly in terms of recruiting. I do feel there will be a great return on investment.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Darden, Columbia, NYU Stern, Kellogg, Wharton
How did you determine your fit at various schools? I prioritized two factors in my business school search: career prospects and a close community in which everyone supported each other. Considering those, I signed up for every school event I could go to in my city and tried to visit some of them. My campus visit and interview at Tuck were critical to my decision.
Speaking with current students and alumni is very useful in getting a glimpse on every school’s culture because there are no better examples. I also looked at what the biggest recruiting companies at each school were to see if they resonated with my own goals.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? One of the most defining moments in my life was volunteering for the first time with Techo, a non-profit organization that builds houses for extremely poor families. I was able to meet families that lived so differently from me, even though we were in the same city. It was a very humbling experience and I continued my work in the group for a number of years. I went from hardly being able to hold a hammer to supervising the construction of small houses. I treasure those experiences as much as I do my work in finance. Not every KPI is related to money.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? I plan to continue pursuing a career in finance by working in investment banking in a major financial center after my MBA. In the past, I have been able to see financial operations from the company side. Now, I want to experience the advisor viewpoint. I think being able to work with multiple companies across different industries and regions will give me tools and knowledge that I can apply later in my country.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I can see myself with a reasonable amount of post-MBA work experience. I plan to return to Peru to apply this and my MBA experience in making Peruvian companies more competitive and strong. In the long term, my goal is to become CFO of a large company in my country, contributing to its growth.
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