Picture your dream school. What do you see? Gifted and gracious classmates? World class facilities and faculty? Clubs, treks, and speakers of every stripe? A track record of high pay and placement with the elite employers?
That’s the dream of every MBA: fervent alumni…international reach…cultural fit…exposure to everything – a school that’s not too big and impersonal, but not so small that they’ll miss out. Of course, that school has be smack dab in a throbbing metropolis, with opportunities galore and something always happening. Call it the total package, a resource- rich school filled with the right people with right mission in the right spot.
You can count the business schools that offer this experience on one hand. And one school that checks every box is Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
TEAM PLAYERS WANTED
Defined by its “high impact, low ego attitude,” Kellogg is a large urban program with a carefully-crafted hometown culture. How serious does the school take culture? Every accepted applicant has been screened in person for fit. What exactly is this “fit” at Kellogg? Think team players, who crave learning from their peers, leveraging their strengths, and supporting their vision and ventures. That’s because teamwork is the foundation of every course – an outcome that rivals any mastery of models and measures.
Yes, Kellogg students are exemplars of experiential learning whose ability to harness diverse perspectives and manage conflict perfectly positions them for every role from McKinsey consultant to Google product manager. Just as important, Kellogg demands students be actively engaged in the student community. That’s because students run the school, acting as the catalysts who handle everything from managing event details to partnering with faculty on curriculum enhancements.
Victoria Medvec gives a speech titled Negotiating for Yourself on Your Way In, Up and Out during the Global Women’s Summit at the Kellogg School of Management.Photo by Alyssa Schukar
This culture, combined with a wealth of resources, is why Charlotte Hamelin took the leap of faith and moved from the City of Light to the City of Broad Shoulders. “After six years at Roche, I wanted a business school experience that would embrace diversity and push me to think boldly and more diversely about problems and areas of business that are outside of my comfort zone,” writes the first year from Paris. “Kellogg is giving me the ability to learn from brilliant faculty and from a globally diverse classroom. With a strong alumni network and a vast pool of extracurricular and career opportunities, Kellogg is really my dream school.”
“THESE ARE THE KINDS OF PEOPLE I WANT TO BE AROUND”
Beyond the tight-knit community – or the 25 minute ride to downtown Chicago – Kellogg is a demanding program whose rigor is balanced by choice and flexibility. “Kellogg is not about one particular major or program,” writes Kate Smith, assistant dean of admissions and financial aid at Kellogg. “The Kellogg experience is about taking a rigorous core curriculum, and then building on that with the classes that will help you achieve your goals — whether that’s a deep dive in one specific area, or continuing on that broad range of academic knowledge. Majors are optional…The beauty of being a student at Kellogg is that you have the flexibility to pursue whichever combination of classes, majors or pathways fits your interests and goals.”
Culture and curriculum aside, the program is also founded on a purpose – one that appealed to incoming first-years like Justin Hendrix, an Amherst grad and Bain consultant. “During Kellogg’s Preview Day,” he recalls, “then-Dean Sally Blount began her presentation by quoting The Kellogg Purpose: “To educate, equip and inspire brave leaders who build strong organizations and wisely leverage the power of markets to create lasting value.” She talked about mission-driven leaders, about having successful and pioneering careers in business while also making a positive difference in the world, and about using business as a force for social good. I still think about how deeply those words resonated with me at the time, and align with my desire to explore the intersection between business and social and environmental impact.”
The Class of 2020 began streaming into Evanston in late August. Thus far, the Kellogg reality has lived up to its hype. In the U.S. Navy, Braden Schrock was special operations advisor to the commanding admiral of a Carrier Strike Group. Taking a two year sojourn from active service, Schrock was struck by what he calls Kellogg’s “pay it forward ethos.”
“From the students who helped me with my application, to those that reached out to me after my acceptance, to the Kellogg alumni who called to tell me what a life-changing experience Kellogg is, I’ve never felt so excited to be around a group of people,” he explains. I currently have the members of two separate campus clubs at my disposal to answer any questions I have – and every time I’ve asked for help, someone has been there. These are the kinds of people I want to be around, and who I want to emulate.”
At the Global Hub, incoming students are welcomed by two hanging banners in the university’s trademark purple color that proudly announce the school is “Leading Bravely Into A New Era.”
“INTENTIONALITY” IN WORD AND DEED
Indeed, you’ll find Kellogg MBAs to be among the friendliest cohorts anywhere. For Miles Olson, an analytics aficionado, the community offers something a little extra. Admittedly, he expected his classmates to be “smart, collaborative, [and] highly engaged.” The surprise, he says, came when he experienced how “inspiringly thoughtful” his peers were.
“I’ve been consistently impressed by the emotional intelligence of the people here. They have such a strong understanding of who they are and what they value. They’re decidedly self-reflective and goal-oriented and they’re committed to helping others develop in similar ways. With all the various events, workshops, and social gatherings available here, I guess it makes sense that everyone learns to be so deliberate. Kellogg calls it “intentionality,” and so far, I’ve already experienced profound benefits from attending school with classmates like this. They encourage you to be vulnerable and thoughtful about your development opportunities; they challenge you to clearly frame your definition of success; and they inspire you to pursue a life consistent with your core values.”
High EQ, sure…and fun too. Catalina Asmar, for one, stepped and spun alongside 500 professional dancers at the main event of the Barranquilla Carnival – the world’s second largest carnival. She might get a run for her money from Yasmina Maria Andrea Chalhoub, who taught Zumba. Yasmina’s favorite choreography? Shakira, of course! Looking for a cool cocktail hour story? Ask Katie Schwartz about the time she climbed the Stein Glacier with professional climbers…by accident. How is this for a butterfly effect? Eric Dodds missed his call-back audition for Home Alone 3 because, well, he had a soccer game!
BUILDING A PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM…IN CRUMBLING VENEZUELA
Going from child actor to child soccer star wasn’t the only transition that Dodds made. He switched from being a reporter for TIME magazine to an investment banker – a move precipitated, no doubt, from writing a 13,000 word story on the history of Disney’s The Mighty Ducks franchise. Justin Hendrix also made a similar career transition, going from consulting to building a social enterprise in solar energy and textiles in Africa. Such transitions require both communication skills and grit – something that Braden Schrock had in abundance when he was forging a partnership between South Korean SEALs with their American counterparts.
“It was tough because our professional cultures were so different,” he admits. “By fully immersing my team in the Korean training schedule, organizing informal events such as downhill skiing, American-Korean soccer games, and nights drinking soju with our counterparts, we were able to develop the relationships that enabled trust and buy-in to the new partnership.”
Think that’s a tough assignment? Try being Ricardo Suárez. His claim to fame? He was a founder of Evolvere Capital, Venezuela’s first-ever private equity firm. Despite rampant poverty and corruption, he views himself as a problem-solver who doesn’t buy into the country’s grim economic outlook.
Bernie Banks (Left) teaches a course at the Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management
“We have achieved a great understanding of three things: the necessities and realities of our economy; how to operate companies in a highly complex economic and financial environment; and most importantly, we have protected the income of many families during Venezuela’s harshest economic crisis by improving the financial and operational results of our portfolio companies. I have no doubt we have built up a mechanism, and an industry, that will be fundamental for the recovery process that (hopefully) Venezuela will witness in the near future.”
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN JUMPS TO 46%
The outlook at Kellogg is decidedly more upbeat. In a year where rivals like Wharton and Chicago Booth saw a 6%-8% drop in applications, Kellogg bucked the trend. It received just 124 fewer applications, just a 2.7% drop for its 478-member class. Despite fewer applications, Kellogg maintained its high academic standards. On average, the class pulls a 732 GMAT. That’s equal to the 2019 Class. Even more, it represents a 17 point improvement over the past five years. That average also ties Kellogg with incoming classes at Wharton, Columbia, and Stanford (and a point better than cross-town rival Chicago Booth). Like the average GMAT, undergraduate GPAs also stayed the same, coming in at an impressive 3.6.
One of the biggest differences, however, involves the percentage of women in the 2020 Class. Standing at 46%, this percentage represents an all-time for women at the school – and the fourth consecutive year where that number topped 40%. In response to this surge, the school is developing additional personal and professional development programming for women according to Kate Smith. This will be added to the program’s already deep commitment to attracting women to campus.
“We have taken a really proactive approach to engage particularly prospective female applicants. In particular, we work very closely with the Women’s Business Association to develop programming and outreach that will resonate with women,” says Melissa Rapp, Kellogg’s director of admissions, in a 2018 interview with Poets&Quants. “I feel like we have developed a really good, holistic approach to bringing women to Kellogg and supporting them throughout their MBA journey, and then sending them out to the world to do great things.”
To celebrate the building’s lakefront location, Kellogg’s new 415,000 square foot Global Hub pays pays homage to the environment in two ways – the curved exterior walls reflect the wave movement on the lake, while the glass reflects the blues of the water as well as the sky.
As with applications, Kellogg also dodged the plunge in international students that dogged many other business schools during the 2017-2018 cycle. 34% of the 2020 Class hails from overseas, just a point down from the past two classes. In addition, the percentage of U.S. minorities set another school record at 27%, making the incoming class one of the most diverse in Kellogg’s history.
Looking at the class’ backgrounds, they are remarkably similar to the previous year. The school reports that 50% of the class majored in business and economics, just a point higher than the previous year. The remainder of the class is broken into two segments: STEM (29%) and humanities (26%)…numbers that noticeably add up to 105%. Like the 2019 cohort, the largest bloc of incoming students worked in consulting. They account for 24% of the class – down from last year’s 27% share. Financial services represented another 19%, followed by technology and communications (13%), government, education and non-profits (9%), consumer products (8%), and healthcare (4%).
NEW LEADERSHIP, SAME DRIVE
Despite its Top 5 ranking, Northwestern Kellogg is an ascending program, with a momentum that’s represented by its Global Hub. Opened in 2017, the $250 million dollar, 365,000 square foot glass and steel masterpiece, is a monument to the work of Sally Blount, who recently stepped down as dean. Spacious and bright, the Global Hub features every amenity imaginable, from a fully-equipped exercise facility to gas-lit fireplaces in study areas. It is a place where students can bathe in the calming natural light and take in the beauty of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. The central plaza and atriums are also designed to spur “collisions” between stakeholders who normally wouldn’t cross paths – reinforcing the collaborative nature of the program. Such interactions also reinforce the cross-disciplinary nature of the Kellogg experience – another hallmark of Blount’s tenure.
“The school feels like a different place,” observes Betsy Ziegler, the school’s chief innovation officer in a 2017 interview with P&Q. “The co-created, supportive, and innovative culture that Don Jacobs had created is still very much in fact, but it feels different. It feels like a place that doesn’t sit still. There is this relentless focus on getting better.”
Kate Smith, Kellogg Admissions Director
Replacing Blount, in the interim, is Kathleen M. Hagerty, a 30 year veteran of the program. Don’t expect the program to rest on its laurels during the transition. Notably, the program has been investing heavily in programming, with 30 new courses added over the past three years, says Kate Smith. This includes experiential-driven courses in areas like investment management, healthcare ventures, data analytics, social impact, business ethics, philanthropy, and virtual negotiations.
DOES THE MMM DEGREE REPRESENT THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS EDUCATION?
Despite the influx of new programming, Catalina Asmar, who’ll be returning to her native Colombia after graduation to pursue a career in sustainable energy, is looking forward to two of Kellogg’s best-known courses. “I am very excited to take New Venture discovery this fall,” she says. “This course allows students to work in teams to use business tools and techniques to translate a problem into a viable business project. I am also looking forward to taking Global Lab course in the winter quarter, in this course students get to work as consultants to international companies in a real business project. At the end of the quarter we get to travel to the host company’s country to present the project’s results. This is a great opportunity to learn more about a different company, industry, and culture.”
Along with beefing up programming, Kellogg has also laid claim to the Bay Area to enhance student networks and job prospects. “We offer a San Francisco full-immersion winter quarter program for students with interests in entrepreneurship, technology or venture capital,” Smith writes. “As part of the three-month experience, students take courses with Kellogg faculty, pursue an internship for course credit with a venture capital firm or growth-stage company, and participate in frequent events to meet Kellogg alumni entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. We will be sending our third and largest cohort to the Bay Area this winter. Given that Kellogg students’ interest in tech careers remains strong, we’re excited to provide them with valuable internship exposure and networking opportunities with our large Kellogg alumni network on the West Coast.”
What was Kellogg’s allure for the Class of 2020? Charlotte Hamelin, for one, touted Kellogg’s accelerated, one-year MBA program, a 50 year-old program with 3,500 graduates that boasts high powered alum like Allstate CEO Thomas Wilson and Symantec CMO Emmanuel Kostas. In contrast, Miles Olson cites its dual degrees, such as the acclaimed MMM program, an MBA that is paired with a MS in Design Innovation from the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science.
“I truly believe it’s the future of MBA programs,” he asserts. “It’s one of the only programs out there that focuses on teaching professionals to operate at the intersection of the many different functions that touch a product – engineering, design, operations, marketing and finance, among many others… When we graduate, we’re going to be expected to wear many hats, and the MMM program stands out to me for its emphasis on creating whole-brain thinkers capable of managing everything from user-focused design research, to complex data-driven analyses, to elaborate execution plans.”
“MARKETING SCHOOL” LABEL MASKS PROGRAM’S MANY STRENGTHS
Alas, Kellogg does come with a certain reputation. Some have dubbed it a “marketing school” – a label that has stuck for decades. On one hand, the school’s marketing program is universally regarded as the best in the world. It consistently ranks first in U.S. News’ specialization ranking and makes headlines with its annual Super Bowl Ad Review. That said, it doesn’t represent reality, with just 19% of the 2017 class entering marketing. Even more, the label discounts the program’s many strengths, says Kathryn Bernell, a 2018 MMM grad and a member of P&Q’s Best & Brightest MBAs.
North of the plaza in Kellogg’s new global hub is a 7,800 sq. foot space called the Galvin Family Design Wing & Conference Center. Among other things, the wing includes four design studios: a company in residence studio, an artist in residence studio, a tech student where virtual reality-assisted brainstorming can occur and a makers space where design prototypes can be built.
“I have had some wonderful marketing classes. Truthfully, I have found my entrepreneurial courses and finance classes to be some of my favorite classes at school. The Kellogg finance department is rich with exceptional professors and courses; I even found myself in a Capital Markets elective and am currently in a thought leadership Finance class. Old reputations die hard, and Kellogg has an excellent Marketing program, but it doesn’t get credit for the robust offerings in their finance and entrepreneurial pathways.”
In recent years, entrepreneurship may be the area where Kellogg has made the biggest strides. One of the key drivers is the Zell Fellows program. Founded in 2013, Zell Fellows is a year-long, non-credit, fast track accelerator designed to help student entrepreneurs build businesses they can run after graduation. The 30 hand-picked students receive a $10,000 stipend to support their venture, not to mention free space and supplies and access to legal services and investors.
“We are also incredibly proud of our Zell Fellows Program, which is essentially a Kellogg incubator for students planning to launch businesses after graduation,” says Kate Smith. “We provide students with mentorship to help them not only operate their business effectively, but develop professionally as founders. Students have access to executive leadership coaches who focus on topics like developing emotional intelligence, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and building effective teams. To date, Zell Fellows have raised more than $92 million dollars in funding and awards and created more than 800 jobs by launching and leading companies.”
ZELL FELLOWS SEEK TO CREATE A “YPO-TYPE COMMUNITY”
Zell Fellows often act as sounding boards for each other, lending support and fostering accountability as much as supplying expertise to their peers. With alumni engagement part of the expectations for Zell Fellows alumni, the goal is to produce a network who’ll lend a hand to students who follow in their footsteps.
“What we’re trying to create is something not unlike a YPO-type community where if you are a Zell alum or student, there is no hesitation ever of picking up the phone and calling another Zell, knowing your phone call or email will be returned,” says David Schonthal, the program’s faculty director, in a 2018 interview with P&Q.
Zell isn’t the only path to entrepreneurship at Kellogg, however. Along with robust coursework, the school also operates the Levy Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, with programming that includes writing business plans, prototyping and pitching investors. And there is more where that comes from adds Carr Lanphier, a 2018 grad and Best & Brightest MBA.
Kellogg students are defined by collaborating in teams.
“Kellogg has the best “resource-to-competition” ratio of the top MBA programs, and its programming is tailored to the needs of the next generation of entrepreneurs. From the Growth and Scaling Program (headed by Karin O’Connor) that is leading the evolution in Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA), to the Sales Institute (headed by Craig Wortmann, Kellogg is providing real-world opportunities and tactical, applicable skills (like the fundamentals of selling and how to manage a sales team) that entrepreneurs and small business owners must learn to be successful.”
“I HAVE A LOT TO LEARN”
That’s exactly what Braden Schrock is hoping to learn. Armed with a Kellogg MBA, he plans to return to the U.S. Navy and apply what he learns to making it more effective. “I’ve noticed during my career that the military suffers from certain problems that the private sector seems to have already solved,” he explains. “I’m at the perfect inflection point in my career where with added responsibility and authority, I’ll be able to create lasting change. The MBA has no equal in terms of flexibility and breadth of experience it offers; it can be applied in any leadership situation, in any industry.”
Katie Schwartz also hopes to make an impact? Her goal: “driving change in the male-dominated technology investing world” and boosting the number of women in the sector. Sable Worthy, already a successful media entrepreneur, plans to branch out by “writing and producing a television series centered on a friend group of young, high-powered LGBTQ people of color.” In Miles Olson’s case, he has plenty of ideas, ranging from running an early-stage tech startup to making advances in areas like machine learning “more humane.” He admits that he hasn’t figured it all out – and that’s exactly why he came to Kellogg.
“I have a lot to learn. I can’t wait see how my self-awareness, vision and direction evolve over the next couple years.”
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 | Last Employer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina Asmar | Barranquilla, Colombia | Universidad de los Andes | Promigas |
| Yasmina Maria Andrea Chalhoub | Plano, TX | University of Texas at Austin | Oracle |
| Eric Dodds | New York City, NY | Princeton University | Rossoff & Company |
| Miles Olson | Cerritos, CA | U.C.-Berkeley | Williams-Sonoma Inc. |
| Charlotte Hamelin | Paris, France | ESCP Europe | Roche France |
| Justin Hendrix | London, UK | Amherst College | Bain & Company |
| Braden Schrock | Farmington Hills, MI | University of Michigan | U.S. Navy |
| Katie Schwartz | Atlanta, GA | Princeton University | Crosslink Capital |
| Ricardo Suárez | Caracas, Venezuela | Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (UCAB) | Evolvere Capital |
| Sable Worthy | Los Angeles, CA | Yale University | GetWorthyMedia.com |
Meet the Class of 2020 Series
London Business School
University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School
Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management
University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business
MIT Sloan School of Management
Columbia Business School
UC-Berkeley Haas School of Business
Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business
Yale School of Mnnagement
University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business
Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business
Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management
UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School
New York University’s Stern School of Business
Emory’s Goizueta School of Business
Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business
Washington University’s Olin Business School
Catalina Asmar
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
Hardworking, persistent, and caring woman, with a passion for learning and a love of dancing.”
Hometown: Barranquilla, Colombia
Fun Fact About Yourself: Last February, I danced along 500 professional dancers in the main event of Barranquilla’s famous carnival.
Undergraduate School and Major:
Economics- Universidad de los Andes
Master of Science in Economics- Universidad de los Andes
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Senior Project Analyst- Promigas (Natural gas transmission and distribution company in Colombia).
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My most significant career accomplishment was to be chosen by the company’s CFO to dictate a class to interns and first year professionals and part of his project valuation course.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? I would say the quality that best describes the MBA classmates I have met is ambitious. It has been very inspiring to meet such accomplished and intelligent individuals, who have clear goals and are determined to work hard for them, while at the same time going the extra mile to help their classmates reach theirs.
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? Kellogg´s unique mission to leverage the power of markets to create lasting value and its emphasis in leadership were the main aspects that resonated with me when choosing my MBA program. I believe Kellogg is successful in developing well-rounded leaders with the goal of addressing important issues and creating impact.
Another aspect that was vital to me when choosing Kellogg’s MBA was its array of experiential learning courses and activities. My previous educational experiences were almost entirely lecture based courses. Therefore, I am very excited to take several experiential learning courses and participating in club activities that will allow me to work on real business problems and experience hands-on learning.
I am very excited to take New Venture discovery this fall; this course allows students to work in teams to use business tools and techniques to translate a problem into a viable business project. I am also looking forward to taking Global Lab course in the winter quarter, in this course students get to work as consultants to international companies in a real business project. At the end of the quarter we get to travel to the host company’s country to present the project’s results. This is a great opportunity to learn more about a different company, industry, and culture.
Similarly, I plan to volunteer in Kellogg Corps on my last quarter. Through this program, I will have the opportunity to apply business skills and tools learned in class to support a social impact-oriented organization in a developing country. This unique experience will allow me to gain more business experience and exposure, while creating valuable impact in a non-profit organization.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am really looking forward to participating in Kellogg Corps. It combines all the things I love the most: experiential learning, social impact, and traveling.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? It had been a long-term dream of mine to study abroad in the United States. I was happy with my job and my accomplishments to date, but I believed it was the time to take the leap and pursue my dream. I believe stepping out of your comfort zone is the best way to experience personal and professional growth.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? As a project analyst, I developed a financial model to calculate the return on investment of pursuing my MBA. It was an interesting analysis, but ultimately there are many things a financial model can’t account for: unforgettable life experiences, amazing trips, and great friendships.
What other MBA programs did you apply to?
- Columbia
- Cornell Johnson
- Yale
- Wharton
How did you determine your fit at various schools? I prioritized academics, culture, and fit. I was interested in taking several experiential learning classes that would allow me to work with companies on real business issues. I also put a lot of value to the quality and expertise of the professors. I researched culture by visiting schools and talking to as many students, alumni, and faculty I could connect with. I believe the conversations and interactions I had were extremely helpful and allowed me to get an accurate idea of my personal fit in each school. However, as soon as I visited the schools, it was very easy to feel which fit best for me.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I think a defining moment for me was when I experienced my first failure. I had always been a very responsible and studious young girl. My accomplishments were always recognized and celebrated. I managed to live my first 22 years without a real failure, at least not that I can remember. My first failure was right out of college, after I didn’t get a job offer I wanted. Initially, this first failure managed to shake my self-confidence. However, it motivated me to work harder towards my goals. Now I realize failures are the best way to learn and an essential part of success.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? After I graduate, I plan to return to my home country, Colombia and work in developing the sustainable energy industry there. I believe that with the amount of rural vacant land, there is a huge potential to develop this market.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I see myself working towards addressing social and environmental issues in my home country. I see myself as a leader and an advocate for women. In five years I see myself as a hard-working mother, eager to take on new challenges, and planning a four year reunion with my Kellogg classmates.
Yasmina Maria Andrea Chalhoub
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
“The resident fashionista and spicy friend. Will always join you on the dance floor.”
Hometown: Plano, TX
Fun Fact About Yourself: Taught Zumba Fitness for five years. My favorite choreography was always to Shakira!
Undergraduate School and Major: University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business (BBA Marketing); minor in French
Most Recent Employer and Job Title:
Oracle Corp.; Field Marketing Manager
Owner and Editor in Chief of Style and Travel Blog “Dress Well Travel Often”
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I was elected as President of the Toastmasters Club for my company’s chapter in Austin. It empowered a lot of my introverted colleagues in their public speaking techniques and leadership skills. Soon after I earned my dream promotion – a role that “required” 8-10 years of experience when I only had 2.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Their ambition is palpable but their camaraderie and willingness to collaborate makes them all friends. Everyone has a lot of energy; it’s truly remarkable.
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 knew that Kellogg was the number one program for marketing in the country, but what really sold me on Kellogg was the class visit I made before applying. I had already read a few of Professor Tim Calkins’ publications before visiting and was pleasantly surprised that he was the professor whose class I sat in on. His class was riveting and solidified my conviction that I could in fact go back to sitting in a classroom again with the right faculty and peers.
I was also impressed that the Director of Diversity Admissions made time in his schedule to visit with me in person and answer any questions I had about Kellogg. Everything about the culture, from the open space and grandiose nature of the Global Hub, to the constant talk of “KWESTie Besties”, made me feel like I had to be a part of it myself.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? As far as activities, I’m most excited about KWEST! For clubs, I want to be involved with the Hispanic Management Association, Marketing Club and the Women’s Business Association. And you can’t forget Cork & Screw, Kellogg’s wine club!!
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Since college, I wanted to pursue a career in brand management and knew that an MBA would get me to where I needed to be. I was no longer growing in my corporate career the last 9 months and knew it was the perfect timing to go back for my MBA.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? The earning potential post-MBA is so large that the physical return is a lot greater than the cost. But as far as the investment of time and a “hold” on my corporate career, I decided it was worth it to change my trajectory, meet new people, and expand my network. I have been told that an MBA opens doors for you that you didn’t know existed, so I’m excited for the multitude of opportunities ahead.
How did you determine your fit at various schools? In an MBA program, I was looking for 4 things: cultural fit, academic reputation, job placement and classroom experience.
I physically visited all the schools I applied to, as well as reached out to alumni and current students. You can tell A LOT about an MBA program by the way their alumni treat you when you ask to connect. Determining your fit at a school can be as simple as a gut feeling you get when visiting. There’s also a saying I try to live by, “If you’re always the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” I wanted to be surrounded by people that would push my intellectual boundaries and challenge me to be better both personally and professionally. You also need to ask yourself (about students AND faculty), “Would I hire these people? Would I want them to be my coworkers? Do I admire them? Would I want them to be my friends? Would I want to spend time with them outside of school?” If you can answer “yes” to all those questions, you found your fit.
I knew Kellogg specifically would help me with my career goals by the attentiveness of their Career Management Center. Even though it is a large program, all the students I met noted how they felt they received one on one attention from career advisors, which I really felt I needed to focus on next steps in my career. I also got a sense of belonging that I didn’t necessarily feel anywhere else.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? When my Dad was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer four years ago, I realized that “home” is wherever my family is, and that I would never lose sight of that. I revolve my life around my family and make a lot of career and personal decisions based on that.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? I hope to move back to Dallas, Texas to pursue a career in brand management or marketing consulting.
Where do you see yourself in five years? I hope to be living close to my family, as a Director of VP of Marketing (in either fashion or tech) leading change in the digital marketing and media space. And I see myself with a shoe closet, always!
Eric Dodds
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
“Native New Yorker, recovering journalist, aspiring problem-solver, long-suffering Braves fan and devoted fried chicken enthusiast.”
Hometown: New York, NY
Fun Fact About Yourself: I got a call-back to audition for the lead in Home Alone 3 when I was 8, but I skipped it due to concerns about the script (or because I had a soccer game at the same time).
Undergraduate School and Major: Princeton University, History
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Rossoff & Company, Associate
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Transitioning from a job as a culture and sports reporter for TIME Magazine to a role as an associate for a boutique investment bank without any previous finance experience—or even having taken an econ course in college. Also writing a 13,000-world oral history of “The Mighty Ducks” film franchise for TIME.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Enthusiasm. Whether it’s been at admitted students weekend, self-organized happy hours in New York, or on the class-wide GroupMe chat, my classmates have consistently proven themselves to be some of the most enthusiastic, engaged and curious people I’ve ever met. Entering into a new environment with a large group of strangers can often lead to reticence, but that’s not been the case at all for my Kellogg classmates. Everyone appears genuinely enthusiastic to meet one another and to make the most of this opportunity.
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? Community. Of all the MBA campuses that I visited last year, Kellogg was the only where I immediately—and confidently—felt I could see myself for the next two years. I think that’s partly due to the program’s reputation and remarkable facilities, but what made Kellogg immediately feel unique was how obvious it was that the students, faculties and administrators not only cared deeply about the program but also about one another. There were lots of little moments that offered that impression—including hearing how enthusiastically the program embraces students’ partners—but the one that stood out the most for me was when my tour guide said that when multiple Kellogg students go after the same job, they work together to make sure at least one of them gets it. A program where that’s the case is one that I knew I wanted to be a part of.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? There are a lot of clubs and activities at Kellogg that I’m excited about, but one that definitely stands out is the Media & Entertainment Club. I spoke with a handful of members during the application process, and their passion and insight reaffirmed my desire to be part of the Kellogg community.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I had been thinking about pursuing an MBA since leaving TIME in 2015, but decided at that point it would be prudent to get a little experience in a more traditional “business” field first before returning to the media industry on the business side. After two years as an associate at Rossoff & Company, I decided it was time to add more formalized training in fields like marketing, strategy, operations and technology to what I’d learned as a journalist and as an investment banker.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? The chance to have an incredible academic experience and bolster my career prospects were major factors, but I also knew that an MBA would offer me an opportunity to build the sort of network I couldn’t create in another setting. Between that and the fact that I knew attending Kellogg would be a genuinely unique experience, I decided it was a worthwhile investment.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Harvard Business School, Columbia Business School, London Business School, Wharton, NYU Stern School of Business
How did you determine your fit at various schools? For me, the single biggest factor in determining fit was taking the time to visit the schools and speak with both current students and alumni, especially those with an interest in media, entertainment and sports or who had experience in non-traditional fields. I did plenty of research online, both on the programs’ websites and third-party ones, to learn more about the academic offerings as well. Ultimately, though, I knew I’d get a strong education no matter which program I chose, so I wanted to make sure the culture of the school was the right one for me and also that I’d be well-situated to join a field I was passionate about after completing the program. I will say that the time I took to actually visit the programs themselves proved invaluable, not just in taking tours, sitting in on information sessions and visiting classes, but also in seeing students interact with one another and getting a feel for the atmosphere on campus.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? My plan after completing my MBA is to work at a media company in a brand development or strategy role. That said, a large part of my motivation for attending Kellogg is to meet new people and open myself up to new opportunities that could change my future plans. I have long had a passion for entertainment, sports and technology, and could easily see myself exploring one of those industries after graduation—or perhaps another one entirely.
Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself shaping the direction and strategy of either a growing digital media company or a particular title for an incumbent publisher—or I could see myself pursuing a similar position in an industry that I’m not deeply familiar with now but have the opportunity to discover in the next two years and beyond. One of the main reasons I’ve chosen to pursue an MBA at Kellogg is because I want to create more possibilities for my future, not fewer. But wherever I am and whatever I’m doing in five years, I want it to be somewhere and something that can create a significant, lasting impact.
Miles Olson
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and McCormick School of Engineering (MMM Program)
“Easily excitable data fanatic who deeply believes in the power of human-centered business and technology.”
Hometown: Cerritos, CA
Fun Fact About Yourself: After college, I joined the Innovation team at Safeway, which was a team that designed and launched new private label brands. One of my most memorable projects was a takeover of the deli section for Open Nature, where I was tasked with tasting and evaluating more than 300 different dips in only two hours. I may have succeeded, but I’ll never touch an artichoke dip again.
Undergraduate School and Major: UC Berkeley, B.S. Business Administration
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Williams-Sonoma Inc., Manager, Database Marketing & Analytics
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: When I first started working at Williams-Sonoma, I was given the opportunity to lead a re-design of their catalog execution process. With the help of a lot of incredibly smart people and a ton of great customer data, we developed a best-in-class audience selection tool that allowed us to select catalog recipients using data-driven propensity models, execute complex test frameworks, and track sales and engagement performance using an advanced multi-touch marketing attribution solution. This project laid the foundation for a deeply engrained data-driven marketing philosophy within Williams-Sonoma and enabled my team to expand our scope to include digital marketing audience selection, test design, data engineering, and advanced analytics.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? When I decided to go to Kellogg, I knew I would find smart, collaborative, highly engaged people. What I didn’t expect to find was how incredibly, inspiringly thoughtful everyone here is — both interpersonally as well as existentially. Every day, I’ve been consistently impressed by the emotional intelligence of the people here. They have such a strong understanding of who they are and what they value. They’re decidedly self-reflective and goal-oriented and they’re committed to helping others develop in similar ways. With all the various events, workshops, and social gatherings available here, I guess it makes sense that everyone learns to be so deliberate. Kellogg calls it “intentionality,” and so far, I’ve already experienced profound benefits from attending school with classmates like this. They encourage you to be vulnerable and thoughtful about your development opportunities; they challenge you to clearly frame your definition of success; and they inspire you to pursue a life consistent with your core values.
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? Hands down, it was the MMM program, which is a multidisciplinary program providing an MBA from Kellogg in addition to an MS in Design Innovation from the McCormick School of Engineering. I truly believe it’s the future of MBA programs. It’s one of the only programs out there that focuses on teaching professionals to operate at the intersection of the many different functions that touch a product – engineering, design, operations, marketing and finance, among many others. Moreover, it challenges us to think beyond the product, to the platform and ecosystem level. When we graduate, we’re going to be expected to wear many hats, and the MMM program stands out to me for its emphasis on creating whole-brain thinkers capable of managing everything from user-focused design research, to complex data-driven analyses, to elaborate execution plans. It’s the perfect program for those who want to be disciplined in their approach to innovation; to understand the methodology behind consumer research, prototyping, development, and operating of new initiatives; and to do it in a mindful, empathic way.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? There are so many exciting clubs and activities available here at Kellogg that it’s hard to pick just one. In the end, I’ve got to be most excited about Pride@Kellogg. To me, Kellogg’s diverse and inclusive community is a big part of what makes this school so special. There’s such a strong sense of acceptance, mutual support, and empowerment here. I have P@K members to thank for being some of the first people to introduce me to it. I feel privileged to be a part of this community, and I can’t wait to repay their generosity by helping to connect others to the Kellogg community the same way they connected me.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? It stemmed from a desire to get exposure to different fields, meet inspiring people, and, ultimately, figure out what’s most fulfilling to me. It’s been astonishing to witness how quickly marketing technology has evolved in the past few years. I truly believe that data-driven approaches to decision making, fueled by advances in data science and machine learning, have the power to revolutionize business and society as we know them today. At the same time, I have a strong conviction that data science should be paired with human-centered design to ensure we understand our real needs and are solving the right problems. I pursued an MBA because it provides an opportunity for me to further explore these concepts, transition to a new career in technology, and meet inspiring people that will expose me to other concepts that I’m yet to discover.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? It took a lot of soul searching. When I first told my friends that I was thinking of applying to business school, many of them pointed to the sky-high tuition fees and equally high opportunity costs. It took me a while to feel secure in saying that it’s not about money. Yes, long-term, I have no doubt it will pay off, but business school to me is more about self-growth, forming deep relationships with inspiring people, and the pursuit of a happier, more fulfilling life. When I learned to look at it in those terms, it became an easy decision for me.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Stanford GSB and Berkeley-Haas
How did you determine your fit at various schools? Resources such as Poets & Quants and the Veritas Prep MBA Essential Guide were extremely helpful in forming my initial opinions on school strengths, cultures, and career fit. Informational sessions, calls with students, MBA rankings, and other online resources helped me narrow the list down further. Once I had a short list put together, I was surprised by how much I learned from visiting the schools I was interested in. It’s one thing to read about the different cultures; it’s an entirely different thing to experience them in person.
During my visit to Kellogg, I attended a class called Public Economics for Business Leaders in which I witnessed two randomly selected teams of students vigorously debate over government subsidization of alternative energy production. I came out of the class awe-struck by the insightfulness, communication skills, and depth of preparation exhibited by the students in the class. I was convinced they had spent all quarter preparing for these debates, only to find later that it was just their third week of class and alternative energies were one of many subjects that had already been covered. After class, I headed to TG, a weekly happy hour hosted by Kellogg, where I witnessed the fun, friendly side of Kellogg first-hand. Before I knew it, I was invited to dinner, a cocktail party, and a night out in Boystown. I hadn’t even gotten in yet, and I already felt like I made more friends in one day than I had the entire year prior. My visit to Kellogg is what really made me fall in love with this place. There’s something truly special here that’s very hard to capture in words. You have to visit to feel it for yourself.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My journey toward an MBA was inspired by my mom, who passed away two years ago. Her final reflections on life and the deep, existential conversations we shared were what galvanized me to attend business school. She reminded me how one’s life is defined by the difference one makes on others; that we only have one chance at life and that I should take risks, pursue my dreams, and fight tooth and nail to make them come true. Thanks to those moments we shared, I’m more focused than ever on what’s truly important to me.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? I’d like to work in a product-focused role for a technology company seeking to make a positive impact on the world. I think it’d be a great opportunity for me to meet and collaborate with a ton of smart people, get exposure to a wide variety of functions, and help advance products that I truly believe in.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I would love to be leading an early-stage technology start up. I’m particularly interested in technology platforms that harness recent advancements in machine learning, big data and blockchain technology to alleviate challenges that consumers face in fairer, more humane ways. I know that’s glaringly vague, but the truth is I’m still figuring it out. It’s one of the reasons why I came to Kellogg in the first place – I have a lot to learn. I can’t wait see how my self-awareness, vision and direction evolve over the next couple years.
Charlotte Hamelin
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
“Perpetually curious, unapologetically resilient go-getter who is passionate about bringing people together. Avid traveler.”
Hometown: Paris, France
Fun Fact About Yourself: I really love to travel and meet people from other cultures. I would love to do that for a living. I might just, in another life.
Undergraduate School and Major: Bsc and Msc from ESCP Europe
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Market access project manager at Roche France
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: There is one memory that stays with me when, with my team, we launched the first patient app in France that simplified care for melanoma patients. It was a very special moment when we received letters from patients thanking us for this initiative.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? I am constantly blown away by the depth of knowledge of my classmates, combined with a high impact, low ego attitude! After only one month in, I know they have no limit to their leadership and ability to care.
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 is tough to come up with just one key factor, so I will say I was naturally drawn to the one-year program of Kellogg because I was deeply convinced that it was the best fit for me to grow as a leader and a person. After six years at Roche, I wanted a business school experience that would embrace diversity and push me to think boldly and more diversely about problems and areas of business that are outside of my comfort zone. Kellogg is giving me the ability to learn from brilliant faculty and from a globally diverse classroom. With a strong alumni network and a vast pool of extracurricular and career opportunities, Kellogg is really my dream school.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Kellogg offers a variety of clubs and extracurriculars. I know that the tough part will be to choose from all of these great opportunities! I can’t wait for our KWEST trip and to be actively involved in the Healthcare and European clubs. I want to put together networking events in these clubs and grow the awareness of Kellogg in Europe!
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? A restlessness feeling was creeping up on me after working six years in my company. I wanted to work on my weaknesses, continue to learn, and have a broader exposure to international challenges in healthcare. I knew that it would take more than the network and skills I had developed at Roche to follow my dreams.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? After careful research and talking to alumni from different business schools, I came to the conclusion that a one-year MBA was worth investing time and money as I was committed to reflect on who I am as a person and as a leader. Holding a Msc in Business, the one year program seemed the right path for me.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Wharton, INSEAD and Cornell
How did you determine your fit at various schools? Determining the fit to the school culture was a key component that helped me after chose which school was best for me and my career. Visiting the campuses, meeting advising counselors, and talking to current and former students was a great way for me to get a deeper understanding of what experience I would get going into one school. Alumni were really responsive and were key in that decision process. The time I put into this work was really worth the investment!
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? What really shaped who I am today and what drives me is the time I spent abroad when I was younger. Being completely immersed for nine years in four countries helped grow my curiosity. I can’t imagine my life without traveling!
What do you plan to do after you graduate? Going to Japan! And after, I hope I will be able to do what I love, working in marketing in the cancer space in the US!
Where do you see yourself in five years? Five years sounds like a good time to be in Southeast Asia! Tackling healthcare issues in emerging markets is something that I aspire working on. And there is a course at Kellogg, ‘Medical technologies in developing countries’ that will be a great asset to prepare for these challenges.
I know that in the next few years I will continue to embrace diversity and learn from the people that I will meet and work with.
Justin Hendrix
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
“International and mixed-race consultant interested in social enterprise.”
Hometown: London, UK / Boston, MA
Fun Fact About Yourself: I serve lefty but hit forehands on the right.
Undergraduate School and Major: Amherst College, Geology and Environmental Studies
Most Recent Employer and Job Title:
Ethical Apparel Africa: Strategy and Partnerships Manager (extern)
Bain & Company: Senior Associate Consultant
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I recently played a significant role in developing a EUR 2.1M project with German development agency GIZ to facilitate job growth and technical capacity-building in the emerging West African apparel manufacturing sector. I joined Ethical Apparel Africa – a social enterprise based in the UK and Ghana – in February 2018 for a six-month “externship” from Bain. One of my objectives, alongside advancing projects in solar energy and cotton supply chain integration, was to help take this project with GIZ across the finish line. In the Fall of this year, we will set up a textile operator training center, digital pattern center, and a number of other enabling services across Ghana and Benin in partnership with industry-leading German companies Lectra (technology and cutting equipment) and Groz Beckert (industrial needles).
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Helpful. So far, I would say that all the Kellogg students I have met have been incredibly helpful both as I get ready to start school, and as I start thinking about recruiting for summer internships. I was abroad for the Spring and Summer, so was not able to attend the “Day at Kellogg” or other on-campus events to meet students and learn about “what happens next.” Immediately after being accepted to Kellogg, though, a current student reached out to me and has made sure that all my questions – about where to live, KWEST trips, course waivers, etc. – got answered. He put me in touch with two students pursuing impact investing, and in a matter of days I was on the phone with them to better understand the recruiting process and relevant resources and programs at Kellogg. In order to really be helpful you have to be accessible, knowledgeable, engaged, and thoughtful about feedback and guidance; the students I have interacted with so far at Kellogg have been all of the above.
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? In the end, the biggest factor in my decision was how well the school seemed to align with my values and goals. During Kellogg’s Preview Day, early in my recruiting process, then-Dean Sally Blount began her presentation by quoting The Kellogg Purpose: “To educate, equip & inspire brave leaders who build strong organizations and wisely leverage the power of markets to create lasting value.” She talked about mission-driven leaders, about having successful and pioneering careers in business while also making a positive difference in the world, and about using business as a force for social good. I still think about how deeply those words resonated with me at the time, and align with my desire to explore the intersection between business and social and environmental impact. It was important to me to find a school where I could cultivate and refine my longer-term career vision, and in that respect, Kellogg felt like the perfect fit.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am most looking forward to getting involved in the Social Impact Community at Kellogg, partially to get more engaged across social impact, enterprise, and investing, and partially just to get to know other students interested in exploring impact as part of the MBA. I was pretty excited when I found out that 75% of students join one of the 12 social impact clubs at Kellogg, and I’m curious to see where in that landscape I end up.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? After three years working, I had the opportunity to pursue an MBA with sponsorship before returning to Bain as a Consultant. I felt that the MBA would not only make me better at my job, but would also be a good change of pace, giving me an opportunity to explore other areas of business and reflect on my long-term goals.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Given I was fortunate enough to be sponsored by Bain, the question of investment was less monetary and more about the investment in time. In the end, I felt that doing the MBA would be an incredibly rewarding experience in and of itself, and also set me up for future success in my role and beyond.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? INSEAD and Harvard Business School
How did you determine your fit at various schools? I came quite quickly to the list of schools I wanted to apply to. At work, I was surrounded by MBAs from different programs, and I had had enough conversations with them to develop a sense of differences between schools. I knew I wanted to go to a top school that also had international reach, was a good cultural fit, and would enable me to explore various elements of social enterprise through classes and clubs and activities. When it came time to pick a specific program, I did the customary research online, visited each campus, and had many conversations about with mentors, family and friends. Once I felt that I had enough information, I just followed my gut..
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I think my time in Ghana over the last six months has been as defining a period as any, particularly midway through as I realized the following: 1) I really am a consultant; and 2) I truly enjoy applying that skillset and developing new projects in the context of emerging markets and sustainability. I had just spent a week in the Ivory Coast researching the cotton transformation and garment manufacturing sectors. During that time, Ireceived an email that read, “We too, are counting on you to revive the textile industry in Côte d’Ivoire!” I was flattered, but surprised more than anything else. I did feel though – in reflecting on my trip and the work I would do in the coming week – that I probably could play a role, and that was very exciting to me. It also occurred to me that the work I was doing that week in interpreting and digesting various conversations, thinking through market linkages and potential investment structures, and packaging feedback was all heavily shaped by my experience at Bain. The words, “You can take the man out of consulting…” came to mind. It was a moment of clarity – of self-understanding and reinforcing ideas about myself, more so than one of redirection or change. I think the experience really crystallized in me a sense of my personal skillset, my motivations, and my aspirations for the MBA and beyond.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? After I graduate, I will rejoin Bain as a Consultant, either in the Boston office or abroad.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In some ways, five years is the hardest timeframe for me to project. I know what I will be doing after I graduate, and I have a good sense that on the 10-20 year horizon. I want to found or manage an international company or division with social and environmental impact at the core of its strategy. It’s the roadmap and five-year plan that I want to develop more concretely at Kellogg. What I can say with some confidence though, is that I will likely be living outside the US, whether I return to Sub-Saharan Africa or decide to spend some time back in Europe.
Braden Schrock
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
“Introverted and learning-oriented Navy officer who enjoys binge-watching The Office in rare free time.”
Hometown: Farmington Hills, Michigan
Fun Fact About Yourself: I met my wife while I was on deployment in Korea! Best deployment ever.
Undergraduate School and Major: University of Michigan – Aerospace Engineering
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: U.S. Navy / Special Operations Advisor to the commanding admiral of a Carrier Strike Group
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: While deployed to Korea, I led the first long-term partnership with South Korean Navy SEALs by integrating with their unit and creating a comprehensive training plan, consisting of curriculum, objectives and milestones, resulting in their increased proficiency and ability to partner with U.S. forces and guaranteeing future growth between our bomb disposal unit and theirs. It was tough because our professional cultures were so different. By fully immersing my team in the Korean training schedule, organizing informal events such as downhill skiing, American-Korean soccer games, and nights drinking soju with our counterparts, we were able to develop the relationships that enabled trust and buy-in to the new partnership.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? They truly embody the “pay it forward” ethos that Kellogg espouses. From the students who helped me with my application, to those that reached out to me after my acceptance, to the Kellogg alumni who called to tell me what a life-changing experience Kellogg is, I’ve never felt so excited to be around a group of people. I currently have the members of two separate campus clubs at my disposal to answer any questions I have – and every time I’ve asked for help, someone has been there. These are the kinds of people I want to be around, and who I want to emulate.
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’ve already mentioned it – the “pay it forward” ethos that encourages service to others and impact on the world. As an active-duty military officer, I believe in the mission of the U.S. military, and it motivates me every day. I want to work with people who also have conviction in what they are doing, and Kellogg fosters such convictions in everything they do.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Like most admitted students, I have a severe case of FOMO right now, but at the moment I’m really looking forward to the Net Impact Club or one of the 12 social impact clubs at Kellogg. I’m really excited to see how my experience in the military can be brought to bear on new situations while continuing to serve a higher purpose. My background is unique, and I hope to be able to have a unique impact!
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I’ve noticed during my career that the military suffers from certain problems that the private sector seems to have already solved. I want to learn from the best that the business world has to offer, then take those lessons back to the Navy. I jumped at the chance to continue my education when it was offered to me – I’m at the perfect inflection point in my career where with added responsibility and authority, I’ll be able to create lasting change. The MBA has no equal in terms of flexibility and breadth of experience it offers; it can be applied in any leadership situation, in any industry. Bringing a Kellogg MBA back to the military at this point in my career will exponentially increase my impact as I move forward.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? As a sponsored candidate returning to the Navy, I knew I wouldn’t be on the hook financially. However, no other opportunity exists to undergo an intensive long-term program with such an elite and diverse group of individuals. I believe that for someone who is truly ambitious, there’s no question that the investment is worth it – but the onus will be on that individual to fulfill their investment’s potential!
What other MBA programs did you apply to? HBS and Booth.
How did you determine your fit at various school? I was fortunate enough to visit all of the schools I applied to in the spring before application season. Each school had a distinct flavor with the tours and other events put on for prospective candidates. In the end, I went with the school that seemed like the biggest challenge for me. Coming from the military, I am used to taking charge and directing things to get done in order to accomplish the mission. At Kellogg, my methods will be challenged by the unique collaboration-focused style of learning. I think the best fit for any aspiring MBA candidate is the one that will help them grow the most and address their weaknesses as a leader. This realization became clear to me during the application process – one of Kellogg’s essay questions focused on how I intend to grow at Kellogg.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I have never had such a moment! Instead, I’ve been shaped through an evolutionary process, gradually learning about myself through successes and failures. However, one moment that sticks out is when I read The Armed Forces Officer, a book first published in 1950 which lays out a foundation for thought, conduct, standards, and duty for U.S. military officers. The authors contend that all good leaders must engage in three things: self-awareness, self-reflection, and self-criticism. This can be applied to all areas of life, not just leadership, and I think back to it often.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? I will return to the Navy to take on tough problems that my unique Kellogg MBA education will enable me to solve. MBAs are rare in the military, and I’ll bring perspectives and experiences back to the Navy culture that could not be learned anywhere else.
Where do you see yourself in five years? As the Executive Officer of a bomb disposal unit in the Navy, pioneering new ways of doing business and making a lasting impact for our nation’s defense!
Katie Schwartz
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
“Energetic, challenge taker, who prioritizes people, with a huge zest for life.”
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Fun Fact About Yourself: I once ice climbed at the Stein Glacier with a bunch of French and German pro ice climbers… completely by accident.
Undergraduate School and Major: Princeton University, B.A. in Politics
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Crosslink Capital – Venture Capital Investor
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: This Spring, I helped host our first Annual Female Venture Capital (VC) Retreat in the Bay Area. Thirty pre-General Partners joined us for the intimate two-day retreat, focusing on professional and personal development and relationship building. We brought in successful female General Partners and a diversity and inclusion coach to discuss driving change while developing their careers. The goal was for pre-General Partners to build deeper relationships with one another so that they can better support each other, ultimately moving the needle for women in the VC community.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Highly driven, accomplished and intelligent, while also being down-to-earth, personable and fun
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? Kellogg’s culture was the deciding factor for me. When I visited campus for Day at Kellogg (Kellogg’s admitted students weekend), I attended a panel called “The Good Life,” highlighting a student and faculty developed initiative to help students learn to lead fulfilling, balanced lives while also excelling in their careers. Kellogg ranks among the top business schools, with impressive faculty, an incredible new building, and a strong alumni network. However, this emphasis on fulfillment was so differentiated from other business schools I had experienced. Having top professors, like Harry Kraemer, coach you through how to be a top executive while also living a meaningful life resonated immediately. As I met more students, professors, and alums, I felt that Kellogg attracts others who share this passion for professional excellence and personal fulfillment. I came away from Day at Kellogg completely invigorated.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am most looking forward to KWEST, Kellogg’s international trip for incoming students. At the start of the trip, students are not allowed to discuss their resume qualities (where they’re from, where they went to undergrad, what they did for work before Kellogg). I am excited get to know my classmates in a more meaningful way… that is, until the “great reveal!”
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? The opportunity to grow in a number of different directions and meet interesting people from diverse backgrounds who could expose me to various careers and experiences.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I actively explored a variety of options to determine where and how I would best grow professionally and personally, and I felt that embracing the challenges and the experiences of an MBA was the best way to do that.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Stanford Graduate School of Business, Harvard Business School, Wharton School, and Haas School of Business
How did you determine your fit at various schools? In today’s data-centric, internet age, there are a million different metrics you can use to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of various business schools. For me, I focused on (1) culture and (2) job opportunities post business school. To evaluate culture, I spent significant time speaking with diverse sets of students, faculty, and alums to understand their experiences and how they defined their school’s culture. To evaluate job opportunities post-business school, I spoke to people in roles I would pursue post business school and people who would hire for those roles to understand what types of backgrounds (and which business schools) were common. I also spoke with career services to better understand what types of careers people went into after business school.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? As a child, I played on lots of sports teams. Every season, my mom requested that I be put on a new team with kids I had never met. Annoyed at first, each season I met my new teammates and over the course of the season grew to love my new teammates. These childhood sports teams helped shape my love for meeting new people and stepping outside of my comfort zone.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? After business school, I plan to re-enter the technology investing world, with a more refined analytical toolset and stronger leadership skills.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I hope to be driving change in the male-dominated technology investing world through a strong investment portfolio and macro-focused initiatives to help increase the number of women in both investing and the technology sector.
Ricardo Suárez
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
“Proud Venezuelan and Private Equity geek who enjoys sports, music, mentoring and traveling.”
Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela
Fun Fact About Yourself: Don’t challenge my wife and I on karaoke, we are the best duet ever
Undergraduate School and Major:
Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (UCAB), BA in Economics
IESA Business School, MS in Finance
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Evolvere Capital, Jr. Vice President
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far? It would be being a founding team member of Evolvere Capital, the first Private Equity fund in the history of Venezuela, and creating through this initiative the Private Equity industry in my country. Ever since starting operations almost five years ago, we have traveled throughout the country several times looking for companies to acquire. After analyzing more than 200 Venezuelan companies and having successfully acquired three of them, we have achieved a great understanding of three things: the necessities and realities of our economy; how to operate companies in a highly complexed economic and financial environment; and most importantly, we have protected the income of many families during Venezuela’s harshest economic crisis by improving the financial and operational results of our portfolio companies. I have no doubt we have built up a mechanism, and an industry, that will be fundamental for the recovery process that (hopefully) Venezuela will witness in the near future.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? I think being supportive. It is incredible how my classmates are willing to help with any problem or issue that has come up, regardless of the fact that I’ve only met them virtually. This help has been fundamental, especially during the months before starting classes that are very stressful. Starting with how to deal with the Visa issue (in the case of International students), relocating, finding housing, buying furniture, buying a new computer, you name it! All in all, I’ve found an incredibly supportive network of classmates, or better said, friends, who have been of terrific help during the last months and that I’m thrilled to meet in person in the days to come.
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? Without a doubt, the collaborative culture that identifies Kellogg. When I was researching business schools to apply, I tried to find a balance between the schools’ ranking and their culture. By talking to alumni and current students, I identified Kellogg as a place where I could see myself spending two of the best years of my life, in an atmosphere of collaboration. Here I am sure I’ll be building ties with people that will understand me, that will be empathetic and supportive, as we all grow as professionals and as people. I was amazed to see how similar the testimonies from alumni were about how they felt about Kellogg. I just wanted to be part of that!
Another major factor that I want to stress is that Kellogg, in my opinion, is one of the best, not to say the best, program for partners that are joining students during their MBA experience. My wife will be joining me during these two years and for me it’s very important that she also maximizes her stay at Evanston. In that regard, Kellogg’s offering for partners, or Joint Ventures (JVs) as they are called, is better than in any other top US Business School, so that was a fundamental part for my decision as well.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? One of the activities that I’m looking most forward to being a part of during my time in Kellogg is the so-called “Private Equity Lab”. After being part of a Private Equity firm in a frontier market such as Venezuela, where the extraordinary becomes ordinary, I want to have an experience in a firm from a developed market to understand the nuances of management and operational styles. I am eager to learn best practices, new forms of financing deals, among others. This “Private Equity Lab” provides Kellogg students the opportunity to work (pro-bono) for Chicago-based Private Equity firms during school time, which grants the opportunity to “open your eyes,” so to speak, as to how these firms work.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I think that what led me to pursue an MBA was my intention to become a well-rounded leader. The first thing to acknowledge is that, no matter how many years of professional experience you have, there is always room to grow. So, I was in a point of my professional career where, after some incredible years building up the Private Equity industry in my country, I wanted to grow as a professional and to improve several skills that I think are fundamental for my future objectives. Also, I wanted to build a global network of talented, yet down-to-earth classmates that I know – someday, somehow – we will help each other in our future endeavors. And in this regard, one of the things that I cherish the most about Kellogg is the high-impact low-ego approach that characterizes the entire Kellogg community.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Without a doubt, an MBA is a major investment, both in terms of time and money. One should analyze in depth the cost of opportunity of attending an MBA because putting on hold your professional career and spending two years without earning a salary are major decisions to take. In my case, I ran a Return on Investment (ROI) analysis of an MBA degree for the schools I wanted to apply. And after computing those results with qualitative variables such as the global networks I’ll build, the cutting-edge practices in finance and other fields that I’ll be in touch with and the professional and personal skills that I will strengthen and develop in these two years, I decided to go for it. At the end, more than an investment, an MBA is a bet, a bet on yourself.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Wharton, Berkeley-Haas, London School of Economics, Columbia and Yale SOM
How did you determine your fit at various schools? To determine my fit with various schools, I created a matrix of factors like their culture, the quality of their finance department, of their Private Equity-focused content, their global outlook/perspective, their location, and what they offered to my wife (among others). I tried to speak with several alumni and current students to understand their views towards their schools, and in that way, to understand if that said program was a fit for me. I asked what they enjoyed the most, what they didn’t like about it, and the areas for opportunity. I think that when you talk with 4 to 5 people from different ages and nationalities that come from the same program, you build a well-rounded opinion about it and about that program’s culture. Another topic very important for me was my fit with the hosting city. And by being a sports, music and architecture passionate, I found a perfect fit with the city of Chicago.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment was on October 2005, when my father died after having to sell every family asset to combat his fight against diabetes. My mother and I were bankrupt, and we were even evicted from our home. All of this happened during my first week of undergraduate studies.
We had lost everything. However, the most important part of my story is how it shaped who I am. First, I learned that any obstacle, regardless of its type, can be overcome. The day after burying my father, I walked into my first Economics course because I decided my education had no time to waste. Then, with sacrifice, resilience and hard work, I managed to win several scholarships and earned my degree with honors.
This episode also taught me we must be completely confident that we’re up for any challenge life puts in our path. That this confidence, plus a high-impact low-ego approach to life, is required if we want to improve our realities; and that we should invariably use everything we learn through hardship to help build a better society.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? As of today, I have two potential plans after graduation. The first is to be part of a global private equity firm, where I’ll be able to create impact by doing the thing that I enjoy the most. The alternative plan is to run a search fund, practice entrepreneurship by acquisition and apply a corporate governance technology based on private equity in the company this fund will buy.
Where do you see yourself in five years? Personally, with at least one kid, and professionally, maybe being part of a global private equity firm unleashing corporate value for its investors and partners alike. Or on a more entrepreneurial note, running a search fund.
Sable Worthy
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
“Pisces double Taurus with plans to change lives and EGOT along the way.”
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Fun Fact About Yourself: My Instagram stories showcase two of my greatest passions: preparing good food and eating it!
Undergraduate School and Major: Yale University, Anthropology
Most Recent Employer and Job Title:
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: GetWorthyMedia.com, Founder and Chief Consultant
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Since launching my own consultancy, GetWorthyMedia.com, I’ve had opportunities to work with two of my former bosses who now run their own agencies. I’ve had the chance to assemble the digital components for some of their larger clients’ campaigns and to pitch jointly with them for new business. I know that these folks have high standards, so I’m encouraged by the fact that they trust me as a partner on some of their top projects.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? The quality that best describes the MBA classmates I’ve met so far is warmth. I’ve felt that folks are genuinely interested in answering questions, being inclusive toward my partner and bringing me into the social fabric 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 made the decision to attend Kellogg based on a gut feeling. I had all the stats to know that Kellogg was a stellar program; however, the Pisces in me had to ultimately rely on intuition. Twenty minutes into the first day of the admitted students’ weekend, I knew I was staring down the perfect path, created by a combination of thought, action and intention going back several years and hand-delivered from the universe. (The short answer is, probably, it was Sally Blount’s opening speech!)
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m looking forward to joining the Pride at Kellogg community and fulfilling my role as a Reaching Out MBA fellow on campus. It’s important to me to increase the visibility of queer and gender non-conforming business leaders – especially women and people of color — and to advance the message that different backgrounds and perspectives are key to innovation and success within all spheres of society.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I’ve truly enjoyed getting to know the mobile advertising ecosystem and launching my own company. However, I want to expand my knowledge to a greater number of industries within our economy, so that I can start to problem solve across them. I’m eager to pursue an MBA at this point in my career because it will provide me with the structure to begin thinking about the intersections of different industries such as real estate, agriculture and entertainment and how I might apply my skills and passions to provide value to more people.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Because I have a company that is just starting to take off, it was hard to know if the time commitment required for business school would be worth it. Receiving a Reaching Out MBA fellowship played a significant role in my decision. It’s brought the cost of attendance down while giving me robust resources with which to engage the LGBTQ community: something I was determined to do wherever I decided to attend. Most important, however, was the sense I got during my visit to Kellogg that the faculty and administration truly want students to be proactive in shaping exactly what they want their MBA experience to look like. As an entrepreneur who’s determined to actively shape my own path, that was extremely compelling.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Yale School of Management, UCLA Anderson, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Harvard Business School, Berkeley Haas, NYU Stern
How did you determine your fit at various schools? The factors I prioritized most were the programs’ areas of expertise, location and reports from folks who’d previously attended. While I was trying to avoid Chicago-like weather at all costs, Kellogg’s expertise in marketing, coupled with its faculty’s investment in me through the awarding of a ROMBA fellowship made it an easy decision.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment came at the end of a relationship. I was filled with regret that I hadn’t fought to make it work. I realized I’d been listening blindly to an inner voice that didn’t have my best interests at heart, and I began an intense search to find out why. I discovered there were three main principles I had to incorporate into my life: gratitude, self-compassion and self-awareness. I started keeping a daily gratitude journal and pushing myself to focus on the positive aspects of my life. I started going to therapy, building up my self-esteem and meditating, so I could recognize my thoughts and evaluate whether they were worth keeping in the rotation. I began to discover that a lot of the habits that contributed to the end of my relationship were also holding me back in other aspects of my personal and professional life. My new perspective has given me the energy and confidence to launch my own business, walk the runway for Bindle and Keep, co-chair my 5th year college reunion and strengthen lines of communication with my loved ones. It’s been a nonlinear journey that has been painful at times, but also the single most important thing I’ve done for my own personal happiness, accountability and business success.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? I plan to write and produce a television series centered on a friend group of young, high-powered LGBTQ people of color. This will allow me to combine my lifelong passion for theater and performance with my growing business knowledge to tell a story that reflects experiences that are not frequently represented in popular media. I believe that art and representation can help to inspire individuals and expand economic opportunities within our communities. I am encouraged by the growing inclusion of marginalized perspectives in popular culture and want to extend my creativity and growing business insights to further increase the number of these stories that are told.
Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself with my wife and kids en route to our semi-annual trip to Hawaii. Lena Waithe, Lin-Manuel Mirandaa, and I are good friends who collaborate often and I’m launching an initiative to foster kindness in schools through the use of augmented reality with Gary Vaynerchuck. I have just sold my second pilot and am using my increased visibility to champion my foundation, which delivers high-nutrient, low-cost food ingredients to areas lacking full service grocery stores.
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