Meet Carnegie Mellon Tepper’s MBA Class Of 2019 - Poets&Quants

Some of the MBA students in the Class of 2019 at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business

The Tepper School of Business has a reputation as a quant program – and for good reason. It is part of Carnegie Mellon University, a school long associated with R&D. It is a “New Ivy,” celebrated for cutting edge computer sciences, engineering, and robotics programs. On the surface, Tepper is the Monongahela MIT – a pioneer in analytics that boasts elite programs in operations, logistics, and information systems. Look deeper and you’ll see a more pronounced parallel between Tepper and its parent school.

Along with its technical virtuosity, Carnegie Mellon is renowned for its aesthetic air. Alumni have taken home nearly 150 Emmy and Tony Awards. The university’s alumni ranks include Josh “Olaf” Gad and Zachary “Spock” Quinto – with credits ranging from Hamilton to Magic Mike. You’ll find these binary appetites in Tepper’s Class of 2019 as well. Forget fickle financiers and single-minded suppliers. This is a class who understands that innovation may start with imagination, but strategy is rooted in technical mastery and scientific rigor. This year’s class is packed with MBA candidates – people savvy and data-driven – who bring an artistic sensibility to an increasingly technological landscape.

AN IVY LEAGUE RAPPER AT GOLDMAN SACHS

With an Ivy League pedigree and a last name like Forbes, Goldman Sachs would seem to be a natural fit for Carlton Forbes. When he wasn’t toying with equities and interest rates, Forbes was working as a rapper – a passion he has lived for 15 years. “I’m a poet just trying to up my quant cred,” he jokes.

Forbes isn’t the only first-year with musical talent. Noah Weiss studied jazz and saxophone performance at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music as an undergrad. Later, he played with acts like James Taylor, The Temptations, and The Four Tops. However, he found his greatest joy in designing and launching a new arts venue called The Garage, a place where musicians, actors, and dancers could “connect and collaborate” with younger audiences.

And then there’s Laura Chan, who earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon. When she isn’t busy bringing Brazilian tire manufacturing plants up to snuff, she is practicing her ballet – something she has done since she was two years old.

A prospective MBA applicant meets at the Carnegie Mellon Tepper table. Photo by Nathan Allen

MONKEY SCHOOLS MBA CANDIDATE IN NEGOTIATION

Indeed, you could call it a class of contrasts. It features U.S. Peace Corps volunteers like Puja Patel Iyengar, who transitioned to consulting, and Linsha Yao, who went from studying Chinese literature and culture to recruiting for Amazon and launching a startup.  It isn’t just their backgrounds that represent a collision of capabilities. Chan, for one, calls herself “an introvert who isn’t afraid to be on stage.” At the same time, Forbes sounds like a man who has already lived a full life: “I am a reformed pragmatist who is slowly regaining the confidence to dream again.”

Want a great job? Ask Rebecca George what it’s like to be an engineer at Whirlpool. She used to brew beer on Fridays for engineering testing. That’s just one of her many, many interests. “In high school I earned my pilot’s license and trained on flute. In college, I did marching band and orchestra and even learned the tuba just for something new. As a young professional I’ve become a writer and am working on my yoga teacher certification.”

That’s just a start. Mark Haakenstad flew nearly 400,000 miles when he worked for American Airlines and Qantas Airways. Abhishek Bhattacharyya taught himself how to speak and write Urdu during his daily commute from New Jersey to Wall Street. Then again, few people can say they learned business basics from a monkey like Patel Iyengar did. “Once while on a family vacation, my glasses were stolen by a wild monkey,” she recalls. “We managed to get them back unscathed by offering snacks as a fair trade. And that was my first lesson in business negotiation.”

APPLICATIONS UP 13.5%

The Class of 2019 is equally impressive in their careers. Andrea Caralis was the first female analyst on the foreign exchange trading floor at PNC Bank, where she was eventually elevated to being a vice president. Her claim to fame, however, came by helping to build a young professionals chapter at PNC that boasted 600 members and won the firm’s Chapter of the Year Award. Yao emerged as one of Amazon’s top recruiters, with performance that was nearly a third higher than the worldwide average. Nilvea O. Malavé Torres inspired a new business line in Puerto Rico’s Banco Popular. As an entrepreneur, Bhattacharyya helped his company, a solar energy developer, raise $25 million dollars.

The class’ contributions don’t stop in the business realm, either. Take Kimberly Turner, a research scientist who holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin. She broke new ground in an article published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, which contended that high child support debt correlated with fathers spending less time with their children.

Tepper’s combination of analytics excellence and intensive leadership training continued to be a big draw for prospective MBA candidates. During the 2016-2017 cycle, the school attracted 1,833 applications, up 208 submissions over the previous class, a 13.5% increase that ranks among the best improvement in the Top 20 American programs. To accommodate demand, Tepper boosted its class size from 207 to 221 students as well.

STEM REPRESENTS HALF OF CLASS

The increase in applications didn’t dilute the talent pool, either. The average GMAT rose from 686 to 691 with the Class of 2019, with scores ranging from 640-740 in the mid-80% range. At the same time, undergraduate GPAs held steady at 3.3%.  Not surprisingly, Tepper tends to appeal to candidates with STEM backgrounds. In the Class of 2018, for example, 47% of the class held undergraduate degrees in engineering, information systems, math, and physical sciences. This year, that number rose to 51%. Notably engineers comprise 37% of the class, up 9% over the previous year. That said, the percentage of information systems and math and physical sciences majors dropped by three points and two points respectively to 7% each. The class also includes fewer business majors, which slipped from 27% to 23%. That said, the number of economics and humanities and social sciences majors held steady at 11% and 9% respectively.

Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University sent more than a third of its 2016 MBAs into tech — including 45% of its graduating women. Courtesy photo

Overall, 27% of the class is comprised of women, nearly identical to last year’s number. International students also account for 33% of the class and hail from 31 countries, including Peru, Germany, Australia, Israel, Iran, Russia, Japan, and Singapore. Among American students, 53% are arriving in Pittsburgh from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, with the rest coming from the West (15%), Midwest (13%), Southwest (12%), and the South (7%). If past is precedent, the percentage of students heading to the West will double, thanks to the program’s deep roots in the tech sector.

“About a third of our students end up on the West Coast and that is unexpected because we are nestled in the hills of western Pennsylvania,” says Kelly Wilson, executive director of master admissions at the Tepper School of Business in a 2017 interview with Poets&Quants. “There are many people interested in a couple of things: One is to get a deep understanding of analytics and how that can help them stand out in the marketplace but then this interest in technology and just how that has become a part of the everyday world we live in. They have an opportunity to tie these two things together.”

How relevant is this proposition? Look no further than the wide range of professional backgrounds featured in the 2019 Class. Financial services represents the largest bloc of students at 20%, followed by consulting (15%), technology and new media (12%), manufacturing (8%), energy (6%), government (6%), consumer goods (4%), and health care (4%). This doesn’t even count another 25% of the class that don’t fit neatly into any of these broad categories!

EASY TO COLLABORATE ACROSS CAMPUS

You could say that Tepper is definitely a school on the rise. In the Bloomberg Businessweek MBA rankings released in November, the program ranked 14th overall, punctuated by top ten finishes in surveys targeted to employers and students. According to Forbes, pay is also on the upswing, with its research uncovering that the 2012 Class saw their pay increase by $64,400 over the past five years.

One reason for this is the program’s interconnectedness with Carnegie Mellon as a whole. Here, says Wilson, the barriers are low for MBA candidates to partner with students at programs like the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy. For Kate Barraclough, who heads the MBA program, such collaborations really set the program apart.

“Since the Tepper School sits at the intersection of business and technology, it has been exciting seeing cross-campus collaboration come alive in ways that are academic, creative and exciting,” she tells Poets&Quants in a statement. “The business school is more closely aligned with its #1-ranked computer science colleagues as evidenced by the launch of the Masters – Product Management, a one-year joint program tailored for technology strategy and leadership.”

The opportunity to forge dynamic partnerships across campus also made Tepper a must-attend MBA program for Caralis. “The Tepper school is a part of the most prestigious and diverse academic community, Carnegie Mellon University, which is full of extremely talented students and professors in fields like computer science, engineering, and fine arts – just to list a few,” she says. “Having the opportunity to collaborate with students outside of the business school and perhaps come up with life-changing technology is something that excites me.”

Go to page 2 to see in-depth profiles of incoming Tepper students.

Pittsburgh, PA

TEPPER QUAD SET TO BECOME CENTER OF CAMPUS

Such collaborations will only grow with the opening of the Tepper Quad, which – at 315,000 square feet – more than doubles the size of the existing building. In the process, the school intends to boost its master’s student population by 50%. Among its amenities, the Tepper Quad will include a fitness center, expanded dining, underground parking, and a 600 seat auditorium. Although the quad is still six months from being opened, Barraclough is certain that it will be a game changer that makes Tepper the focal point of campus.

“Naturally, the space is collaborative and cutting-edge,” she writes. “But, no, it isn’t hidden on the periphery of university. The Tepper Quad was designed and built to sit at the literal and metaphorical center of campus.  The Tepper Quad is part of the school’s strategy to introduce a new “inter-connected” academic model that fundamentally changes the way business is taught and learned, by elevating a management underpinning throughout other campus disciplines, such as engineering, design, computer science, the arts, and science. The Tepper School is the only top 20 program to locate a new B-school building at the center of its university’s campus, bucking the trend by most business school peers to isolate buildings along campus peripheries.”

This integration is expected to be a boon for Tepper in other ways too. Notably, says Wilson, Carnegie Mellon University has reaped over a billion dollars of sponsored research and added 2,500 patents over the past four years. In addition, the program is devoting increasing resources into the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, which is expected to deepen Tepper’s integration with the larger school and enable it to become a gateway to cross-school partnerships and a hub for technology-related research and startup ventures.

On the lighter side, the school also introduced a student mascot this year: the Tepper Bot 3000. This spring, for example, two online MBA graduates were able to attend commencement via this remote control robot, which has also been used in networking events, club meetings, and even presentations according to Barraclough. “The TepperBot personifies the way technology is integrated into the Tepper experience,” she adds. “Students are encouraged to collaborate with CMU’s top-ranked schools of engineering, robotics, computer science, and design.”

DATA ANALYTICS IS THE CURRICULUM CENTERPIECE

If you surveyed the Class of 2019 on why they chose Tepper, the majority would respond with some variation of “analytics” or “data.” This area, along with tech and leadership, is the school’s calling card. For many, analytics is the “future of business” – and mastering its fundamentals and tools will give them an advantage as their careers progress.

TepperBot3000, controlled by Matt McElhaney. Courtesy photo

As a strategist, Malavé Torres witnessed first-hand the value of analytics, noting that manipulating data enabled her to “find opportunities that would have been overlooked before.” One opportunity, says Turner, is how analytics can be used to mobilize change. “In my last role as a researcher at non-profit organization,” she shares, “I experienced the power of data and effective methodology in creating accessible, policy-relevant research content that can impact social change. I wanted to be part of an MBA program that not only provides a solid foundation in analytics but is forward-thinking in ways to use data to inform decisions and motivate people.”

Weiss takes it a step further. As a career changer, he appreciates the “structured framework” and generous number of analytics-related offerings at the school, along with how data skills are integrated throughout the curriculum to help students grapple with uncertainty and complexity. “The school values strong analytical leaders and shares my belief that data is crucial to the business world, and that the ability to accurately (and responsibly) use and interpret data will drive growth, impact and sustainability.”

GREAT TEACHING AND SMALL CLASSES

The school is also renowned for teaching excellence, ranking among the top MBA programs worldwide for faculty according to a student survey conducted by The Economist. Mike Trick, senior associate dean of faculty and research, takes pride in saying that Tepper is a “research school” – one that takes special pains to funnel relevant findings and best practices back into the classroom. Even more, Trick notes, each faculty member has embraced the program’s trademark analytical decision-making philosophy, which creates a consistency regardless of subject matter.

“The approach that underlies our program is a really deep and thorough understanding of analytics and the role that data places in decision-making; the role that modern data issues are having in every field together with some really creative approaches to leadership like how you take what you know from the data to change organizations. The faculty buys into the importance of both halves of this. It gets reflected in the classroom. There is a unity happening.”

The faculty’s teaching prowess is further amplified by the school’s relatively small size. Here, for example, students take core courses lock step with each other – with one faculty member teaching all sections of the core. This creates a sense of community that permeates the program. “The Tepper school felt like home when I was interacting with students, faculty, and staff,” observes Caralis. “It has a smaller class size compared to other programs and is a noticeably tight-knit community. One of the most impactful outcomes of a full-time program is the network that you grow, so with a class size of about 200, Tepper has provided me an amazing opportunity to get to know everyone on a deeper and genuine level.”

Caralis wasn’t the only student struck by how different students were at Tepper. Patel Iyengar describes her peers as “interesting and driven, yet very down-to-earth.” Chan, on the other hand, was “blown away” by the spirit of students she met during her campus interview. “They all had such diverse and unique passions, I felt inspired to grow my career and compelled to surround myself with this type of energy and enthusiasm.”

A TECH HAVEN

Indeed, the program is defined by a sense of possibilities that comes from its close ties to the tech sector. Each year, the school holds treks to Silicon Valley and Seattle – a nod to the program sending a higher percentage of its MBAs into tech than any Top 25 program outside of the University of Washington. In fact, the Bay Area is home to the third-largest concentration of Tepper MBAs – with 45% of 2016 female grads joining the tech sector. This gives it an impressive footprint in a rapidly growing industry where the Carnegie Mellon name – and technical aptitude associated with it – goes a long way.

Even more, the school’s approach, which binds business fundamentals, analytics, and technology through a rigorous interdisciplinary framework fits perfectly with the needs of tech firms and startups.

“The lifecycle on product development has become shorter and it’s more competitive,” says Stephen Rakas, the executive director of Tepper’s Career Opportunities Center, in a 2017 interview with Poets&Quants. “Companies are gathering an immense amount of data on consumers, and they often don’t know what to do with it, whether its user behavior or consumer insights. That’s becoming a whole set of opportunities where MBAs are really poised to help these companies analyze trends and data. And at the Tepper School, in particular, that’s our hallmark, analytical decision making.”

The Tepper Quadrangle, scheduled to open in spring 2018, is a 305,000-square-foot hub of technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, and business at the center of the Carnegie Mellon campus

While the West Coast tech flurry is found thousands of miles away, Tepper students will find plenty of energy, inspiration, and opportunities in Pittsburgh, a Renaissance City that has emerged as a hub for healthcare and technology. In 2016, venture capitalists and companies invested $376 million dollars in Pittsburgh-area startups. Already benefitting from reasonable rents and a low cost of living, Pittsburgh now boasts 1,500 tech firms, including a deep presence from market leaders like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Intel, and Disney.

Such investment makes a program like Tepper all the more enticing to students like Haakenstad. “When making the decision on where to enroll, one aspect that really swayed me to Tepper was when I thought about where the school is going to be 5, 10, 20 years down the road,” he explains. “I needed to…strongly consider where the school is headed. Are the alumni engaged? Is the school investing in new facilities? Is the program committed to fully leveraging its resources in the future? Essentially, is the school content with where it is at — or are they proud of what they stand for but driven to become an even better program down the road? And when I asked myself that series of questions, it was a simple choice for me because the direction Tepper is headed allowed me to answer a robust yes to each one.”

IF ANALYTICS IS TEPPER’S HEART, THEN LEADERSHIP IS ITS SOUL

If analytics is the heart of the Tepper MBA, then leadership is its soul, says Laurie Weingart, a professor of organizational behavior and theory. At Tepper, strategic thinking and analytics is only part of the equation. To take the next big step, outlines Dean Robert Dammon, students must be able to communicate effectively and inspire. That’s the role of Tepper’s Accelerate Leadership Center, which provides everything from required assessments to one-on-one coaching to programming like workshops to prepare students for the realities of senior leadership.

Matthew McGann, a corporate banker for the Bank of Ireland, had been already sold on Tepper’s quant credentials. He admits, however, that leadership development was what led him to Pittsburgh. “MBA students should not only leave their program with a great education and a network of contacts, but also the skills to lead their chosen industry for the next few decades,” he believes. “Tepper’s Accelerate Leadership Center provides personalized leadership development from the first day a student commit’s to the program. For someone like me, who has not been in a managerial role (but aspires to do so in the future), this dedication to an often overlooked aspect of an MBA program convinced me that Tepper will give me the best overall education.”

So what’s on tap for the Class of 2019? Looking ahead, each defines success a little bit different. Weiss, for example, hopes to be able to put what he learns into practice…and be featured in Poets&Quants (Send me a pitch, Noah). Turner brings a bigger concern: Surviving! Joking aside, Turner is hoping for some give-and-take in her experience. “I will be present, I will be vocal, and I will work hard to build my knowledge-base and skill set to empower me to make a difference and to help others better their life chances and communities.”

That’s just the beginning. Forbes I looking to “breathe life into some of my crazy ideas.” At the top of his list is a platform that pays consumers for providing data that enables companies to “sink their creepy little fangs into our lives to spy on our daily activities.” Haakenstad’s ambitious agenda focuses on breaking down his personal barriers and exposing himself to new ways of thinking. For George, success means transformation – and she is confident that it will all fall into place.

“To me, the biggest success after my first year would be growing and transforming beyond my own expectations while being surrounded by people that push and support me every day even as I was able to push and support them. It sounds like a tall order, but I’m not worried; Tepper Class of 2019 has got this!”

To read profiles of incoming Tepper students — along with their advice on tackling the GMAT, applications, and interviews — click on the links below.

DON’T MISS: THE PIONEERING MBAs OF THE CLASS OF 2019 OR MEET CARNEGIE MELLON TEPPER’S MBA CLASS OF 2018

Name	Hometown	Alma Mater	Employer
Abhishek  Bhattacharyya	Mumbai,   India	State University of New York at  Plattsburgh	Nautilus Solar Energy,   LLC
Andrea Caralis	Detroit, MI	Miami University (OH)	PNC Bank
Laura Chan	Needham, MA	Carnegie Mellon University	Goodyear Tire & Rubber   Company
Carlton Forbes	Brooklyn, NY	Brown Univesity	Goldman Sachs
Rebecca George	Pittsburgh, PA	Purdue University	Whirlpool Corporation
Mark Haakenstad	Minnetonka,   MN	University of Minnesota	American Airlines
Nilvea O. Malavé Torres	San Juan, Puerto Rico	University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras	Banco Popular de Puerto Rico
Matthew McGann	Fairfield, CT	Stonehill College	Bank of Ireland
Puja Patel Iyengar	Scaggsville, MD	University of Maryland	U.S. Census Board
Kimberly Turner	Grand Blanc, MI	Hope College	Child Trends
Noah Weiss	Los Angeles, CA	Oberlin Conservatory of Music	Azoff MSG Entertainment
Linsha Yao	Beijing, China	Capital Normal University	SmartConn

Abhishek Bhattacharyya

Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Experienced investment professional, Army reservist and amateur historian. Recently converted golfer improving his long game.

Hometown: Harrison, New Jersey via Mumbai, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: In my investment banking days, I utilized my commute between Jersey  and NYC to teach myself to read and write Urdu. As a result, I grew interested in medieval Indian literature and the history of the northwestern part of the subcontinent.

Undergraduate School and Major: State University of New York at Plattsburgh, Bachelor of Science in Finance & Economics (Minor in History)

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: I was a Director of Structured Finance at Nautilus Solar Energy, LLC, a solar developer and private equity portfolio company in Summit, New Jersey. I was involved in all areas of the firm’s investment activities, with particular emphasis on renewable power generation, corporate finance and private equity investment. I also served the Solar Energy Industries Association, contributing to this venerable trade body’s Finance Working Group.

Prior to joining Nautilus Solar, I worked as an associate in investment banking at BNP Paribas, the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, and the valuation group at Deloitte. While at these institutions, I focused on project and leveraged finance and mergers and acquisition transactions among independent power producers, midstream marketers and utilities. I was directly involved in the development of landmark mega-projects in the U.S. power, petrochemical and LNG sectors.

I am a soldier in the Army Reserve, where I enjoy honing my skills as a project and team manager and learning more about the past, present and future of our magnificent military.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Most recently, I headed the financing brain trust at Nautilus Solar, a growing independent energy developer in New Jersey.  I helped build products and processes which achieved our $25 million fundraising target (2.5x run-rate revenue) and fostered credibility with private equity, tax equity and debt investors. I also negotiated hairy, but tremendously lucrative deals that achieved +20% IRRs and established relationships with lenders for future financing.

My team’s efforts have left the firm in good shape to build its 50 megawatt distributed solar pipeline and accomplish the central mission of delivering cost-effective clean power. This has been tremendously fulfilling.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Take the time to breathe and be true to yourself! The admissions process can be grueling, but having unflinching confidence in what you particularly bring to the table is key. Taking five minutes to meditate before tests, interviews or essay-writing sessions works wonders.

 What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? I was encouraged to apply to Tepper due to the program’s robust track record of innovation, quantitative focus and technical rigor. Having received offers from several schools, I chose Tepper because I felt it would best build these skills for effective leadership. I was also extremely privileged to be recognized with the School’s prestigious Dean’s Scholarship.

Working in solar, I know it takes immense focus and dedication to bridge the gap between great ideas and concrete business reality. Interacting with students, alumni and staff, I realized that the Tepper School and Carnegie Mellon ecosystem care about and know how to both generate exciting ideas and bring them to fruition. That is incredibly inspiring.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?  This is a tough one! I have a sense of where I want to be after earning a Tepper MBA, but I recognize that my outlook may evolve over the next few years. With my background in finance, energy and the military, I have really learned to love working in teams resolving meaningful and technically complex issues.

I think applying my experience and interest in energy- or tech-focused M&A, private equity, hedge fund or venture deal-making will be truly exciting work. I would stay close to the cutting edge of the investment world and hopefully help give back to the communities I am from and identify with.

Andrea Caralis 

Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: A motivated and passionate person who enjoys connecting people, building relationships and loves theater.

Hometown: Detroit, MI

Fun Fact About Yourself: I sometimes fall asleep in public places.

Undergraduate School and Major:  Miami University, Farmer School of Business, Finance Major

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:  I began and grew my career for the past 8 years at PNC Bank. I started as a summer intern, and worked my way up to earn the title of VP and Director of Foreign Exchange (FX).  Our team helped corporate clients expand globally while aiding in the understanding, navigating, and mitigating of inherent banking risks. We leveraged global and currency market expertise to provide creative hedging solutions for minimizing those risks.

Post-undergrad, I completed an 18-month rotational credit program, and landed on the FX trading floor as the first female analyst. I had the opportunity to learn the business inside and out on the Pittsburgh (HQ) trading floor and after a short time earned the responsibility of managing my own book of business. A few years ago, I relocated to Chicago to help build on my experience at headquarters and help expand PNC’s FX market presence.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I’m extremely proud of the Employee Business Resource Group that I helped found at PNC, PREP (PNC Recognizing Emerging Professionals). As a founding board member and teammate, I helped create an environment that provided professional development opportunities, community impact, as well as built employee engagement at PNC in Pittsburgh.

I held a variety of roles including Secretary, Vice President, and Chair of Recruitment. Within those positions, I was able to understand the importance of effective communication, organization and purpose in planning professional events, and the importance leveraging a network to grow an engaged membership base.

During my last year in Pittsburgh (before my move to Chicago), my PREP Chapter won Chapter of the Year against over 50 other PNC Employee Business Resource Groups and had over 600 members. Today, PREP’s legacy has spread amongst all PNC geographic markets and continues to give emerging professionals opportunities for leadership.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? For those of you who are considering an MBA, I recommend going to campus and meeting with the admissions staff and current students, if possible, before applying. When visiting a campus, you will get a true sense of the community and culture and will therefore understand whether or not you can see yourself there. The admissions teams are going to sort through a lot of applications to ultimately get to a small group of acceptances. Let them meet you, put a face to the name, and follow up with them!

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?  There were three main factors that led to my decision to join Tepper:

First, The Tepper School of Business is a program that prides itself on Data, Analytics and Leadership, which in my opinion, is the future of business. I also plan to transition into the technology industry, so the strong alumni base and analytical skillset that I will gain should help position me for success.

Second, the Tepper school is a part of the most prestigious and diverse academic community, Carnegie Mellon University, which is full of extremely talented students and professors in fields like computer science, engineering, and fine arts – just to list a few. Having the opportunity to collaborate with students outside of the business school and perhaps come up with life-changing technology is something that excites me.

Finally, the Tepper school felt like home when I was interacting with students, faculty, and staff.  It has a smaller class size compared to other programs and is a noticeably tight-knit community. One of the most impactful outcomes of a full-time program is the network that you grow, so with a class size of about 200, Tepper has provided me an amazing opportunity to get to know everyone on a deeper and genuine level.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?  I’m truly excited to kick off my first year of business school.  During the upcoming year, I plan to dig deep into the academic rigor that comes with Tepper, actively participate in the clubs to hopefully prepare myself for a leadership role, and meet and get to know my fellow classmates.  I will feel successful if I can effectively manage these things as well as lock down an internship for next summer.

Laura Chan 

Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: An introvert who isn’t afraid to be on stage, astute and self-motivated.

Hometown: Needham, Massachusetts

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I grew up taking ballet classes from the age of 2 all the way through high school. I still get to classes whenever I can as an adult.

Undergraduate School and Major: 

Carnegie Mellon University, B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Carnegie Mellon University, M.S. Mechanical Engineering

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: 

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Tire Development Engineer Associate in Consumer Tire Engineering

Schlumberger, Field Engineer, part of Tech & Field rotation program in Subsea Landing String Services

Schlumberger, Mechanical Engineering Intern in Subsea Landing String Services

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I am particularly proud of a recent work experience I had while on a business trip to Brazil. I traveled to a tire manufacturing plant to provide technical expertise during a key development tire build to be submitted to a customer. During my time there, I was able to overcome language barriers and make many connections with the plant employees. We were able to work together to successfully troubleshoot some issues with the tires and deliver a quality product to the customer. I was also able to leverage these connections during my future tire development projects in Brazil and received recognition from my Technical Project Leader for how quickly I was able to build these relationships.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Throughout my application process, the GMAT was my biggest struggle because my nerves would always get the best of me. Take it early, so you have the opportunity to take it a second time. If you’re nervous like me, practice, practice, practice, even the sections that come easily to you at home. I used to practice in locations that made me uncomfortable (like a noisy public cafe) so I could get used to distractions that might happen during the test.

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 originally applied to Tepper School of Business because of the online-hybrid program that was offered. I was excited because this program would give me the flexibility to continue to grow and learn in my current job while also earning my degree. However when I came to campus for my interview I was blown away by the students that I met. They all had such diverse and unique passions, I felt inspired to grow my career and compelled to surround myself with this type of energy and enthusiasm.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?  Success looks like having a strong foundation in the core academics, genuine relationships with my peers, and an open mind to continue exploring and learning from the people around me.

Carlton Forbes 

Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I am a reformed pragmatist who is slowly regaining the confidence to dream again.

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Fun Fact About Yourself: I pursued a career as a rapper for 15+ years, so in other words I’m a poet just trying to up my quant cred.

Undergraduate School and Major: Brown University – International Relations

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: 

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC – Associate (Regulatory Practice Group)

Various – Paralegal ,Rapper

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Delivering at a high enough level of performance to repay the faith the good folks at Goldman showed by giving me a shot in spite of my non-traditional career path.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Be honest with yourself about your credentials if you want to get into your top choice schools. If you do not have stereotypically impressive career highlights, then you will need a high score on your GMAT; if you have neither of the preceding factors working in your favor, you will need to craft one hell of a story. Also, employing the services of GMAT/MBA-prep professionals can help improve your odds by fixing gaps in your profile.

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 combination of Tepper’s status at the forefront of data analytics and the broader Carnegie Mellon community’s reputation for nurturing and producing world-renown technology leaders attracted me to the school. I hope to benefit from this fertile and collaborative ecosystem by bringing my creativity and hustle to a partnership with designers who possess the technical skills to breathe life into some of my crazy ideas.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? My dream (goal?) is to create a platform that compensates consumers for providing the content that powers the data economy. We deserve more than targeted ads for liberally allowing companies to generate trillions of dollars of value by sinking their creepy little fangs into our lives to spy on our daily activities.

Rebecca George 

Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: People-driven, creative leader that loves data, improving the world, and learning every day.

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am an intense hobbyist and always have a project or skill I’m working on in my spare time. In high school I earned my pilot’s license and trained on flute. In college, I did marching band and orchestra and even learned the tuba just for something new.  As a young professional I’ve become a writer and am working on my yoga teacher certification.

Undergraduate School and Major: Purdue University – BS Materials Science and Engineering

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Innovation Project Lead/Technical Lead – Whirlpool Corporation

WERLD (Rotational Program) Engineer  – Whirlpool Corporation

• New Business Creation Sales Analyst
• EMEA Refrigeration Platform Engineer
• Zera Development Engineer
• Laundry Aesthetic Engineer

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Brewing beer every Friday for engineering testing and taking the test results home to enjoy!

All jokes aside–  though I really did brew regularly at work, and it was a lot of fun – there’s a lot of things I’m proud of in my career thus far, but the biggest challenge and most rewarding accomplishment was launching the first project that I have led, a corporate social responsibility innovation product. I am so honored to have been part of and led such an amazing, inspired, and inspiring team that was relentlessly chasing a big dream of helping millions or even billions around the world increase their quality of life. Good news, everyone: the preliminary studies of the test market show that this product is successfully changing lives. And to me, there’s no accomplishment like seeing the smile on someone’s face when they look at your product and knowing that their life just got better because of you.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? It’s really easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of applications: is my GMAT score good enough? Who are my recommenders? Is this school prestigious enough? Who can give me scholarships? And don’t get me wrong, all of those details are very important questions and you should get answers to them. But with all of the advice columns, websites, message boards, and consultants out there, it becomes very easy to lose sight of your greater self throughout this process and let yourself get dragged off of your path or be molded into something that isn’t quite you. That’s why, to me, the number one most critical part of the MBA application process is not any one detail but your overall approach and thought process. Sit down, reflect on yourself and your options, and really be firm in your own perspective, needs, goals, and values. Don’t do this just once, either; check in with yourself regularly and honestly so that you can be thoughtful, deliberate, and genuine at any touchpoint with your potential schools. Be authentic about your priorities and what truly matters to you, and you will find the right fit without any regrets– and this goes for any other decision in life, too!

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’m a Pittsburgh girl down to the iron in my black-and-gold blood (Go Penguins!!), but I didn’t pick Tepper because it brought me back to my city, though it is a great bonus. I was drawn to Tepper because of how clear it was to me that the school really walks the walk of developing us as individuals and as a collective team, and has built a program to nurture me and my classmates. Opportunities like the Accelerate Leadership Center and the Swartz Entrepreneurship Center are so unique and so pivotal to me; that kind of student focus and clear prioritization of supporting holistic development as a person and a leader put Tepper a step above in my eyes. I truly believe that in coming to Tepper, I will not undergo a passive transformation but rather an active blossoming supported by the school and my classmates.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? To me, the biggest success after my first year would be growing and transforming beyond my own expectations while being surrounded by people that push and support me every day even as I was able to push and support them. It sounds like a tall order, but I’m not worried; Tepper Class of 2019 has got this!    

Mark Haakenstad 

Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: A teammate who strives to be a positive influence on everyone that I interact with.

Hometown: Minnetonka, Minnesota

Fun Fact About Yourself: I flew 383,612 miles on standby travel in 3 years working for American Airlines & Qantas Airways. That’s 266 flights, 56 of which were international.

Undergraduate School and Major: 

• Carlson School of Management at University of Minnesota
• Finance and Supply Chain Management

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: 

• American Airlines: Revenue Management Analyst, Domestic Pricing
• Qantas Airways: Qantas-American Airlines Joint Business Market Analyst
• American Airlines Cargo: Sr. Analyst Sales Planning & Performance

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: While working for Qantas as the market analyst managing the young joint business with American Airlines, American began new service from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand. For a new route to survive long term, there must be reliable business class traffic to create a consistently profitable route. I realized after analyzing performance that we needed to re-think how both airlines priced and managed those business class seats. After working with both Qantas and American and across the revenue management department to create buy-in and support, we were able to implement a substantial change to how we priced and sold the business class seats. This alteration resulted in a marked increase in bookings, still at a desirable price for the airline. This change allowed the flight to become one of the better performing routes.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Although all components of the application are important, I would emphasize the value of writing essays that are frankly compelling to read. When I was going through the application process, I felt that the essays really are where one can tell their story and highlight their own personality and unique experiences. Yes, the GMAT score and undergrad GPA mark are crucial, but everyone will submit applications with three numbers for their GMAT and two for their GPA. In the essay section, you can approach the given prompt in a way that clearly communicates to the reader why you are different and why your own personal narrative has shaped you in a way that gives you a skillset that would complement the school. Quite simply, have some fun with the essays. Don’t overthink them, be yourself and share how you have learned from your experiences. You will craft a much more interesting response than if you try to answer the prompt how you think the admissions committee wants the essays to read.

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 Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon stood out to me for many reasons, but I’ll highlight one. When making the decision on where to enroll, one aspect that really swayed me to Tepper was when I thought about where the school is going to be 5, 10, 20 years down the road. It is so easy to evaluate programs on where they are now: companies recruiting at the school this year, internships students had last summer and what roles graduates are entering next year. And if you look at it like that, a lot of schools are going to look pretty convincing.

Yes, where the school is now is indeed a major aspect of your decision. You don’t want to go to a school full of empty promises. But, I needed to also more strongly consider where the school is headed. Are the alumni engaged? Is the school investing in new facilities? Is the program committed to fully leveraging its resources in the future? Essentially, is the school content with where it is at — or are they proud of what they stand for but driven to become an even better program down the road? And when I asked myself that series of questions, it was a simple choice for me because the direction Tepper is headed allowed me to answer a robust yes to each one.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? In my previous roles, often colleagues either had similar backgrounds to me or had a way of thinking that was comparable to mine. In school, this is not the case. And this is a wonderful aspect of returning from work to school. There will be students from across the globe and from too many different functions and industries to count at Tepper. There will be many opportunities to converse that may expose a new way of thinking. My own perceptions will be challenged. I will have the chance to take advantage of other student’s experiences and learnings and incorporate that into my skillset. I think that this dialogue with other students is crucial to success in your first year of business school. Put down any barriers you have formed over the years and get to know your classmates. Leverage what they know, and use that to shape yourself to become an even more diverse, knowledgeable candidate for recruiters. If I am able to do this, I will consider my first year at Tepper to be a true success.

Nilvea O. Malavé Torres 

Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Passionate problem solver. I am a nerdy extrovert who enjoys solving problems and loves uncertainty.

Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Fun Fact About Yourself: During my undergrad, I worked as a research assistant to a Musicologist in one of UPR’s research centers. This job not only helped me pay college but also gave me the most memorable moments. Half of the time the job entailed going to music events and meeting and interviewing different people from the music industry. The most fun part was getting free tickets to music events every weekend.

Undergraduate School and Major: 

• BA in Economics and Sociology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras
• MA in Economics, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: 

1. Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, Business Analyst – Team Leader
2. Center for the New Economy, Research Assistant
3. Social Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, Research Assistant

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: The biggest accomplishment in my career so far has been helping in the development of a business case for a new business line in Banco Popular. It started as some plain vanilla default rate forecast of the bank’s mortgage portfolio but during the development of the model different questions started emerging about the behavior of the market and the effect it would have in the institution as a whole. To my surprise, this exercise started a whole new discussion about the future of how the bank should manage its real estate portfolio and served as a base for a new business that is changing the real estate landscape in Puerto Rico.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Go beyond the GMAT. This is the most valuable piece of advice my Forté MBA Launch advisor gave me. Try your hardest to get the best score that you can in the test. However, don’t let the score deter you from applying. Every piece of the application is important, but I believe understanding your career journey, goals, and motivations are components that will make your application stand out.

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? Choosing an MBA program in not an easy task, but Tepper’s focus in Analytics and friendly staff were the main drivers for me to choose Tepper.  Working in the strategy field for the last five years, I saw how important using data in new and creative ways helps finding opportunities that would have been overlooked before. For this reason, I strongly believe that the business leaders of the future need to be versed in the field of analytics and this is exactly what Tepper’s MBA program offers.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?  After a year in business school, success would look like to me as having  a strong network of people from all around the globe who are passionate about contributing in positive ways to the world and want to engage in high impact projects to make their vision a reality.

Matthew McGann 

Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Ultimate Disc player, self-proclaimed foodie, lover of home comforts, and loyal friend.

Hometown: Fairfield, CT

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have never tried a Big Mac or a Whopper

Undergraduate School and Major: Stonehill College / Communications & Spanish Double Major

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Compounded Solutions – Marketing Associate

JPMorgan Chase Bank – Personal Banker

Bank of Ireland – Middle Office Coordinator

Bank of Ireland – US Documentation Specialist

Bank of Ireland – Business Controls, Corporate Banking

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:  I am not the most vocal individual at work, and do not usually push hard for my ideas. However, when I felt strongly that our upper management needed to invest in a new system that would benefit our organization, I made sure I was heard. I priced out multiple vendors, made a pitch to management, and defended my position as best as I could. In the end, they agreed to invest in the new system, and also agreed to let me oversee implementation and training for. Being firm in my stance resulted in our organization’s growth and my own personal growth.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants?  Schedule a class visit, and take advantage of the opportunity to sit in on a class. Being on campus and interacting with students can certainly help guide your decision. In the end, the program itself is what truly matters. Experience the atmosphere surrounding the program first-hand, and take stock of the things that you must have versus things you want to have. In the end, if the actual program and learning style doesn’t suit you, no amount of campus charm can mask that.

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? Tepper’s reputation as a phenomenal quantitative program cannot be overstated. However, it was their commitment to leadership development that really sold me. MBA students should not only leave their program with a great education and a network of contacts, but also the skills to lead their chosen industry for the next few decades. Tepper’s Accelerate Leadership Center provides personalized leadership development from the first day a student commit’s to the program. For someone like me, who has not been in a managerial role (but aspires to do so in the future), this dedication to an often overlooked aspect of an MBA program convinced me that Tepper will give me the best overall education including leadership skills to thrive post-graduation.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? My expectations are cautiously optimistic for the first year post business school. While having a secure job in a field I love is obviously important, one of my main goals is to leave the program with the knowledge and confidence that even if I struggle for the first few years, I will be just fine. I expect to leave Tepper with a unique skill set, and a position ready for me to run with. Success for me will be having the confidence to make an impact in that position early on. I don’t want my post-MBA work success to be the same as my pre-MBA work success. I want to have the confidence to be bold and take risks, knowing that I will succeed in the long run.

Puja Patel Iyengar 

Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Curious, thoughtful, lover of economics, world traveler.

Hometown: Scaggsville, Maryland

Fun Fact About Yourself: Once while on a family vacation, my glasses were stolen by a wild monkey. We managed to get them back unscathed by offering snacks as a fair trade. And that was my first lesson in business negotiation.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Maryland, College Park –  Economics

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation (in chronological order):

US Peace Corps, Small Enterprise Development Volunteer

Training Resources Group, Inc., Business Development Associate for a boutique consulting firm

US Census Bureau, International Trade Analyst

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest personal and professional accomplishment is successfully completing two years of Peace Corps service! I worked as a Small Enterprise Development agent in an African village without running water or electricity. It was surprisingly easy to adapt to these physical challenges; the most difficult part was making genuine connections and becoming an integral part of the local community.  It was a challenging role, and I am proud to say that I successfully met each obstacle, reached my performance metrics every year, and gained valuable perspective and insight. I believe this accomplishment opened many doors for me when I returned to the United States.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? There are many resources for aspiring business school students, so I will keep my advice brief: Know thyself. Before choosing schools or beginning the application process, think honestly and critically about your professional goals and most importantly – what will make you happy. When assessing schools, ask yourself if you would enjoy spending two years in that location with the students you have met, and if the program will bring your closer to your goals. By thinking through these topics ahead of time, you will be laying a strong foundation for your essays.

On a less philosophical and more practical note, I encourage applicants to research, research, and research! Look into the companies and industries that recruit at each school. Browse the course catalog to see which electives are offered and if they align with your interests. Use LinkedIn to see where alumni have landed, or conversely, see where a company recruits. Most importantly, talk with current students and recent alumni about their experiences. I recommend chatting in an informal setting whenever possible so that you gather a better sense of the student culture. As you do more research, you will be able to ask more informed questions and gather more details.

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 initially decided to apply to Tepper because of the academically rigorous curriculum. I was intrigued by the dual focus on leadership and data analytics. Coming from the Census Bureau, I already knew the importance of strong quantitative skills from observing my supervisors, so I was glad Tepper would be able to build on my existing skill set and enhance my career in the short-term with those hard skills. I was doubly pleased by Tepper’s approach to leadership, which I believe will build the soft skills important to my career in the long-term. When researching schools, the Accelerate Leadership Center at Tepper stood out as a differentiating factor due to the practical leadership coaching available to all students.

When decision-time rolled around, I ultimately decided to attend Tepper because I came away impressed by the current students and faculty that I met. The students were interesting and driven, yet very down-to-earth. They made me feel comfortable, even when I was jittery before interviews. More than that, they demonstrated a sense of community at Tepper. For example, when I mentioned that I was interested in a data visualizations, the student I was talking to immediately introduced me to a member of the data analytics club. The connections and sentiment seemed genuine.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? On a professional level, success would be a challenging, analytical role in a data-rich environment with intelligent and interesting colleagues within an impactful company based in DC. (Is that vague enough for you?) On a personal level, success would be creating a community for myself and my family, maintaining relationships with a wide circle of peers, and finding time to travel internationally.

Kimberly Turner

Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I am a life-long leaner who seeks to make a difference and encourage others.

Hometown: Grand Blanc, MI

Fun Fact About Yourself: During my MBA application process, I managed to break my arm – a Galeazzi fracture of the right forearm. Ironically, this began a series of events that ultimately led to my decision to attend business school.

Undergraduate School and Major: 

University of Wisconsin-Madison (PhD Sociology)

Hope College (BA Sociology and Economics)

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Research Scientist, Child Trends

Frank H.T. Rhodes Postdoctoral Fellow, Cornell University

Research and Teaching Assistant, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I am the lead author of an article entitled “Indebted Relationships: Child Support Arrears and Fathers’ Involvement with Children,” which was published this year in the Journal of Marriage and Family. The key finding is that low-income fathers who have child-support-related debt spend less time with their children, which raises questions about how fathers divide their monetary and time contributions to their children and whether child support policies may have some unintended consequences.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants?  Find your tribe. Talk to any person you can affiliated with a program of interests – students, admission’s staff, faculty, but especially students. Get a sense of whether you would not only enjoy spending time with those that you meet, but that you are learning something as you engage with them.

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? Tepper’s commitment to analytics and leadership drew me in. In my last role as a researcher at non-profit organization, I experienced the power of data and effective methodology in creating accessible, policy-relevant research content that can impact social change. I wanted to be part of an MBA program that not only provides a solid foundation in analytics but is forward-thinking in ways to use data to inform decisions and motivate people. Tepper is where I need to be.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?  Surviving. I look forward to stepping out of my comfort zone. I will seek out ranging learning opportunities to not only expose myself to new ideas, but to share my perspective with others. I will be present, I will be vocal, and I will work hard to build my knowledge-base and skill set to empower me to make a difference and to help others better their life chances and communities. I will count authentically engaging with the broader Tepper community a success.

Noah Weiss 

Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University

Describe yourself in 15 words or less:  Always looking for the next challenge.

Hometown:  Most recently, Los Angeles, CA.

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I started my career as a jazz saxophonist, and as a performer I’ve had the opportunity to play with acts like the Temptations, the Four Tops and James Taylor.

Undergraduate School and Major: Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Jazz Studies: Saxophone Performance

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Azoff MSG Entertainment – Artist Management Representative

William Morris Endeavor – Floater, Music Department

Berkshire Theatre Group – Artistic Planning Associate and Facility Rental Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: While at Berkshire Theatre Group, I led a team in designing and implementing a new arts venue called The Garage. The goal was to create an intimate and versatile space where musicians, actors and dancers could collaborate and connect with local audiences while helping the company foster audience growth and engagement with a younger demographic. It was an enriching and rewarding opportunity to develop and launch a venture that continues to thrive today in an underserved community.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? The most difficult part for me was figuring out how to tell my story. I’ve had a winding career path and it wasn’t necessarily obvious how to present it in a way that would make sense to schools and recruiters. I would encourage applicants to step away from the process periodically and assess whether or not your application is ‘on message.’ Consult with friends and family who will have different perspectives and who you know will challenge you.

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? Tepper’s focus on data analytics and leadership development really stands out to me. Given my non-traditional background, I was looking for a school with a strong analytical and quant focus that would not only challenge me but provide me with the best tools to complement my current skill set. Tepper is on point with both of these goals and provides a structured framework for me to address my weaknesses. The school values strong analytical leaders and shares my belief that data is crucial to the business world, and that the ability to accurately (and responsibly) use and interpret data will drive growth, impact and sustainability.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?  To me, success will be taking the skills learned at Tepper and confidently putting them into practice. That, or being featured on the front page of Poets & Quants.

Linsha Yao 

Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: A hard-working and warm-hearted foodie who loves travel and reading.

Hometown: Beijing, China

Fun Fact About Yourself:  If I’m not on a trip with family or friends, I must be reading somewhere. I enjoy traveling to try different real foods and reading to explore spiritual food. So far, I have been to over 100 cities and towns in China and over 30 cities and towns abroad.

Undergraduate School and Major: Capital Normal University, Chinese Literature and Culture

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: 

Zhaopin.com, Human Resources Junior Business Consultant

Manpower, Human Resources Business Consultant

Siemens, Outsourcing Services Program Manager (contract)

Amazon, Recruiter/Recruiting Manager/Leader of China Operations Recruiting

SmartConn (A start-up), VP, Operation and HR

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: At Amazon China, I led a team to successfully recruit more than 600 direct hires (30% being technical talents) during Amazon China’s exponential growth between April 2010 and March 2015. My team’s average recruiter productivity stayed 20-35% higher than worldwide average data. I also led the team to effectively campaign recruiting-related programs, including campus hiring, interviewer educating and support to associate hiring that led thousands of hires across China Operations and Global Tech. The successful integration of Chinese technical and managerial talents provided strong support for Amazon’s sustained lead in the global market.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? A good interview preparation starts from your decision to pursue the MBA. A decent GMAT score is important, but it would be more helpful to spend enough time on thinking through what you want from a MBA program than to improve GMAT from 660 to 700+ (Consulting is exempt as many top firms require certain level GMAT scores). Please start to think about your own story from the very beginning and put it into words in a SPECIFIC and LOGICAL method (e.g. STAR). Write down your answers to core questions and review them again and gain. Some core questions include:

1) Who am I? Strengths and weaknesses; Some key points that set myself apart from peers.

2) One or two significant achievements and lessons learned?

3) Why do you want an MBA?

4) Where do I want to improve immediately?

5) Why do I think some certain program can help?

6) What’s my short-term-term and long-term career goal?

7) What can I bring to the community when admitted?

All those questions will be deeply explored by admissions committees during the application review and interview. In your preparation, I suggest everyone talk to current students, alumni and business professionals whom you respect and trust. Listening to their feedbacks helps you understand how other people expect to observe and examine you.

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? Tepper is very well-known for its strong analytics, where I expect to improve. Working for tech companies, I witnessed how important is data analytics in our business decision-making process and daily operations. I did take time to grasp some data skills and practiced them in my work, which is proved very useful, but I noticed there are still gaps when I moved to a senior role with growing responsibilities. What attracts me most is that Tepper offers more than simply taking a few quant classes. Our students will be given “the tools for economic understanding, optimization, predictive and prescriptive modeling, as well as responding to uncertain, complex business issues.” At this point, I received a lot of positive feedback from current students and alumnus. And I’m really looking forward to my advancement in this area.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? 

1) Improved my leadership plus analytical skills and built some reputations in our classmates through practicing them. I hope my classmates find me helpful and supportive.

2) Got an internship opportunity where I can work on complex organizational problems and make a significant and positive impact.

 

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