Meet Arizona State’s MBA Class Of 2019 - Poets&Quants

Some of the members of ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business Class of 2019

When people think of innovative education, MIT or Stanford naturally come to mind. Both are prestigious and selective – research-driven and influential – with deep endowments and staggering alumni rolls. For those seeking the most cutting edge curriculum, it helps to throw up a pitchfork and head to Tempe.

In 2017, Arizona State was named America’s most innovative university by U.S. News & World Report for the third consecutive year. How did the university set the pace – and the bar – for its peers? Think of it as a student-centric approach that’s predicated on a big tent philosophy. Here, freshmen can complete first year coursework online – and decide whether to pay for credits after finals – a move that has attracted students from 162 countries. Arizona State has also developed a Facebook data mining app that brings together students with common interests. Last year, the school even partnered with Starbucks to provide full-tuition reimbursement to employees. In turn, Arizona State’s graduation rate has jumped by 80% over the past 15 years.

FREE TUITION ENABLES SCHOOL TO HANDPICK THE RIGHT STUDENTS

The W. P. Carey School of Business also follows this spirit of leveling barriers to making education accessible to all. Once a pioneer in business analytics, this perennial Top 30 MBA program differentiates itself by increasing access without sacrificing its trademark personalized attention. This starts with offering a full-tuition scholarship for every incoming W. P. Carey student.

Call it “business without borders” – or “no student left behind.” Thanks to a $50 million dollar gift from the school’s namesake, MBAs can graduate without the burden of tuition debt. For students, this perks frees them to pursue their passions sooner. For the school, it enables them to draw the kinds of minds who’ll eventually leave a big mark on business – and beyond.

John Wisneski

“Last year, we re-engineered our Full-time MBA, integrating the new Forward Focus curriculum and full-tuition scholarship,” explains John Wisneski, the faculty director of our Full-time MBA program. “The curriculum is designed to prepare students to lead in times of volatility and uncertainty by developing leadership competencies, such as communication skills, self-awareness, management agility, and valuing differences. Both the curriculum and the scholarship have been game-changers. A larger applicant pool and the ability to be more selective has produced an amazing cohort of students who are poised to make a real difference in the business world.”

“THE MBA GAME IS CHANGING”

The curriculum is also imbued with a strong dose of design thinking, interdisciplinary collaborations, and experiential learning – the very forces shaping business of the future. For Luke Zoesch, a first-year from Wisconsin, this created a potent combination certain to bring out the best in himself – and his classmates.

“W. P. Carey, more than any top business school, seems to understand the MBA game is changing because the type of MBA graduate employers are looking for has and will continue to evolve,” he explains. “They have responded to that realization just like a top business would…with innovation. The Forward Focus MBA is the most innovative MBA program overhaul in at least 15 years. One of the key ways they have adapted to business needs today is by designing a program that not only gives more access to diversity, but that emphasizes its importance in decision-making. As a member and advocate of the LGBT community, I felt connected to a program whose top priority is investing in a diversity of thought and experience.”

Indeed, Carey exemplifies the emerging MBA ethos: ambitious and action-oriented, inclusive and inventive – and always anticipating the next trend or trade. Wisneski attributes this to the school’s “forward-thinking” leadership at both the college and university levels. This embrace of continuous innovation, coupled with its openness to student feedback, has resulted in unique wrinkles like a new concentration in sports business and learning labs that set the full-time MBA program apart.

A DIVERSE CLASS BENT ON MAKING AN IMPACT

“We continue to look at the pressing needs of the markets and modify parts of our curriculum as we need to,” Wisneski notes. “We’ve also kept an eye on what students tell us they’d like to see in the program, whether that’s classroom learning or opportunities to network with experienced leaders and to discuss their strategies for success. This will be the first year of our Intellectual Fusion Learning Labs, which pairs MBA students with master’s degree students in other colleges across ASU to solve cross-disciplinary challenges. It helps our students see that business plays a vital role in solving everyday challenges in our communities and gets them accustomed to collaborating with external stakeholders whose expertise may not lie in business.”

The Forward Focus curriculum and scholarships also helped attract a rather diverse class to Tempe. The 2019 Class ranges from Jennifer McAlpine, a foreign services officer in the U.S. Department of State to Michelle Slifcak Villa, who is a veteran of both the U.S. Peace Corps and Teach for America. In between, you’ll find Maria Fernanda Medina Perez, a marketing manager at Pfizer and DuPont who became a high school teacher and Shalini Thomas, a refugee and immigrant advocate who has recently discovered her great passion in life: spreadsheets and Excel! Thomas’ mantra? “I believe that ensuring administrative and innovative excellence at a nonprofit is how I can make the greatest impact in the fight for justice.”

Arizona State’s Sun Devil

You can bet that Thomas will find a kindred spirit in Allen Matsika, a banker and “inexorable force of nature.” Looking for the Renaissance figure of the class? Try Jennifer Del Rossi, a New Orleans native who holds a master’s degree in environmental biology. She describes herself as a “passionate learner, empathetic giver, patient teacher, people person, foodie connoisseur, animal rescuer, and a team player.” Every class needs a devil’s advocate too. Here, Remund Labios relishes the role. His favorite question: “Why not?”

DESTINED FOR B-SCHOOL? 9 YEAR-OLD CHEWS OUT CFO

This class also ranks among the most philosophical. Jacky Leybman, a fitness enthusiast and engineer from Israel, lives by a simple maxim: “I dream; I think. I plan; I execute.” Matsika believes that “a good name is better than riches when business is personal.” And Zoesch is the eternal optimist of the class. “I never live like today is my last. I live like it will never end,” he asserts.

El Mahdi El Boukhari is no stranger to free tuition. He once earned a “Scholar Ship,” a one year program where he studied at universities in California, Australia, and Morocco. McAlpine has hiked to the highest point in the Sahara desert – Emi Koussi – where she caught snowflakes. Uzbekistan’s Sergey Chipilenko was a rapper before he turned to the markets and entrepreneurship. Alas, the class award for “Profiles in Courage” would go to Medina Perez. She once ate a scorpion. Better yet, she “admonished” a company CFO for wasting money when she was just nine years old (Here’s hoping her mother or father wasn’t the controller).

Chances are, Medina Perez would give props to McAlpine, whose budgeting saved the U.S. State Department save $7 million dollars a year. Not to be outdone, Leybman helped build a startup to 50 employees. As a freelance consultant, Chiplilenko’s accomplishment was harder to quantify – but led to a deeper purpose. “I saw great changes in the life of my clients,” he shares. “One entered the top business school in Germany, another started his own business, and a third greatly increased profits of his company and started donating money to charity. These achievements made me feel proud and, as a result, I decided to create my non-profit organization.”

Go to page 2 to see in-depth profiles of incoming W. P. Carey students.

Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business

APPS DOWN, WHILE YIELD AND GMATs REMAIN HIGH

While offering fully-funded scholarships generated headlines, it didn’t necessarily yield results for Carey. During the 2016-2017 cycle, the school generated 634 applications, down 46% from the 1,159 applications it received when it rolled out the program last year (though up over 443 applications in 2015-2106). It also enrolled 10 fewer students as its acceptance rate fell nearly 10 points to 24%. The percentage, however, still puts Carey in the same league as Chicago Booth, Michigan Ross, and Virginia Darden). Even more, the school’s yield – the percentage of applicants who ultimately enroll after being accepted – stood at 72%, one of the highest rates among Top 50 MBA programs.

That said, the school managed to entice the same caliber of applicants as the vaunted 2017 Class. The average and median GMAT scores held steady at 682 and 690 respectively, though the percentage of students applying with a GRE rose from 39.5% to 45%. Although the percentage of women slipped by four points with the incoming class, this gap was offset by a four point jump with the percentage of international students.

Being exposed to this global cohort struck a nerve with Medina Perez. “I do not know when I will have the time and money to travel to more than 20 countries all over the world and when I will have a chance to spend two years in those countries and know how people live and think in those countries,” she admits. “What I do know is that at W. P. Carey this is possible. Plus, it’s probably even better because if you become part of this community your classmates will be young professionals just like you but that were born in a different part of the world.”

ENGINEERING AND CONSUMER PRODUCTS BACKGROUNDS UP IN 2019 CLASS

The academic backgrounds of the 2019 Class differed, to some extent, from the previous year. Business again represented the largest proportion of students at 26%, up two points over the 2018 Class. However, it barely edged out engineering, which rose five points to 25%. Alas, the humanities and social sciences suffered the biggest declines, falling four points each to 16% and 7% respectively. Math and Sciences accounted for 15% of the class.

Arizona State Carey’s School of Business

Last year, W. P. Carey acted as an outlier as the only Top 30 program where non-profits and education professionals constituted the largest bloc of the class. That trend continued this year, with the percentage even rising from 15% to 17%. The percentage of consultants was cut in half to 7%, while financial services tumbled three points to 10%. The biggest move was made by consumer products, which now takes up 13% of the class. Petroleum and energy (12%), technology (7%), healthcare and pharmaceuticals (5%), and media and entertainment (5%) are also represented in the class.

The outlook for the class also appears bright based on the performance of the outgoing class. This year, 96% of the graduating class landed jobs within three months of graduation – one of the highest rates among Top 30 MBA programs. Base pay nearly beat the six figure mark at $98,633, as bonuses averaged $14,907. Overall, the 77.5% of the 2017 Class found work in the western or southwestern United States.

EACH STUDENT PAIRED WITH A SENIOR EXECUTIVE

If you asked the graduating class why they chose W. P. Carey you would probably hear about the intimate class sizes and personal attention – not to mention its leadership in supply chain curriculum and year-round sunshine. It is a place, says admissions director Pam Delany, where school leaders, faculty, and alumni invest heavily in students. “Students will say I didn’t realize that people would know who I am this much and that I matter at this school,” she tells Poets&Quants in a 2017 interview.

This gives the school motto extra resonance says McAlpine. “W. P. Carey seeks out people with fascinating and varied life experiences. “Where Business is Personal” isn’t just something they say — they recruit students to align with the school’s values.”

Not only do they recruit, but the school also takes great pains to develop students once they arrive. One example is a new offering this fall called Executive Connections, where each student partners with a volunteer senior executive over their two years. The network currently boasts over 60 leaders in areas ranging from venture capital to real estate to licensing. As part of the initiative, these executives work one-on-one with students, with the goal of equipping them with the operational, political, and communications know-how to navigate their way to the c-suite.

OFFERING AN MBA EDUCATION TO THOSE WHO OTHERWISE COULDN’T GET ONE

It is another example of Carey’s never-be-satisfied mentality that churns out innovations both practical and far-reaching. Executive Connections was particularly relevant to Leybman, who hopes to become a big data CEO. “I knew that ASU’s W. P. Carey School, with its unique teamwork and collaborative learning ecosystem, would not only provide me with the proper CEO toolkit, but also prepare me to become a better leader in the technology industry.”

When it came time for the 2019 Class, the Forward Focus scholarship often tipped the scales in Carey’s favor. For Jared Richards, a police officer and National Guard captain, the package evens the playing field, with the school “investing in talent that otherwise would not be able to attend.”

W. P. Carey Classroom

It also enables W. P. Carey to better hand-pick the best candidates, creating a more talented class that will only enrich the entire experience. “I wanted my MBA to be an experience of transformation and growth, says El Boukhari. “I knew that one of the most effective ways to inspire and provoke growth would be to surround myself with a diverse group of high-caliber peers. In launching the Forward Focus MBA program, W. P. Carey has gone to great lengths to attract brilliant individuals from different cultures who have very diverse professional profiles.”

FINDING A WAY TO HAVE “INFLUENCE”

Be warned: Just because the program is free doesn’t make it a breeze. Just ask John Masline, a 2017 Best & Brightest MBA.”I think the biggest myth surrounding our school is that it’s easy. However, I can honestly say from experience that the full-time MBA program at the W. P. Carey School is anything but easy. The program demands a lot of time and effort from its students. The challenges it puts its students through develop business leaders who can go toe-to-toe with any other business school in the world.”

Looking ahead, the class will be evaluating the success of their MBA from a range of criteria. Del Rossi plans to pursue her passion – sustainability – in the food and beverage sector. Labios’ dream would be to learn the processes for turning his ideas into action. At the same time, Thomas hopes to use a leadership role to drive impact in her community.

In short, the Class of 2019 is striving for what Zoesch calls “influence.” To do this, he plans to adopt the foundation of innovation: identifying what is needed and using what’s available to change what’s possible. For him, that process starts with empathy. “My personal goal is to look at people each day and see someone who is only deserving of compassion and kindness, even if the world tells me to see something different. I am confident an MBA from the W. P. Carey School will help me influence others around me to think similar.”

To read profiles of incoming W. P. Carey 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 ARIZONA STATE’S MBA CLASS OF 2018

Student	Hometown	Alma Mater	Employer
Sergey Chipilenko	Tashkent,   Uzbekistan	University of Wales	TQFM
Jennifer Del Rossi	New Orleans, LA	Tulane University	Emission Monitoring Services, Inc.
EL Mahdi EL Boukhari	Marrakech,   Morocco	Al Akhawayn University	Roche
Remund Labios	Los Baños,   Philippines	University of the Philippines Los Baños	Toyota Tsusho Philippines Corp
Jacky Leybman	Tel-Aviv, Israel	Holon Institute of Technology (H.I.T)	XpoLog
Allen Matsika	Rusape,   Zimbabwe	St. John’s College	Housewise
Jennifer McAlpine	Woodbury, MN	University of Minnesota	U.S. Department of State
Maria Fernanda Medina Perez	Mexico City,   Mexico	Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education	Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education
Jared Richards	Apex, NC	University of North Carolina at Charlotte	Phoenix Police Department
Michelle Slifcak Villa	Woodstock, GA	Kennesaw State University	Teach For America
Shalini Thomas	Iowa City, IA	Georgetown University	Comité de Justicia Laboral / Texas Civil Rights Project
Luke Zoesch	Park Falls, WI	University of Wisconsin-Madison	NCCU

Sergey Chipilenko 

W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Go hard or go home.

Hometown: Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Fun Fact About Yourself: I used to be a rapper when I was young.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Wales, Industrial Management

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: 

TQFM (Founder)

SBAM Trade (Stock Trader)

Freelance Consultant 

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Despite all my achievements, I believe that the positive change a person could make in the lives of others is far more important than his accomplishments. When I started freelance consulting, I focused mainly on profits. I worked hard and wanted my clients to be overjoyed. With time, I saw great changes in the life of my clients: one entered the top business school in Germany, another started his own business, and a third greatly increased profits of his company and started donating money to charity. These achievements made me feel proud and, as a result, I decided to create my non-profit organization, which focuses on consulting for entrepreneurs and farmers of my region. Everyone has a valuable talent that other people may need.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? 

• Dream big. This is the first step. You should believe that you deserve the best: best school, best career, and best future. Research the top 100 schools; make a list of your top 10 according to factors that are most important to you (faculty, rankings, salary, culture).
• Motivate yourself properly. Every time you start preparing for an application, believe it is the best day for doing it.
• Be honest and critical. Imagine you are on the admission committee. Challenge yourself, ask questions, work on your weaknesses, and employ strength.
• Visualize the moment you have received a message that you are accepted! How do you feel? Keep this feeling during the entire application process.

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? During my research stage, I communicated with many business school admission committees. This is when universities started to differentiate themselves. Some answered questions without enthusiasm or just provided uniform answers without an attempt to understand what was being asked. The admission committee of the W. P. Carey School of Business stood out of the crowd and made me feel that the words “Where business is personal” are not just a stylish motto. Compliance with the school’s values and overall consistency of university employees, in combination with a culture of innovation, made this place desirable for a person like me.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?  Find a successful tech startup.

Jennifer Del Rossi 

W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Passionate learner, empathetic giver, patient teacher, people person, foodie connoisseur, animal rescuer, and a team player.

Hometown: New Orleans, LA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I caught a 128-pound halibut while fishing off the coast of Southeast Alaska!

Undergraduate School and Major: 

Tulane University, New Orleans, LA

• Master of Science, Environmental Biology
• Bachelor of Science, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Bachelor of Arts, Environmental Policy

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Trinity Consultants, Inc. – Northeast Business Development Manager, Consultant

Environmental Resources Management – Associate Engineer

Emission Monitoring Services, Inc. – Area Compliance Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Not only being accepted into multiple MBA programs of my choice, but receiving full scholarships to more than one program! It was both my biggest and humbling accomplishment.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? My biggest piece of advice is to craft your story. Your application should paint a picture of you: who you are, your passions, and your MBA goals. Realize that you do not need to have a perfect GMAT score or GPA to get into your dream school. I know many people who have gotten into great programs with scholarships and they did not score above a 700 on the GMAT or have a perfect GPA. I feel we often get so caught up in the details (admittedly I did!). While they are important for the application, a great story encompassing your strengths, weaknesses, humility, passions, hopes, dreams, and accomplishments can do so much more for the admissions committee. Lastly, get to know the admissions committee – make that personal connection. They will remember you, and advocate for you when it comes to making final decisions!

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? All of the MBA programs I was accepted into more or less offered the same thing academically, but W. P. Carey consistently made me feel welcome, important, and invaluable during every interaction I had with students, faculty, or the admissions committee. They truly believe in our motto, “Where business is personal.”

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? My main goal after business school is to pursue my passion – sustainability. I’d define success by having the opportunity to directly influence the supply chain of a food and beverage company and innovate sustainable business practices within that company.

EL Mahdi EL Boukhari  

W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Marketing professional, curious, observant and adaptable with a passion for health care, good food, and travel.

Hometown: Marrakech, Morocco

Fun Fact About Yourself: In 2007, I received a full scholarship to embark on a tour around the world aboard a ship. That life-changing experience was part of the exclusive academic program “the Scholar Ship.” The program was launched and supervised by a consortium of universities including the University of California Berkeley, Macquarie University in Sydney, and Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco. “The Scholar Ship” program only ran for one year, and it irreversibly ignited my passion for travel and discovery.

Undergraduate School and Major: 

Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing (2007), Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco 

Masters of Business in Marketing (2009), Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: 

Moroccan real estate company – Real Estate Sales Executive

Roche – Product Specialist and Product Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: The professional achievement I am most proud of is my successful transition from real estate sales to pharmaceutical product management. Despite exceeding my sales objectives after only two months of joining the real estate industry, I did not feel a sense of purpose in my career. However, a brief professional experience in real estate gave me tremendous insight as to what career path I wanted to consider. I felt that I needed to choose an industry where I can be seriously challenged and where I can also develop my skills while having a strong positive impact on the lives of others. I decided to join the pharmaceutical industry, and I anticipated being at the forefront of promoting life-saving drugs that would benefit thousands of patients in need. I started as a product specialist and was quickly promoted to product manager of one of the company’s key franchises. The active mentoring that I received from my manager coupled with a lot of efforts from my side helped me gain technical expertise and reinforced my passion for health care.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? I think that applicants should seek admission to schools that embody their values and long-term vision. Before applying to a program, it is essential that candidates do their due diligence and get the maximum information they can about different schools. The more they know, the easier it will be for them to find a fit in a program that caters to not only their needs but also their likes and aspirations. I believe that choosing an MBA program by limiting one’s self to business school rankings is not ideal. In doing so, candidates forego the opportunity to find a perfect match instead of just a good school.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? I wanted my MBA to be an experience of transformation and growth. I knew that one of the most effective ways to inspire and provoke growth would be to surround myself with a diverse group of high-caliber peers. In launching the Forward Focus MBA program, W. P. Carey has gone to great lengths to attract brilliant individuals from different cultures who have very diverse professional profiles. Many of these candidates, although accomplished in their respective fields and countries, wouldn’t have been able to consider an MBA if it weren’t for the amazing Forward Focus full scholarship offered by the W. P. Carey School. I realized early in my application process that the opportunity to be part of such a group would be an extremely rewarding and humbling experience.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? To me, success would be to jumpstart a fruitful transformation that would eventually lead me to the career I want. Success is also synonymous with self-discovery, building long-lasting relationships and also getting to learn that language I have always wanted to master.

Remund Labios

W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: That once-shy kid who learned to embrace uncertainty. Also, my favorite question is, “Why not?”

Hometown: Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines

Fun Fact About Yourself: I know how to cook tasty and soy-free Filipino chicken adobo for those who wish to try a gluten-free version of my favorite dish.

Undergraduate School and Major:

• University of the Philippines Los Baños, BS Electrical Engineering
• Seoul National University of Science and Technology, MS Electrical and Information Engineering

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

• Korea Electric Power Research Institute, Researcher
• Power Systems Control & Analysis Lab. at SeoulTech, Graduate Research Assistant
• Nidec Motors Philippines Corp., Sr. Applications Engineer
• Emerson Electric Asia ROHQ, Jr. Applications Engineer
• Toyota Tsusho Philippines Corp., CAD Engineer

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Perhaps my biggest accomplishment so far has been being able to contribute to knowledge about using energy storage in power grids—an idea still in its nascent phase.

As a researcher in South Korea at Korea Electric Power Research Institute, I worked alongside experts who were inspired to change how the world generated and consumed electricity. To be offered to join the company to explore possibilities and to leave as an advocate for advancing the energy industry was truly a life-changing experience.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Craft your essays early in the process. I highly recommend writing as many drafts as you may need and asking people who know you well to critique your work.

The best feedback I received were from close friends and family—they knew me for who I truly was and sensed if my writing did not reflect that. They were also from diverse non-business professions; I thought that if they enjoyed reading my essays, then my story would most likely be well-received by admission officers located halfway across the world.

And as you finalize your essays, be careful and deliberate about the words you choose while meeting the word-count limit. Choose simple yet impactful words that can vividly describe your thoughts.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The key factor that led me to choose W. P. Carey was the diversity of backgrounds of the 119 students that joined the W. P. Carey School’s Class of 2018. And what caught my attention was that about 15 percent of them had previous experience working across the world in nonprofits and education—the top pre-MBA industry of the class. I knew that if I wanted to gain meaningful insights about the global impact of business and what is needed to change the status quo, they were exactly the right people with whom I had to connect.

I feel strongly about the need to eradicate energy poverty through sustainable means, and I want to be surrounded by people who are passionate about the same.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? Finally gaining the ability to clearly and concisely articulate my ideas to inspire others to spring into action.

Jacky Leybman 

 W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I dream; I think. I plan; I execute.

Hometown: Tel-Aviv, Israel

Fun Fact About Yourself: Avid fitness enthusiast, including biking, running, and power lifting

Undergraduate School and Major: Holon Institute of Technology (H.I.T), Bachelor of Science, Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: XpoLog (big data log analysis platform), Israel

• Account Manager and Pre-Sales Engineer
• Customer Support and Testing Engineer

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: When I joined XpoLog four years ago, it was in its early stages as a startup that provides a big data analysis platform. I helped it grow from six to 50 employees. I undertook multiple parallel roles, some of which were well outside my discipline. At the same time, I took responsibility for developing and managing all customer support and QA functions, and eventually leveraged my army experience focused on team-oriented work style and people leadership skills to replace our vice president of operations, who was dealing with a significant health condition, postponing my MBA dream to help the company. Working tirelessly to fill in my knowledge gaps, I successfully stabilized the system under intense pressure while continuing the company’s growth. I’m proud to say that my contributions played a major role in the company’s transition from startup to a profitable company.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Although (initially) the GMAT seems to be an insurmountable challenge – which indeed it is – you should keep in mind that it is only the first step in the MBA journey. Allocating enough time to prepare for the GMAT is important, but not more important than any other step in the application process. Understanding which business school fits you the best is a crucial part of the process, and thus I’d recommend conducting deep research about the business schools to which you’re considering applying. In addition, hold discussions with current students and alumni to understand how each school works. Once you believe that you have found your best fit, ensure that your essays and the application focus on how you benefit from and contribute to the school.

What was the key factor t-at led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? My long term goal is to become a CEO of a large tech organization in the big data domain, and to achieve this goal it was necessary for me to obtain an MBA from a top-notch program. I knew that ASU’s W. P. Carey School, with its unique teamwork and collaborative learning ecosystem, would not only provide me with the proper CEO toolkit, but also prepare me to become a better leader in the technology industry. In addition, I’m not a big fan of cold, and therefore W. P. Carey, with its location in the heart of Tempe, a warm and lively city, was a natural choice for me.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?  Experiencing a global corporate environment and learning different management styles and methods from a wide variety of cultures and people would be a success for me, and I plan on applying these skills acquired at the W. P. Carey School in my internship.

Allen Matsika 

W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less:  I am a fun, determined, and inexorable force of nature destined for happiness and greatness.

Hometown: Rusape, Zimbabwe

Fun Fact About Yourself: I recently learned to swim.

Undergraduate School and Major: St. John’s College, Liberal Arts

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

• Los Alamos National Bank, Marketing Assistant
• Homewise, Real Estate Customer Services and Sales Specialist,Loan Administrative Assistant

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment in my career involves cultivating and maintaining honest relationships. I asked my then-company to halt payments for a certain certification I was going to receive. The sponsorship was upwards of four figures. The certification was also transferable to other companies and would have made me a very marketable person. Furthermore, I was in the process of planning a move to another firm. I decided not to take advantage of my employer and I could not give them the actual reason. Still, I asked them to halt the sponsorship. A few weeks later, I accepted an offer for a position at another company and moved. My previous supervisors and CEO were all appreciative of the integrity I showed, and my relationships with them have been nothing but wonderful even though I left. A good name is better than riches when business is personal.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Do what you can to excel in the admissions interview. Try to have several mock interviews before the actual interview – at least one. Spend time before and in-between the mock interviews asking yourself what it is about who you are that makes you a good fit for the business school. Having an authentic and consistent story that demonstrates self-awareness and remember that fit is the key to connecting with interviewers. It can help to discuss with someone whom you think knows you.

Some people have amazing stories, but they fail to communicate them. Mock interviews help refine how you are conveying your story before you face the actual interview panel. It’s not only about practice, but it’s more about getting your authentic story ready for the world to appreciate you better.

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?  Many reasons went into my decision for choosing this program. Here is a key one: My interactions with the admissions staff and faculty were overwhelmingly positive. Never have I met a group of people that celebrate uniqueness with such authentic and heartfelt enthusiasm. It is contagious, liberating, and empowering. This is individuality acknowledged in a wholesome and constructive way. It evinces that the W. P. Carey career staff and faculty believe that business is personal. And that sense of people who believe what they say and are desirous of inclusive community won me over.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? I will feel more confident in my leadership skills. That would mean that I can sit with a group of people, participate in and facilitate conversations in a constructive way. Skillfully balancing inclusiveness while achieving a goal. And then be able to apply these same skills in networking, entrepreneurship, and in other areas of my life. 

Jennifer McAlpine 

W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less:  A curious, confident, and stubbornly optimistic global nomad who thrives on change.

Hometown: Woodbury, MN

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve hiked to the highest point in the Sahara desert, where I caught snowflakes on my tongue and saw a rainbow.

Undergraduate School and Major:  University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Economics and Global Studies

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: U.S. Department of State, Foreign Service Officer

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Budget policies I designed and advanced saved the State Department $7 million in a year, allowing the U.S. to quickly fund election monitoring in the Ukraine at the height of the crisis.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants?  Don’t take any advice on essay writing or the admissions interview (irony noted). These sections are about showcasing you as an individual; if you are authentic, any school that doesn’t see why you are great does not deserve your time.

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 diversity of the MBA program at the W. P. Carey School of Business was the biggest driver of my decision to come here. Your classmates influence your MBA experience more than any other factor external to yourself, and W. P. Carey seeks out people with fascinating and varied life experiences. “Where Business is Personal” isn’t just something they say — they recruit students to align with the school’s values.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? I will be successful if after the first year I am confident using my newly acquired business-thinking skills to tackle any problem!

Maria Fernanda Medina Perez 

W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: When I was nine years-old, I admonished the CFO of a company for wasting money.

Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico

Fun Fact About Yourself: I ate a scorpion once.

Undergraduate School and Major: Marketing, Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: 

DuPont Mexico, Marketing Analyst

Pfizer Mexico, Customer Relationship Management Coordinator

Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, High School Teacher

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:  It was 10 p.m. on an idle Wednesday, and I called my boss while he was on a business trip. I told him that I had tried every resource and every possible solution that I was able to think of, but I still could not get the pricing project done. Then I started crying. So, this part of the story is not the happiest part, but to me, it was the key that unlocked the door to my future. It taught me that being vulnerable and asking for help is an essential ingredient in the recipe for success. Sometimes it may be painful to do so, but from that experience I learned that it is better to ask for help as soon as you need it rather than waiting until you are on the brink of failure. Of course, you can imagine that the pricing project was successful and the reason I am proudest of it is that it taught me three essential things. First, you need to ask for help if you want to achieve great things. Second, if you can push yourself through the pain of solving the problem that’s in front of you, you’ll be able to handle more and more. Last, even when you don’t have all the resources or skills to achieve a task or a project, you can solve it with determination.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? I have two bits of advice. The first one is for people who are still undecided about whether or not to pursue an MBA, and the second one is for those who are already in the process.

First, do not be afraid of listening and following your internal voice. I can tell you the precise moment when I decided to quit my job at Pfizer to undertake my previous job as a teacher and to prepare myself for being accepted into a prestigious MBA program. That moment was one day when I woke up in the morning, and something inside me told me that if I did not quit my job, then I could not study for a full-time MBA. I was so scared to make that decision (financial security was one of the most important factors for that fear), and the only reason that I can think that gave me the courage to take it was my faith in God. However, at this point of the story, I am not inviting you to quit your job. What I want to say is that if you take a pause in your busy life and you ask yourself what you need to get accepted into the program that you want, you’ll find the answer.

Secondly, if you’ve already decided to pursue an MBA program, then don’t take your eyes off the prize. I consider myself a very social person, so following this advice was quite difficult for me. Especially, when you’re preparing yourself for the GRE or TOEFL or GMAT, there will be times you will need to make some sacrifices like spend less time with your boyfriend or girlfriend, or not hang out with your friends. What I constantly thought when I was studying on a Friday night at home instead of being at a party with my friends was that if I wanted to get different results than other people, I needed to do things differently.

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? Diversity. I do not know when I will have the time and money to travel to more than 20 countries all over the world and when I will have a chance to spend two years in those countries and know how people live and think in those countries. What I do know is that at W. P. Carey this is possible. Plus, it’s probably even better because if you become part of this community your classmates will be young professionals just like you but that were born in a different part of the world. For instance, my roommate is from Jamaica, and I choose to stay with her because I wanted to push myself in all the possible ways I could. I look forward to perfecting my English in a way that by the end of this two years I can feel and express myself as comfortably as I do in my mother tongue. When in your life would you be able to grab a beer with someone from Romania, Morocco, India, and Mexico at the same table and that those persons are excited and willing to share their experiences with you? Those kinds of experiences I will cherish for a lifetime.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?  I visualize myself as being part of a leadership development program at a pharmaceutical company located in the USA or Mexico; coming back home and seeing my future husband; participating in a volunteer program for mentoring and coaching people that want to pursue an MBA or another degree abroad; and organizing a reunion event for my classmates of W. P. Carey.

Jared Richards 

W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less:  I use my blinker even when there are no other vehicles on the road.

Hometown: Apex, North Carolina

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am a police officer and a captain in the Arizona Army National Guard.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Criminal Justice

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Police officer with the Raleigh Police Department in North Carolina and the Phoenix Police Department in Arizona.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I have risen to the rank of captain in the Army National Guard — a feat I would never have imagined growing up — which has blessed me with leadership opportunities that greatly expanded my professional skills in all aspects of my life. Simultaneously, I have succeeded as a police officer for four years in what has arguably been the hardest time for the profession.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Do not ever sell yourself short. The future of work needs diverse individuals who can provide a new approach to complex problems. There are always going to be applicants who will have vastly more experience and training than you have, but nothing can replace who you are as an individual and the ideas you can create. I came from a non-business background, and I feel that I fit in perfectly with everyone here, specifically because I bring my unique life experiences and point of view to the table. Business schools need big hearts and talented minds from all backgrounds to set the bar even higher for the future.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you?  My wife was going to ASU for her doctorate in nursing practice. Through her and others, I have heard about how impressive the Master of Business Administration program is at the W. P. Carey School. I decided to do more research and saw the unlimited potential in this program. The faculty has made an impact worldwide, and the leadership at ASU has continued to push the standard higher and higher. The Forward Focus MBA Scholarship is such an amazing value, investing in talent that otherwise would not be able to attend. I applied because I wanted to be a part of the journey and learn from this experience. Now, I am fortunate to work with talented individuals every day, and they continue to impress me more as time goes on.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? My success would come in the form of earning a career where I can bring my business analytics concentration to work in the real world. I want to be in a position where I can become a subject matter expert and build a reputation of leadership potential, quickly moving into a supervisory position. I am passionate about public safety and physical security, so I plan to target those industries where I can apply my previous experience in the military and law enforcement to provide a valued perspective on the product I represent. Success for me would be working in a position that can utilize both this passion and my advanced education from the W. P. Carey School of Business. 

Michelle Slifcak Villa 

W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University

Describe yourself in 15 words or less:  I’m fun-loving, curious, a learner through and through, and have traveled the world.

Hometown: Woodstock, Georgia

Fun Fact About Yourself: I can speak Ukrainian, thanks to living and teaching English in Ukraine for almost two years!

Undergraduate School and Major: Kennesaw State University, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Peace Corps Volunteer: TEFL Ukraine ’12-’14; Manager, Continuum Communications and Systems: Teach For America Dallas-Fort Worth ’14-’16; a brief stint at a dog treat company as their Procurement Analyst in 2017.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Getting into the full-time MBA program at W. P. Carey for sure!

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants?  I took a $125, six-week GMAT prep course at a local community college that was an absolute game changer for me! They can be really hard to find, but it’s absolutely worth it to call all of your local community colleges to see if they offer a reasonably priced course like this one. Don’t pay for those ridiculous $1,000 courses when you can get the same thing for much cheaper.

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, the fit of the program at the W. P. Carey School was my No. 1 motivating factor (having a full-ride scholarship through the Forward Focus program sure doesn’t hurt either!). There’s a reason why the Forward Focus MBA at W. P. Carey has helped the university earn No. 1 in the nation in innovation (U.S. News & World Report) — you see it right off the bat during orientation. You KNOW you’re getting a dynamic, unique, and highly effective business education. I didn’t want to get the same exact experience you can get from any other MBA program.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? Getting an internship at one of my target companies, such as Google, Microsoft, or Mercedes Benz!   

Shalini Thomas 

W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I believe that ensuring administrative and innovative excellence at a nonprofit is how I can make the greatest impact in the fight for justice.

Hometown: Iowa City, IA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I figured out very late in life that I love spreadsheets and Excel! I don’t think anything about where I am now, or my current trajectory would be the same if I hadn’t realized this while I was still in high school.

Undergraduate School and Major: Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service, International Politics Major

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: 

BIA Accredited Representative at Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services in El Paso, TX

Economic Justice Advocate with Comité de Justicia Laboral/Texas Civil Rights Project in El Paso, TX

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: While working full-time at a nonprofit, I also volunteered 20 hours a week to help organize and run an emergency shelter for refugee families caught by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the US/Mexico border. During my busiest time at the shelter, we received close to 100 refugees a day.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Aim high! I don’t have a business background, and since I want to remain in the non-profit world after graduation, I have fairly non-traditional goals. I thought this would make me a weaker candidate, and therefore originally only applied to business schools where my GMAT score was at or above the school’s published average score. Thankfully, someone convinced me to change my approach and aim higher in time for the later admissions rounds!

In the same vein, if you want an MBA, don’t be intimidated if you don’t know anything about business. In my admissions interviews, I focused on why I want an MBA and how an MBA will allow me to achieve my career goals. I never felt that the lack of business knowledge or acumen negatively impacted me during the admissions process. If you can confidently and clearly explain why an MBA is right for you, your current knowledge (or lack thereof) won’t hold you back!

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? While I couldn’t attend Countdown (a weekend on-campus event in April for admitted students), the students I talked to who attended couldn’t stop raving about the event and the W. P. Carey staff. They said it was clear that the event organizers had put in an immense amount of effort to make the weekend enjoyable and informative for everyone, and were clearly determined to ensure each student had enough personalized individual attention to feel welcome and like an essential part of the incoming class. Their experiences convinced me that I would feel welcomed and valued, too, even though I’m not a traditional MBA student, which was a hugely important factor in my decision to join the MBA program at the W. P. Carey School.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? A management position at a nonprofit that focuses on community organizing and leadership development, where the staff and board trust me to implement what I’ve learned at W. P. Carey, allowing me to impact both staff and the community we serve positively.

Luke Zoesch 

W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I never live like today is my last. I live like it will never end.

Hometown: Park Falls, WI

Fun Fact About Yourself: I worked on NBC’s “The Voice,” Season 3.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Mass Media Studies

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

NCCU – Process Improvement Consultant

Wings Financial Credit Union – Branch Manager II

University of WI Credit Union – Senior Financial Specialist

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: During my career, the most impactful moment for me was helping to coach and in turn being coached by the senior management team at my most recent job. Seeing their culture and bottom line improve as we worked together was a perfect demonstration of the effectiveness of diversity in collaboration.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Become very clear about your story and tell it honestly. It’s not necessarily why you want to go into X industry or concentration, but why you have made the decisions you have in your life and your career. Demonstrate through the channels available to you that you have consciously made an effort to be more self-aware. This will help you and the admissions team to recognize how an MBA will benefit you and how your experiences will benefit others.

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? W. P. Carey, more than any top business school, seems to understand the MBA game is changing because the type of MBA graduate employers are looking for has and will continue to evolve. They have responded to that realization just like a top business would…with innovation. The Forward Focus MBA is the most innovative MBA program overhaul in at least 15 years. One of the key ways they have adapted to business needs today is by designing a program that not only gives more access to diversity, but that emphasizes its importance in decision-making. As a member and advocate of the LGBT community, I felt connected to a program whose top priority is investing in a diversity of thought and experience.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?  Influence. I believe there is a natural resource the world is always in desperate need of: empathy. The good news is empathy is renewable and limitless. My personal goal is to look at people each day and see someone who is only deserving of compassion and kindness, even if the world tells me to see something different. I am confident an MBA from the W. P. Carey School will help me influence others around me to think similar.

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