Meet Minnesota Carlson’s MBA Class Of 2020 - Poets&Quants

 

What led these professionals to enter business schools? Which programs did they also consider? What strategies did they use to choose their MBA program? What was the major event that defined them? Find the answers to these questions and many more in the in-depth profiles of these incoming MBA candidates.

The Gopher state has developed a mythology all its own. It is the land of Paul Bunyan, 10,000 lakes, and Garrison Keillor’s Lake Wobegon – “where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average.” If anything, Minnesotans are genuinely nice…despite braving sub-zero temperatures and two feet of snow each winter. In fact, the only way to annoy the locals is to sprinkle your chit-chat with an over-the-top Coen Brothers accent – one that opens with an “oh, yah” and gets punctuated with a “You bet’cha.”

Near the southeast corner of the state, you’ll find the famed Twin Cities – home to nearly four million people. It is an area packed with parks and bike trails, diverse cuisine and world class breweries – a place that ranks among the nation’s best for affordable housing and healthy living. Did I mention the Mall of America? Best of all, the region boasts 19 Fortune 500 companies, more per capita than any other metro.

A SURGING STARTUP SCENE

The Carlson School overlooks Minneapolis.

The size pales in comparison to the scope, however. “It’s not so much the 19 Fortune 500 firms as it is the diversity of sectors,” says Phil Miller, assistant dean for the Carlson MBA and MS programs in a statement to Poets&Quants. “We are a major hub for healthcare and med tech, home to United Health Group, Medtronic, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Abbott. We have food and agriculture companies including Cargill, Land O’Lakes and General Mills; value-added manufacturing companies like 3M, Ecolab and Polaris; retail giants Target and Best Buy; and financial services firms such as Ameriprise, Wells Fargo, US Bank, Thrivent and Securian. All coupled with a growing startup scene.”

Calling that scene “growing” is an example of the understated nature of Minnesotans. In 2017, Twin Cities early-state startups generated nearly $500 million dollars in venture capital funding, a 40% uptick over the previous year. This includes Bright Health, an insurer that has raised $360 million dollars in the past two years alone. With a worth of $950 million dollars, Bright Health stands to become Minnesota’s next unicorn. By the same token BoomChickaPop netted $250 million from Conagra in 2017. What’s more, the region’s big players are investing heavily in startups. Last year, Techstars opened its second incubator in Minneapolis, thanks to partnerships with Ecolab, Target, and Cargill. At the same time, General Mills operates 301 Inc., which supports early-stage food companies.

In other words, Minnesota means business. That translates into hands-on learning opportunities for MBA students…and jobs for MBA graduates at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.

STICKING  AROUND “MINNE-SNOW-TA”

“The corporate headquarters based in the Twin Cities all need talent and want to engage employees because attraction and retention is critical in our market,” Miller notes. “We’re able to provide a broader range of learning experiences to our MBA students because local firms come from a variety of sectors and in a variety of sizes. We offer students both a wide range for functional experiences, including strategy, marketing, supply chain, finance, and analytics, as well as scope. For example, larger firms tend to partner with us for narrower scope questions with more complexity, while smaller firms tend to seek and accept more strategic help.”

Sure enough, the Class of 2020 is as diverse as the industries served by the Carlson MBA. Take South Africa’s Anees Sayed, who comes to Carlson after a successful career as a human movement specialist. Using a 20 camera motion capture system, he worked with the world’s biggest cricket stars, examining their techniques so he could help them maximize their performance and reduce injury. In contrast, Elizabeth Lunn earned her degree in theater at New York University before climbing the ranks at Penguin Random House. Eric Jacques, a former football player at the University of “Minne snow ta,” has already made the transition from human resources gatekeeper to marketing rule-breaker. Then again, David Ly is a man-for-all-seasons. Trained in supply chain and operations, he has worked as a music producer who doubled as a wedding DJ.  However, his real passion is food, which led him to become a shopper insights analyst at Hormel.

“While I had almost no prior knowledge of managing a brand,” he admits, “I joined the Category Expansion team of the Snack Division, and was tasked with forecasting, analyzing, and making decisions about products General Mills hadn’t managed before. In my first six months, our team successfully launched line extensions for Fiber One Cookie. After that experience, I knew that my greatest career accomplishment was taking the risk to pursue a career that I’m passionate about.

A CLASS COMMITTED TO SERVICE

It is also a class committed to service, particularly in the military. Antonio Roa, for one, made All-American as a boxer at the U.S. Naval Academy and even shook hands with President Obama at his commissioning ceremony. His role? He became an Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer who was selected to be part of a joint exercise that used war tactics to hunt enemy submarines “in a real-world environment.” Peter Somerville also learned to lead as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. Make no mistake: it was trial-by-fire…literally.

MBA Students discussing a project.

“I will always be grateful for the opportunity to lead 44 young Marines in combat in Ramadi, Iraq in 2006,” he writes. “I was amazed and inspired by the dedication of my Marines under conditions of tremendous violence and adversity, and by how much we accomplished as a team. In my civilian career, I strive to build and lead teams with a similar mission focus and commitment to supporting each other.”

Indeed, Somerville fits the 2020 Class’ tendency to be Renaissance men and women. Before business school started, he spent the summer completing a web development boot camp in Bali before walking 500 miles across Spain as part of the Camino de Santiago. While Somerville takes pride in being a “servant leader,” his real passion is entrepreneurship. Most recently, he wielded it as a tool to support veteran-owned small business by building a 10,000 member investor community called StreetShares.

“A recent Syracuse University survey found that 25 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans plan to start a business of their own in the next 10 years,” he points out. “This wave of entrepreneurial leaders will create hundreds of thousands of new ventures, millions of U.S. jobs, and stronger local communities. Supporting these veteran leaders at StreetShares was my great privilege.”

DRIVE AND CURIOSITY DEFINE THE CLASS

Those weren’t the only achievements notched by this first-year class. Clare Smith is accustomed to working in elite company. At Harvard, she swam varsity all four years, even being named co-captain as a senior. That carried over to General Mills, where she worked directly with the company’s CEO and CFO to conduct intensive analysis on operational issues at the firm. Impact has also been a defining feature of Sarah Carroll’s career. At Second Harvest Foodbank, her outreach program served 1.7 million meals to the hungry, generating nearly $8 million dollars in economic impact in southern Wisconsin. The same could be said for Nicole Dillard, the first hire for trepwise, a management consulting firm based in New Orleans devoted to supporting local entrepreneurs.

“Over the course of four years, we helped build the capacity of over 200 organizations across sectors and industries that in turn contributed to a more robust and resilient local economy,” she says. “I am proud to have worked hand-in-hand with the founder to grow the team to 12 by the time I left to pursue my MBA.”

What has the class found since arriving at Carlson? Elizabeth Lunn, for one, observed that her peers come from so “many different “industries and life experiences,” adding she has been learning something new in every conversation. Beyond the backgrounds, the class brings a certain curiosity and open-mindedness to the fore, says David Ly.

“I’ve had so many great conversations about the state of different industries as a result of changes in technology, politics, social trends, etc. Continuing those conversations and deciding how we want to address the volatility of the world is something that makes me proud to be a Carlson MBA.”

However, it is the Class of 2020’s “drive” that has left the biggest impression on Rabeet Ahsan, a supply chain development manager from Pakistan. “They all desire the pursuit of excellence,” he explains. “A desire to marry their personal goals and self-belief to the careers they want to pursue. The conversation at Carlson begins and ends with how one can leverage their authenticity and essence to set themselves apart. Carlson grads are encouraged to become trail blazers instead of cogs in a machine.”

The Carlson School of Management

MORE BUSINESS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES MAJORS

By the numbers, the Class of 2020 grew in size over the previous year, going from 88 to 92 students. However, applications fell from 665 to 529 during the 2017-2018 cycle, a trend that has dogged American MBA programs across the board. This, in turn, led to an increase in acceptance rate, which went from 31.2% to 39.3%.

Despite the downturn, median GMAT and GPAs held steady at 690 and 3.43 respectively. The percentage of female students also enjoyed a slight uptick to 31.5%, while the percentage of underrepresented American minorities fell from 16% to 13%. The biggest shift? International student representation tumbled from 26% to 18.5%.

That was the only change wrought by the Class of 2020. For one, the class features far more business majors than previous years. This year, 24% of the class studied business-related fields as undergraduates, up four points. Another 24% majored in the social sciences, up seven points over the previous year. The biggest drop involved engineering majors, which went from holding 24% of class seats to 18.5%. Another 18.5% of the class majored in science and mathematics, followed by humanities (7.5%) and economics (4.5%).

In terms of professional experience, student backgrounds are wide and deeply segmented. The largest number of seats are held by students who worked in manufacturing. They account for 19.5% of the class. Public administration takes up another 12%, followed by health care (7.5%), educational services (6.5%), finance and insurance (6.5%), and retail (5.5%).

Go to next page for in-depth profiles of 12 Carlson MBAs from the Class of 2020. 

The Carlson School of Management

STUDENTS STEP UP IN A SMALL SCHOOL

Indeed, Carlson is a small program by MBA standards, though the larger business school (as a whole) boasts 50,000 alumni in 95 countries. However, the program is hardly being ignored. 96% of the 2018 Class, for example, earned job offers within three months of graduation. At the same time, 100% of current second-years received an internship offer. What’s more, 130 companies come to the Carlson campus to recruit MBAs according to the school.

Stakeholders are equally pleased with Carlson’s ‘small school in a resource-rich university structure as well.’ In 2018, respondents who completed The Economist’s student and alumni survey ranked Carlson in the Top 10 for opening up new careers and the Top 12 for career services and the breadth of the alumni network. Notably, the MBA program focuses heavily on leadership development, which is bolstered by ongoing one-on-one coaching and self-assessment. Ashley Ver Burg Soukup, a 2018 P&Q Best & Brightest MBA who joined General Mills after graduation, credits the school’s career center for helping her land a summer internship before she even set foot in the school.

“I learned quickly that you are not just a number when I decided to do early internship recruiting the summer before business school. Our amazing career center met with me for coaching sessions, connected me to alumni, and helped me prep for interviews … all before I was a paying student!”

Ver Burg Soukup also touts Carlson’s small class size, which requires each student to play a significant role in the program. While the program resides just outside the Top 25 MBA programs, she believes rankings only tell part of the story. “Our MBA class placed (in the top three) in seven case competitions last year alone, remarkable for a program of our size,” she adds. “My MBA experience has taught me that while rankings have value, they don’t measure everything, and they cannot tell you which program is right for you.”

INCREASED PROGRAMMING IN ANALYTICS AND INCLUSION

Philip Miller

The Carlson MBA is hardly standing pat, however. According to Phil Miller, the school has been working to update and expand its training in diversity, equity, and inclusion. That includes new additions to its programming. “In 2019, we will introduce Diversity Matters, a Carlson School Inclusive Leadership Series featuring business and community experts in diversity, equity and inclusion. This series is another extension of our diversity programming that reaches a broad audience, including our Women’s Leadership Conference, now in its 15th year, and Project Emerge – a leadership development program designed for people of color, women, LGBTQ, and first-generation students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.”

For Miller, such additions are paramount, since he believes that leaders can’t be good at management if they are lousy at inclusion. “Teams and customers are increasingly diverse, and leaders need a strong inclusive mindset, as well as the tools to communicate and engage across all forms of cultural boundaries,” he muses. “Because of this, the Carlson School reconstituted our orientation in a number of ways to fit these goals. The school built in substantially more training about topics involving diversity and inclusion, including a 360-degree assessment, and more training and engagement around how both the school and businesses can be more inclusive. The Carlson School launched visit days for LGBTQ students, students of color, and women so they can engage with prospective and current students with shared experiences and learn more about their academic experience here.”

The Carlson MBA is also expanding the use of analytics in its curriculum. Already offering a Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) that’s ranked among the world’s best, Miller believes this investment will better prepare MBAs for an increasingly data-driven world.

“Organizations across the globe are turning more and more to analytics and data to make their decisions on a day-to-day basis,” he observes. “Carlson School faculty are working across departments to rethink core statistics in the age of analytics and tie it to a suite of foundational and functional area analytics courses that tie together.”

HEALTHCARE IS A BIG DRAW

Looking for an underrated strength in the Carlson program? Try healthcare. That’s hardly a surprise, considering the Mayo Clinic’s prominence in the state. According to the Medical Alley Association, the state ranks first in the world for medical patents and inventors per 100,000 people in the world. What’s more, Minnesota medical firms have raised over $2.5 billion dollars in funding over the past five years.

Sure enough, the Carlson School is in the thick of it all. That starts with the Medical Industry Leadership Institute (MILI) Valuation Lab, a hotbed of experiential learning opportunities where students can apply what they learn in class into practice.

“For the medically-minded student, the MILI Valuation Lab is built for students digging deeply into a variety of healthcare IP to deliver a valuation assessment to inventors,” Miller says. “The cross disciplinary teams made up of students from MBA, MPP, Law, Engineering, and the Academic Health Center, expose students to every aspect of the industry and force them to think critically about the creation and delivery of value in the healthcare sector.”

ENTERPRISE PROGRAM IS A “RESUME-BUILDER”

MBA Students Portraits

Another underrated aspect of the Carlson MBA is its connections in the food and agriculture industries. Like heathcare, this stems from the state itself – which boasts a “critical mass” of food and ag behemoths like Cargill, Land O’Lakes, Hormel, General Mills, and CHS. Such clusters not only serve as a magnet for talent, but also provide potential investors and mentors to agriculture-related startups.

“The Carlson School is uniquely positioned to provide top-tier learning experiences in the food and agriculture space,” adds David Ly. “The Twin Cities houses leading companies in this industry (Cargill, General Mills, and many more), and attracts some of the world’s leading researchers. For me, having access to engage with the leaders in food and agriculture was the deciding factor to join Carlson.”

For the Class of 2020, Carlson’s biggest draw was unquestionably its Enterprise program. Launched after the first semester core and lasting over a year, the Enterprise program accounts for nearly 20% of a full-time MBA’s workload. Think of it as a “test run” before an internship and a “resume-builder” afterwards. Project-driven and divided into four concentrations, the program enables students to apply classroom learning to issues facing firms such as Warner Brothers and Best Buy. Even more, it is a chance to network with and audition for potential employers, to get inside their doors so they can gain first-experience with their culture as much as their day-to-day operations.

“AN AMAZING, LOW-RISK OPPORTUNITY”

“In the Enterprise program, Carlson School students are spending two full semesters on external client projects or running client money in the school’s fixed income fund, says Phil Miller. “Guided by faculty with deep experience at industry-leading firms, the faculty help bridge from theory to practice. The Brand Enterprise focuses on strategic and tactical marketing problems. The Consulting Enterprise allows students to take on strategy and operations challenges. The Ventures Enterprise directs students to focus on business formation and innovation related to projects for start-ups and large firms looking to be more intrapreneurial.” Finally, the Funds Enterprise manages more than $35 million of client money. These learning opportunities are the hallmark of the Carlson School MBA program.”

For Clare Smith, the Enterprise program was a means to soften the learning curve and fill knowledge gaps as she transitions towards a new career. “Each Enterprise is slightly different, but the premise of all of them is the same: to get a specific functional experience working with real companies to solve a given problem that company is currently facing. As someone who is looking to career-switch from mergers and acquisitions/finance to brand management, I am excited to have a hands-on experience in the Brands Enterprise before a summer internship. The Enterprise program provides an amazing, low-risk opportunity for students to put classroom learnings into practice and to experience first-hand different roles at different companies.”

The hands-on nature of the program, which includes multiple projects with multiple employers, also fit with how students like Elizabeth Lunn learn best. “In my work before business school,” she notes, “I learned almost everything I needed to know by asking questions and seeking out resources on the job. I knew that Carlson’s learning format would encourage me to keep up that spirit of curiosity and learn by doing.”

Students at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management with “Goldy”

The real credit for the Enterprise program, says Miller, ultimately goes to the breadth and depth of firms in the Twin Cities. “This diversity of sectors affords the Carlson School the ability to adapt our experiential learning to serve our students’ interests. For example, we were still able to sell projects in 2009 during the worst segment of the financial crisis because of the strength and diversity of industries in our market.”

“I AM BECAUSE YOU ARE”

The Enterprise program isn’t the only way to gain valuable work experience at Carlson, either. Students can complete a Global Discovery, which includes a project and a two-week excursion. As members of the Volunteers Consulting Club, members gain work experience and serve the local community by taking on consulting projects for non-profits.

“To me, [the club] represents both an amazing opportunity to apply classroom concepts in a real-world setting and a way to contribute to the common good of society,” says Rabeet Ahsan. “That’s also another reason why I chose the Carlson School of Management for my MBA, because of the potential for experiential learning and community building at the same time.”

Where does the Class of 2020 ultimately want to go? In the next five years, Antonio Roa hopes to become a senior consultant, whose brand moves from being a “Jack-of-all-trades, master of none” to a “Jack-of-all-trades, master of all.” Emma Wright, an Apple Valley native and UM grad, plans to stick around the Twin Cities as an “entrepreneur, a CEO, a mentee/mentor, an investor, and a civic participant.” Like Wright, Nicole Dillard will pursue a bigger purpose after graduation. “I see myself working at a company that is striving to make supply chains more environmentally and socially responsible and provide consumers with more information about where their food comes from.”

Looking towards his future, Eric Jacques invokes an African proverb: “I am because you are.” For him, the MBA is about developing the tools to pursue the great good, with his long-term goal of returning home to help others. “My short-term goal is to develop and optimize businesses to succeed. Long term, I aspire to return to Haiti to empower people and communities with the tools and information needed to thrive in every area of life.”

What led these professionals to enter business schools? Which programs did they also consider? What strategies did they use to choose their MBA program? What was the major event that defined them? Find the answers to these questions and many more in the in-depth profiles of these incoming MBA candidates. 

Student	Hometown	Alma Mater	Employer
Rabeet Ahsan	Karachi, Pakistan	Institute of Business Administration, Karachi	Emirates Supply Chain Services
Claudia Barrero	Cochabamba, Bolivia	Universidad Catolica Boliviana	Unilever
Sarah Carroll	Silver Spring, MD	University of Wisconsin-Madison	Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
Nicole Dillard	Cheyenne, WY	University of Pennsylvania	trepwise
Eric Jacques	Pompano Beach, FL	University of Minnesota	Cargill Inc.
Elizabeth Lunn	Sterling, VA	New York University	Penguin Random House
David Ly	Eagan, MN	University of Minnesota	Hormel Foods
Antonio Roa	Hanford, CA	United States Naval Academy	United States Navy
Anees Sayed	Hyderabad, India	University of Cape Town	Centre for Sports Science
Clare Smith	Sherborn, MA	Harvard University	General Mills
Peter Somerville	Edina, MN	Yale University	StreetShares
Emma Wright	Apple Valley, MN	University of Minnesota	Cambridge Innovation Center

Rabeet Ahsan

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

“A passionately expressive business professional who believes in making his own luck through relentless effort.”

Hometown: Karachi, Pakistan

Fun Fact About Yourself: Went on a three-day Astro Navigation and desert survival course in one of the largest deserts in Asia, the Thar desert.

Undergraduate School and Major: Institute of Business Administration (IBA, Karachi); BBA (Marketing and Supply Chain)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Business Development Manager, Emirates Supply Chain Services

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I was assigned my company’s second-largest account, Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan (RB), at the brink of a major supply chain reshuffle. We had to expand our warehousing and logistics capacity to meet the requirements of an RFQ that we won by delivering substantial rates savings. The expectations seemed near impossible: We had to find a bigger warehouse to move into, induct new vendors, set up new transportation routes and train the team while having to contend with the year-end sales pressure from our client. Leading operations and finance teams indirectly, I had to figure out the best way to deliver client and company expectations to ensure a win-win scenario. My finance and operations teams also raised concerns about overhead costs and ability to train staff at such a short notice.

I proposed radically restructuring the warehousing logistics model by subletting our operations to another vendor and overseeing the vendor rather than operating the warehouse on our own. This helped us retain a healthy PnL since this 4PL model effectively removed overhead costs and the need to train floor staff. I also managed to retain some key contractual staff by having the vendor take over their payroll, so even though they were no longer on my team, the relationships I had with them ensured that I retained a modicum of control over our vendor’s operations. In this way, I was able to deliver the project and retain the client all within a very narrow time frame.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? If there could be one word that would eloquently describe my peers in the MBA program, it would be “Driven.” Regardless of the varied experiences and walks of life they came from, they all desire the pursuit of excellence. A desire to marry their personal goals and self-belief to the careers they want to pursue. The conversation at Carlson begins and ends with how one can leverage their authenticity and essence to set themselves apart. Carlson grads are encouraged to become trail blazers instead of cogs in a machine. This “Drive” is a virtue the Carlson School of Management prides on instilling in its graduates.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? In my opinion, the Enterprise experience was the kicker that helped cement my decision to pursue an MBA here. The Enterprise experience acclimatizes students to the Minneapolis-St. Paul business community, which includes 18 Fortune 500 companies, by pairing them up with live projects even before the start of internships. Apart from being a great resume builder, the Enterprise experience allows grad students a unique insight into the company culture that research and info sessions alone might not be able to provide.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am looking forward to joining the Carlson Graduate Volunteers Consulting Club. It takes on several pro bono consulting projects for nonprofit organizations in the Twin Cities over the year. To me, it represents both an amazing opportunity to apply classroom concepts in a real-world setting and a way to contribute to the common good of society. That’s also another reason why I chose the Carlson School of Management for my MBA, because of the potential for experiential learning and community building at the same time.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Even though my career has been fulfilling in terms of variety and opportunities, it has so far been on the strategy execution side. I want to move from the tactical level to the strategy formulation level. To that end, I reasoned that an MBA from Carlson would provide the networking opportunities and skill sets necessary to make that pivot. I already had seven years of business development experience across three different industries, and I felt I hit the sweet spot in terms of experience for pursuing an MBA.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? The Carlson MBA is ranked as one of the best programs for return on investment in the country, but as an international student, I was looking for benefits other than just the dollar returns on my degree. I wanted lifelong friendships and an opportunity to become part of something larger than myself. These are benefits that cannot be quantified but are definitely worth the investment.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I applied to the University of Indiana-Bloomington (Kelley Business School), the University of Notre dame (Mendoza Business School), and Boston University (Questrom school of Business) other than Carlson.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I focused primarily on the size of the cohort and the parent university. A small class size would enable me to bond with my peers on a much more personal level than I would be able to if the cohort was 500+ students and the size of the parent university would grant me access to a large alumni base. School rankings were an important aspect, but I made sure I did not fixate over rankings too much as I wanted to graduate with an MBA experience rather than just a degree.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment was when I was being interviewed by my former employer. At the time, they were looking to set up operations in Karachi and the executive team was visiting the city. I had networked with the company through an alumni event and requested an interview. Even though my background and experience weren’t the best fit with the role they were hiring for, I was successful at petitioning for an interview through a referral from one of my former clients, Unilever Pakistan.

Advocating ideas excites me, and while I was presenting my idea to set up logistics operations in the city I grew very conscious about coming off as too excited, and was pleasantly surprised when I was told later on by the country manager that my passionate nature stood out in the interview and turned out to be a major reason why they decided to hire me. I came to the realization that most companies are looking for people with more than just ideas; they are looking for people who can get excited about working for them.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I plan on pursuing a strategy role after I graduate. My experience in business development left me with an appetite for situational leadership roles in demanding, high-visibility projects. Working in teams and on deadlines energizes me, and my ideal role would have a mix of both.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself in a leadership role with significant advocacy potential within the company. My definition of achievement would be moving into a specialty role, as opposed to a generalist role, in my industry. Five years of post-MBA experience is ample time to figure out an industry preference and gradually migrate into a specialized role in that industry.

Claudia Barrero

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

“Passionate and results-oriented marketer who is not afraid to make hard decisions and take risks.”

Hometown: Cochabamba, Bolivia

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have a really good sense of orientation. I usually remember the path by going through it only once. I can familiarize with a new place very quickly, and once I have done it, I don’t use Google Maps.

Undergraduate School and Major: Universidad Catolica Boliviana – Bachelor of Business Administration

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Unilever – Customer Marketing Manager for Personal Care

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: During my tenure as a brand manager in the hair category, I had to integrate global brand building plans with local inputs. To manage very well-known brands has great advantages, but sometimes the restrictions on positioning limit important adaptations for success in a local market. When I was managing a well-known brand that was very new in the local market, I noticed that we had an opportunity to position the brand differently with respect to price, affecting the brand positioning in the consumer’s mind. After discussing and presenting the proposal to senior management, the request was approved. Furthermore, I had to convince the regional coordinators as well. They were more hesitant of it, but it ended up being the best decision for the brand and they tried to emulate the positioning in markets with similar dynamics.

The decision required extra analysis, time, and appetite for risk. I felt vindicated when the brand achieved consistent and sustainable sales growth, and more importantly an increase in share of market when it was starting to erode for the category. The brand quickly became an important brand for the company. The brand premium positioning also helped complement an important market development project for the hair category the value price brand was championing.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Vibrant. My classmates are a bright, energetic, and full of personality group of people. Each new person I know brings fantastic experiences to the table and, as a constant, each has a vibration that resonates as hunger for success.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Experiential learning was a major point to choose this program. Carlson’s Enterprise program is a fantastic opportunity to approach real companies and problems before the internship, and receive hands-on experience in areas you would like to focus on after the MBA. Although I already have working experience in the role, I want to pursue my career after the MBA. The Enterprise projects will be the perfect setting to gain hands-on experience and add value to my resume in the U.S. market and culture.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Graduate Women in Business and Carlson Marketing Network clubs are the top choices I want to be part of during business school. I am looking forward to promoting women’s conversations in business and collaborate with anyone who pursues a challenging career into a successful one. Also, marketing is my passion. Being part of the Marketing Club will bring me networking opportunities as well as continuing growth development.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Over the span of the last few years in my career, an MBA in the U.S. always made sense to complement my professional experience. The opportunity to challenge me in a different language environment and the idea to excel across borders were a major motivation to do it. Nevertheless, it is always hard to make such a decision, especially with a job in an area you enjoy. An international working experience I had, combined with a personal situation were the perfect settings to decide to pursue an MBA degree at this point in my life.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? A simple equation of opportunities, experiences, and career perspectives after an MBA. An MBA helps you develop soft skills, hard skills, lasting relationships, and networking opportunities. Doing some math in the amount of investment against what you can get from an MBA results in a positive return on investment.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? University of Washington (Foster School of Business) and Iowa State University.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? When I was going through the researching school pool process, I needed to prioritize my requirements in order to narrow down my selection. Some of the main factors I considered were a balance among how the school will strengthen my profile over career goals, culture fit, and suiting my personal situation. Carlson combined those perfectly: a strong academic program, a great career orientation, a collaborative culture, and a great location. Research and conversations with not only the recruitment team but also with current students allow you to figure out how you will fit in a particular program.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? During my tenure at Unilever, I had the opportunity to work for one year in Uruguay as part of the short-term program the company offers to some employees. During that period, I had to contrast major cultural and operational differences in this new market, which included very different market and organizational dynamics. After a period of adaptation, it ended up being one of the most enriching experiences I ever had, professionally and personally. It was not only about learning how to deal with the challenges of a new business model and market dynamics, but it was also about learning from the people a new point of view, which enhanced my way of working and my process of thinking. The experience had a profound impact on my career and personal goals.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I plan to continue working in marketing in roles such as brand management or product management.

Where do you see yourself in five years? In marketing top management at a company with great values and growth opportunities.

Sarah Carroll

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

“Marylander-turned-Midwesterner and creative entrepreneur working to start my own organization to address factory farming.”

Hometown: Silver Spring, Maryland

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love to do photography and draw.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Class of 2011, BA in Political Science

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, FoodShare Outreach Specialist

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In my role at Second Harvest Foodbank, I built community partnerships and conducted FoodShare (SNAP) outreach and enrollment that generated 1.7 million meals to feed hungry community members and $7.9 million in local economic impact. (I have the stats if you need them).

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? New, so far! Lots of new people to meet who come from career backgrounds and professional interests that are new to me.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Social entrepreneurship fit. My goals are to start my own organization and I wanted a nonprofit management and social entrepreneurship focus to my graduate school experience. The option to do an MPP/MBA with nonprofit management on one side and the Ventures Enterprise on the other side made that possible.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I plan on applying for the Sands Fellowship and I am most looking forward to the opportunity to incubate and develop my idea in a supportive environment.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I am working on starting an organization called Greener Pastures, which is a visual storytelling and lifestyle community that celebrates the stories of farmers and organizations in humane, sustainable agriculture to help cultivate consumer demand and grassroots action away from factory farming. My background is in nonprofit development and community organizing, but I don’t have a key set of skills I need to run a strategic organization with longevity that doesn’t predominantly rely on fundraising to make an impact.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I was fortunate to receive a full scholarship for my MBA through the Forte Foundation, which is a game changer for someone with nonprofit/social venture goals. I knew that if I took the time to earn my MBA, I would have a bedrock set of organizational management skills that I could use to start my own venture, with the safety net knowledge that I could always support myself and my family in the traditional business world, which, as a woman today, is a powerful and agency-affirming feeling to have.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Carnegie Mellon, Stanford, UC Berkeley, University of Michigan (all MBA/MPP dual degree programs)

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I looked for schools with an MBA/MPP program with opportunities for applied learning while working on mission- or social impact-focused projects throughout the program. I also looked at schools in cities with a thriving progressive non-profit and food community in Big Ag states. Once I was admitted into multiple programs, I valued small class size and having a program where I felt like I could feel comfortable as a non-traditional MBA candidate.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I had the experience of witnessing a factory farm up-close when I was a child, and it shaped my understanding that we can have a food system that is kinder, greener, and more just than what we have now – and that people fundamentally care about the values behind their food!

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I plan to launch my organization, Greener Pastures, during my time at Carlson and work as its executive director ongoing.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Leading and working with a passionate team to inspire support for humane, sustainable agriculture at Greener Pastures.

Nicole Dillard

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

“Driven, giving professional passionate about social and environmental impact in the food and agriculture industry.”

Hometown: Cheyenne, Wyoming – with post undergraduate career (seven years) in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Fun Fact About Yourself: The summer before attending Carlson, I woofed (world wide opportunities on organic farms) on a biodynamic vineyard in the Piedmont region of Italy and an organic rice and vegetable farm on Shikoku island in Japan.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Pennsylvania – Dual Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and Urban Studies

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: trepwise – Chief Operating Officer

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In 2014, I was the first hire at a new management consulting firm, trepwise, in New Orleans that was established to help entrepreneurs who were gaining traction continue to grow their business. Over the course of four years, we helped build the capacity of over 200 organizations across sectors and industries that in turn contributed to a more robust and resilient local economy. Additionally, as the chief operating officer, I was focused on accelerating the growth of our start-up and I am proud to have worked hand-in-hand with the founder to grow the team to 12 by the time I left to pursue my MBA.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Inspiring. On a daily basis, I have been surprised by the level of expertise my fellow classmates have developed through their past experiences. It is motivating to be part of this talented group of individuals using intellect and passion to rise to the next level.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? I plan to pursue a career in food and agriculture after my MBA and therefore attending a school in a region with a critical mass of large companies in this industry was key. I chose the Carlson School of Management because in 2018 the business community in the Twin Cities had 19 companies on the Fortune 500 list, including five that are food and agriculture related.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? My long-term career goal is to work in corporate social responsibility and use my career to help create a more socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable world. I am very excited to join the Net Impact Club, a chapter of an international nonprofit organization whose mission is to make a positive impact on society by growing and strengthening a community of leaders who use business to improve the world. One exciting event recently publicized by our Net Impact chapter is the first ever Food | Ag | Ideas Week in the Twin Cities, powered by Grow North, a resource and connection hub for Minnesota’s food and agriculture entrepreneur and innovation ecosystem housed within the University of Minnesota’s Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Through my consulting work in New Orleans, I was exposed to the positive impact of social entrepreneurship and business as a force for good. Pursuing an MBA will allow me to build upon my social entrepreneurship and start-up operations experience to transition into a larger, corporate company where small decisions can have a big impact on society. Additionally, as I am looking to work in the food and agriculture industry, an MBA will provide me with the opportunity to learn more about supply chains and manufacturing.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I was fortunate to work at a small start-up where multiple team members had previously pursued MBA degrees and were able to speak to the value it provided each of them. Through these conversations, it became clear that the investment (time and money) would pay off if I did the due diligence to find a school that was the right fit for me. To determine this fit, I had to define my ideal geography, class size, post-MBA career, school culture, and more.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? (1) University of Washington, (2) University of Colorado Boulder, (3) Berkeley, (4) University of Chicago, and (5) Northwestern.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? When applying to MBA programs, one of my initial criteria was geography because I wanted to move closer to my family. From there, I focused on the school’s class size, specialties in industry or function, and any key differentiating factors. However, determining fit was more than just facts on a piece of paper. The tipping point for me was when I visited the schools I was accepted at and spoke with students and alumni in my intended function or industry. The opportunity to make these strong connections allowed me to dig in deeper and determine if there was a cultural fit and if the school’s offerings aligned with my career goals.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? It all began with a traveling oyster bar in New Orleans, Louisiana. While working full-time at a management consulting firm, I had a side hustle shucking oysters for a friend’s start-up. While I had previously worked with social entrepreneurs and already believed in the power of business to do good, shucking oysters was when it all came together – business, food, community, and sustainability. We sourced our oysters from local waters, supported small fisherman, and recycled the shells to help preserve our coastline. I realized I was part of a socially and environmentally responsible food venture that was creating jobs, providing regionally-based alternatives to wasteful consumption practices, and creating communities built around food. This experience reinforced my beliefs and desire to use my career to help create a more socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable world through the food and agriculture industry.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? My post MBA plans are to work in the food and agriculture industry in either a supply chain and operations or corporate strategy role.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Five years from now, I hope to have advanced into a corporate social responsibility role within the food and agriculture industry. I see myself working at a company that is striving to make supply chains more environmentally and socially responsible and provide consumers with more information about where their food comes from.

Eric Jacques

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

“I am a challenge seeker with unwavering resolve to constantly achieve new levels of success.” 

Hometown: Pompano Beach, FL

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have a twin brother and I am a first-generation Haitian-American.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Minnesota, Marketing

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Cargill Inc., Associate Marketing Manager.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Successfully making a career shift from HR into marketing and developing point-of-sale marketing materials that significantly increased the customer base and generated substantial sales during the first year.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? The quality that best describes the classmates I’ve met so far is passionate. My classmates are dynamic future leaders with a breath of experiences in various functions and industries, yet they’re unassuming. Everyone has so much to bring to the learning environment and I am excited to be going on this journey with such talented people.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The opportunity to immediately apply classroom learning to real-world business problems was the key factor that led me to choose the Carlson program for my full-time MBA. This was very important to me because I am an ambitious person who learns the most by having practical, hands-on learning experiences.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am mostly looking forward to joining the finance and investment club. At this point in my career I’ve held five different roles across two functions. I believe that earning my MBA at Carlson is a great opportunity to fortify my skill set and hone in on my strengths while building my leadership substance. When it comes to investing, I am a numbers guy. The quick return on investment and the opportunity to learn from the University of Minnesota’s world-renowned business staff convinced me that getting an MBA would be worth the investment.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I considered the university’s reputation in the business world, the character of the alumni that I’ve personally interacted with, and what current students shared during informational interviews.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment came when I was 18 years old; I made the decision to accept a scholarship offer to play college football at the University of Minnesota. Looking back, the decision to leave sunshiny Florida to pursue my academic and athletic aspirations in Minneapolis, “minna-snow-ta” was the best decision I could have made for my life.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I am a strong believer in the African proverb Ubuntu: I am because you are. The desire to influence people for the greater good of communities around the world is the reason for my success and the fuel for why I continue to march on with the sincere hope to help others. Therefore, my short-term goal is to develop and optimize businesses to succeed. Long term, I aspire to return to Haiti to empower people and communities with the tools and information needed to thrive in every area of life.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself leading and influencing an organization to make strategic impactful business decisions.

Elizabeth Lunn

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

“Creative professional passionate about problem-solving, social impact, and collaborating with dynamic teams.”

Hometown: Sterling, Virginia

Fun Fact About Yourself: I performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade—two years in a row!—while I was in high school.

Undergraduate School and Major: New York University, BA in Dramatic Literature

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Penguin Random House, Associate Managing Editor

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment so far has been helping transition teams through a multi-system integration. As a result of a merger at my previous company, there was an immense corporate-level effort to integrate all systems between the various divisions. My role was to attend numerous trainings and give feedback to the corporate team, helping create a system that was inclusive of my departments’ needs. I then helped train my teammates to use the new systems and trouble-shooted any early issues or confusion. I knew I had done my job when after about a week, no one was even talking about the systems anymore—productivity was back to normal!

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? My MBA classmates are so insightful. We have students who were teachers, engineers, servicemen and -women, consultants, and financial analysts, from many different industries and life experiences. I learn something new from every conversation I have with them, whether we’re discussing the viability of a product in a new market or the best foods at the Minnesota State Fair. My classmates all have a perspective that is unique to me, and I’ve already been challenged to think more widely and deeply.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Carlson’s experiential learning program was the single biggest draw for me. After a rigorous first semester in core academics, the curriculum becomes very heavily project-based, with teams working to solve real business problems for local companies. In my work before business school, I learned almost everything I needed to know by asking questions and seeking out resources on the job. I knew that Carlson’s learning format would encourage me to keep up that spirit of curiosity and learn by doing.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m most looking forward to diving deep into the marketing function through clubs and extracurricular activities. By joining the Carlson Marketing Network, contributing to the Elite 8 Brand Management case competition (as either a team member or organizer), and finding other ways to take on leadership roles during my time in business school, I hope to become a more well-rounded marketing professional and to engage with the Carlson community in a really fun and meaningful way.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? In my previous role as a book managing editor, my work coincided with every department in the business—inventory management, contracts, production, sales, publicity, etc. As much as I was able to learn from experience, I knew that my knowledge was limited to my company and my industry. I was curious about how different roles translate to other industries and enthusiastic about growing my knowledge of the marketing function, so I decided to pursue an MBA to broaden my experience and worldview.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I knew I wanted to pursue an MBA because I saw how valuable it was for my partner’s career. Though my partner’s program was defined and structured very differently than mine is, his three years as an MBA student allowed him to apply his classroom knowledge on the job and gave him so many career opportunities while he built his network. Witnessing his growth as a leader made me confident that an MBA would be a great investment for me as well.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I applied to Northwestern Kellogg, Michigan Ross, and the Wisconsin School of Business.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I knew early in my MBA program search that I wanted a change of environment and a strong, collaborative community. Having gone to a school with a city campus for my undergraduate degree, I sought out programs that had more of a “campus feel” with small class sizes and abundant individual resources. A friendly, inclusive culture was extremely important to me, and I assessed schools by visiting in person and communicating with current students. I felt confident that many MBA programs would help me achieve my career goals but ultimately got the best of both worlds in a school both known for its marketing program and situated in a metropolitan area with plenty of industry growth and opportunity.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? A lifelong fan of theatre, dance, literature, and the arts, I always knew I wanted to work in a creative industry, contributing to projects that feel culturally valuable to me. I landed my dream job working in book publishing but realized that simply participating in a creative industry does little to inspire me; rather, I need to be able to think creatively and innovatively to find significance in my job. My favorite moments working in publishing involved dealing with ambiguity and finding unique solutions to complicated problems, even if those problems were small-scale and operational in nature. When I realized over time that I could be a creative professional regardless of industry, it seemed to instantly open many doors that I always thought were closed for me.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? After graduation, I plan to move into a marketing role in the CPG or retail industry. Though I’m not sure yet whether that role will be in brand management, consumer insights, or retail buying, I am excited to join a vibrant community of marketers in the Twin Cities and continue to be a resource for future MBA students at Carlson.

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I hope to have established a promising career in marketing, working toward a director role or other leadership position. Regardless of title, I want to be using my experience and knowledge to help build others’ careers and mentor young professionals who may be making important career decisions to figure out their own abilities, passions, and skills. I have benefitted from a supportive community in all stages of my career and hope to create this kind of environment in my future workplace.

David Ly

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

“Passionately pursuing ambitious, market-driven ideas that accelerates us toward a more egalitarian society.”

Hometown: Eagan, Minnesota

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m a DJ/producer, and run a small wedding DJ business on the side. I love being a part of both the local/international dance community; music allows me to express myself in a way that I haven’t been able to replicate in other parts of my life. I’ve also learned a lot from managing a business/brand from a different angle than what I’m used to.

Undergraduate School and Major: BS in Supply Chain and Operations Management (Minor in HR) at the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Shopper Insights Analyst at Hormel Foods

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My first job out of college was an analyst role in Deloitte’s Human Capital practice. While I loved the challenge, I found that I wanted to pursue a career in food. While I was lucky enough to find an opportunity as a marketing analyst at General Mills via my network, the shift from HR consulting to brand management was my biggest professional challenge I’ve faced. While I had almost no prior knowledge of managing a brand, I joined the Category Expansion team of the Snack Division, and was tasked with forecasting, analyzing, and making decisions about products General Mills hadn’t managed before. In my first six months, our team successfully launched line extensions for Fiber One Cookie. After that experience, I knew that my greatest career accomplishment was taking the risk to pursue a career that I’m passionate about.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? My classmates are curious and open-minded about what’s in store for the future. I’ve had so many great conversations about the state of different industries as a result of changes in technology, politics, social trends, etc. Continuing those conversations and deciding how we want to address the volatility of the world is something that makes me proud to be a Carlson MBA.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The Carlson School is uniquely positioned to provide top-tier learning experiences in the food and agriculture space. The Twin Cities houses leading companies in this industry (Cargill, General Mills, and many more), and attracts some of the world’s leading researchers. For me, having access to engage with the leaders in food and agriculture was the deciding factor to join Carlson.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m most looking forward to learning from my peers’ experiences via case competitions, and joining the new Food & Ag Club.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? In the past year, I decided that I want to own my own food company. I don’t know exactly what it would look like, and I wanted to have time and space to learn about what it means to be an entrepreneur. After talking to a few alumni about my options, I knew that getting an MBA would give me the tools to succeed.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I didn’t spend too much time doing any kind of cost/benefit analysis, nor did I save a lot of money prior to making my decision. I thought about it more in terms of how much I would regret the decision if I didn’t get an MBA. For me, it was the right time to take two years to reflect on who I want to be and what I want to achieve.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Kellogg, Stanford

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I mostly talked to people and did online research (P&Q was very helpful!)

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? When I was young, my mom was a single parent who worked two waitress jobs on top of studying to become an accountant. I would go to class with her every now and then, but other than that, I had no idea how hard she worked at building a better life for us. She’d spend nights waitressing tables, studying, or (somehow) doing both, sacrificing her health and any semblance of a social life. I was eight years old when I went to her graduation. For the first time in my life, I saw a meaningful example of what it means to truly believe in yourself, and strive toward a goal. In recalling my mom’s dedication to our family’s future, I’m able to have the confidence to overcome any challenge that comes my way.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? Ideally, I would be in a place where I’ve raised enough funds to make my full-time job the pursuit of an idea I’m passionate about. That said, I’m open to spending a couple of years at a startup or nonprofit in the food space.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself in Minnesota, doing things with food.

Antonio Roa 

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

“Inherently positive and uplifting leader. Committed to teamwork, growth, and development.”

Hometown: Hanford, CA

Fun Fact About Yourself:

• Shook hands with former President Barack Obama during the Naval Academy commissioning ceremony.
• Spent two months at a naval facility training to “hunt” enemy submarines, which led to participating in a joint exercise employing war tactics and techniques in a real-world environment.
• I’m a Naval Academy boxer who became All-American at the national collegiate level.

Undergraduate School and Major: United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD – Bachelors of Science in Information Technology ‘13.

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: U.S. Navy – Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer and Maintenance and Material Management Officer (Translates to a Senior Division Manager)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: The biggest accomplishment in my career was when I took on the role as the principal coordinator for the maintenance and modernization of a Navy warship. I was the liaison between the navy warship’s personnel and project managers and contractors. I problem solved and de-conflicted arising issues, and provided updates to my site leads and director. As a result, the warship was able to complete all its scheduled maintenance and modernizations in a safe and controlled environment.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? If I were to summarize my MBA classmates into one word, it would be “inspiring.” After meeting with many of my classmates during the first week of orientation, I can’t help but be reminded of their unique visionary ideas. Their ideas stretch far-and-wide, and ultimately share a common theme of making a change in the community. I think it’s inspiring how discussing a simple, general idea can grow into a complex, intriguing passion.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Carlson’s small, diverse, and prestige community reminded me of the Navy. I felt that their support toward military veterans, coupled with their collaborative, welcoming, and supportive culture made them a perfect fit.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am looking forward to the Graduate Volunteer Consultants Club. I am excited to be a part of a team that is dedicated to solving real-world issues free of charge for local nonprofit organizations. I’m excited for both the experience and positive impact our team will provide.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career?  I realized that the experience and knowledge gained through pursuing an MBA would complement the military leadership skills that would propel me into becoming a more effective business leader.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I decided that an MBA was worth the investment after humbling myself and realizing that I was missing a key aspect for sustained success: the language of business.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Carlson was the one school that I applied for.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? The main factor in determining my best fit was having a strong presence of veterans with veteran support. I wanted to be around a small and diverse community that had a large talent pool. I valued Carlson’s high reputation with top businesses. When I learned that Carlson had all these qualities, I knew that it was the perfect fit for me.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment was forged during my time in the Navy working to earn my qualification as a Surface Warfare Officer. During these difficult times, I became a person who continually persevered, made no excuses, and produced results. I understood that if I were to fail, I would fail falling forward. I would get up, and continue to move forward until the mission was accomplished. I became a warfighter who approached challenges with fearless enthusiasm.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? After graduation, I plan on transferring to a strategic management consulting firm as a generalist. During this time, I look forward to traveling and being exposed to a vast amount of projects within a variety of industries. As I find my niche, I aim to specialize in that area and truly refine my professional reputation.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I see myself as a senior consultant and aspiring project leader. As a senior consultant, I will have improved my brand as a “Jack-of-all-trades, master of none” to a “Jack-of-all-trades, master of all.” I would love to see myself coming back to Carlson as one of its success stories, inspiring incoming students on the bright future ahead of them.

Anees Sayed

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

“An analytical problem-solver, curiously looking for new challenges when not playing racket sports.”

Hometown: Hyderabad, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: Although I was born in India, I grew up in Botswana and studied in South Africa. I have lived in Southern Africa longer than I have lived in India.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Cape Town (South Africa), Mechatronics Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Centre for Sports Science (Chennai, India), working as a Biomechanist (Human Movement Specialist)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I was appointed as one of the five human movement specialists in the world by the International Cricket Counsel (ICC): the global governing body for the sport of cricket. This gave me an opportunity to work with international cricketers whom I followed on television and the news. I had the responsibility to analyze their movements in the lab and provide feedback as to how they could change their technique to reduce their injury risk and perform more efficiently on the sports field.

But getting to that stage took months of planning and execution. I started the role of a biomechanist with limited work experience. I had the responsibility of managing the operations of a world-class sports testing laboratory, including a 20-camera motion capture system, which was the biggest sports motion capture system in India. I worked tirelessly to get the lab running, spending the first four-to-five months continually tinkering with the hardware and working on setting up an athlete testing protocol.

At the end of the first five months at work, the persistent groundwork ensured that my laboratory was successful in being accredited by the world governing body for the sport of cricket to analyze cricketers and I was the third person appointed as a human movement specialist by the ICC. I am very proud of this achievement as it led to an influx of athletes who wanted to get their technique analyzed in the lab. This kept me very busy, but more importantly led to increased revenue. This also opened the doors for my employer to tie up with various sporting bodies within India and collaborate with researchers from Australia and South Africa.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Diverse is one word which comes to mind. My classmates have impressive careers as expected, but they have an even more impressive list of extracurricular activities and fun facts. They are very different to me in many ways, which means I will get to learn a great deal (both professionally and personally) from each one of them.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The experiential learning at the Enterprise program at Carlson was the deciding factor for me. During my school research and interaction with Carlson students, I found out about the Enterprise program and how the students got to engage and work with real businesses solving real problems. I wanted to have the practical experience to supplement the classroom teachings. The Enterprise program was important as it would allow me to gain invaluable experience in bridging my knowledge gaps and prepare me for my post-MBA career.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Besides the Carlson’s Enterprise projects, I want to get involved with the Graduate Volunteers Consultants Club. This club would serve the dual purpose of serving a local non-profit organization (free-of-cost) and developing my consulting skills.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I wanted to shift from the technical role I was involved in, to a more client-facing and decision-making role. An MBA would not only give me the core knowledge to facilitate this career shift, but it would also help me hone my leadership skills, which would be a great boon for my post-MBA career.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I looked at the ranking and returns on investment. The numbers do suggest that MBA degrees are expensive, but that is mitigated by higher post-MBA salaries at top ranked B-schools.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Besides Carlson, I applied to the Indian School of Business, Foster School of Business, and Rotman School of Management.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I prioritized small class size, university in a big city, and a collaborative culture. The small class size would allow me to know all my classmates well and to collaborate and learn from them. Living in a big city would allow for better networking opportunities with alumni, which would help me understand and learn about U.S. business.

As I was in India, most of my research on universities was done via email or video chat. However, I did manage to meet a Carlson student at a coffee chat in India. Speaking to current students and learning about their experiences allowed me to gauge the student culture and the opportunities available within the university to help me with my career shift.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are?

My defining moment was taking a medical devices elective in the final year of my undergraduate degree. Prior to taking that course, I envisioned that I would be working in a manufacturing plant, most likely working on the machinery after graduation. But the medical elective exposed me to the world of medical devices and how engineering knowledge could be applied to solve medical problems. For example, one of the projects required us to take an MRI image and separate it into fat, muscle, and bone. While solving that problem, I was amazed to realize that I already had the skill set to make a (small) difference in healthcare.

This experience made me realize my passion to work in healthcare and more importantly created this mindset that the work I do can create impact and help others.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I want to practice the skills of strategy and business analytics, amongst other skills, to gain insights on how to provide a better service to the customers and grow the business.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I would be looking for opportunities to grow, to create impact, and to keep myself intellectually stimulated within the organization. I would also like to dedicate some time to grow a small venture of my own.

Clare Smith

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

“Driven to succeed, motivated by challenges, energized by teammates, goofy, fun-loving, and thoughtful.”

Hometown: Sherborn, Massachusetts

Fun Fact About Yourself: I started swimming competitively at the age of four and never stopped! I swam on the Harvard Women’s Varsity Swim Team all four years in college and was co-captain my senior year.

Undergraduate School and Major: Harvard University, Government

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: General Mills, Sr. Analyst of Mergers & Acquisitions

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment was managing a project from start-to-finish for the CEO and CFO of General Mills. I liaised with senior finance leaders to construct detailed analyses and engaged with key functional leaders to understand the tactical and operating challenges underpinning my quantitative findings. At the conclusion of the project, I created the materials and presented the findings to the CEO and CFO.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? “Genuine” best describes all the MBA classmates I’ve met so far. Every single person I’ve met is down-to-earth and open. My classmates are equally excited about being at Carlson and pursuing an MBA as they are about getting to know everyone around them. Every first-year I’ve met is eager to learn about and to learn from each other’s backgrounds, perspectives, and professional experiences. It feels real, authentic, and organic.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The key factor that led me to choose Carlson was the experiential learning opportunity through the Enterprise program. As part of your two years, students choose one of four Enterprises to participate in: Brands, Consulting, Funds, or Ventures. Each Enterprise is slightly different, but the premise of all of them is the same: to get a specific functional experience working with real companies to solve a given problem that company is currently facing. As someone who is looking to career-switch from mergers and acquisitions/finance to brand management, I am excited to have a hands-on experience in the Brands Enterprise before a summer internship. The Enterprise program provides an amazing, low-risk opportunity for students to put classroom learnings into practice and to experience first-hand different roles at different companies.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m most looking forward to case competitions. As someone who is motivated by challenges and solving problems, case competitions will provide the opportunity to solve real-world problems in a competitive environment, enable me to put academic learnings into practice, and give me exposure to new industries.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? The realization that I wanted to change careers led me to pursue an MBA at this point in my career. I have five years of professional experience across two different jobs. My first job out of college was an investment banking analyst at a middle-market firm, and the second, and most recent, was a mergers and acquisitions analyst at General Mills. Through project work at these two jobs, but perhaps more notably at General Mills, I was exposed to various careers outside of financial services and corporate mergers and acquisitions. At General Mills, I had the opportunity to work with managers across the organization in different functions, businesses, and geographies. Through these interactions, I learned that I wanted to pursue a career in marketing and merchandising to have responsibility and influence over the P&L, while keeping the parts of my jobs I love: performing highly analytical and strategic analyses and working on cross-functional teams.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I first was confident in my desire to change careers. I performed enough personal introspection and research talking with people about marketing and merchandising to know that both careers had the types of responsibility, leadership, and influence I was looking for in my long-term career. Since I wanted to make this career shift and I knew that I could not easily, if at all, make the switch without an MBA, the question of if an MBA was worth the investment was an easy yes.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? None!

How did you determine your fit at various schools? Online research only gave me the basic facts about a given school. Although it is necessary to understand a program’s structure and academic offerings, it was far more valuable for me to get as much face-to-face interaction with a particular school in order for me to truly determine my fit. As a result, I met with as many current students, alumni, staff, and faculty as I could to not only learn more about the program’s strengths or best attributes. More importantly (for me), I wanted to get a sense for the school’s culture. I attended lunches and other programs hosted by schools’ admissions. I signed up for class visit days where I sat in on classes with second-year students. I learned from these students first-hand why they loved the program, what their experiences were like as students, and how they were pursuing their career goals. Additionally, those visits gave me a sense of the faculty-student relationship and what an MBA class environment feels like. Beyond class visits, I also talked to alumni I knew personally or professionally to hear why they loved their MBA experience and what they believed were the benefits of that specific school, now several years out. Through all of these face-to-face, personal interactions, I was able to determine how each school fit my career goals as well as my personality and personal development goals.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? After I graduate, I plan to work in one of three areas: B2C marketing, B2B marketing or buying and merchandising in retail.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Five years doesn’t feel so far away! I envision myself in a brand management/marketing or buying/merchandising role at a company that I am passionate about. I envision myself very happy with my career switch and excited about the responsibilities, influence, and leadership my role affords!

Peter Somerville

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

“Marine Corps veteran with a servant leader mindset and bias for action pursuing entrepreneurship.”

Hometown: Edina, Minnesota

Fun Fact About Yourself: This summer, I took a web development boot camp in Bali, walked 500 miles across Spain along the Camino de Santiago, and visited 10 other countries for the first time.

Undergraduate School and Major: Yale University, BA in Philosophy

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: StreetShares Inc., Director of Investor Relations

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Creating and growing a 10,000-member investor community passionate about supporting veteran-owned small businesses during my time at StreetShares. A recent Syracuse University survey found that 25 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans plan to start a business of their own in the next 10 years. This wave of entrepreneurial leaders will create hundreds of thousands of new ventures, millions of U.S. jobs, and stronger local communities. Supporting these veteran leaders at StreetShares was my great privilege.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Carlson MBA students are enthusiastic about supporting each other and helping fellow classmates achieve their goals. It’s exciting to be part of a community with such a spirit of generosity, and it makes getting to know my classmates a lot of fun.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Experiential learning is a cornerstone of the Carlson MBA program. I learn best by taking a hands-on approach, applying classroom concepts to real-world challenges, so I was excited to learn about the Carlson Ventures Enterprise. I will pursue entrepreneurship in the years ahead, so the opportunity to work on new ventures as part of the core curriculum at Carlson is very attractive to me.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? The Sands Family Social Venturing Fellowship offers Carlson MBA students an opportunity to pursue a social venture to make a difference in the Minnesota community, and offers a wealth of mentoring, entrepreneurship training, and other support.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? After spending the past four years at StreetShares, a startup providing financial services to the military and veteran entrepreneurship community, I’m eager to lead a startup of my own. I am pursuing an MBA at Carlson to translate my Marine Corps skills and experiences into the language of business.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Harvard, Wharton

How did you determine your fit at various schools? A two-year MBA program goes by very quickly, so it’s critical to research schools that are a good fit for your learning style, and supportive of your career goals. At Carlson, I found a hands-on learning environment, a collaborative student community, and deep connections and outlets to the entrepreneurial community.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I will always be grateful for the opportunity to lead 44 young Marines in combat in Ramadi, Iraq in 2006. I was amazed and inspired by the dedication of my Marines under conditions of tremendous violence and adversity, and by how much we accomplished as a team. In my civilian career, I strive to build and lead teams with a similar mission focus and commitment to supporting each other.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? Where do you see yourself in five years? I plan to leverage my Carlson MBA by pursuing entrepreneurship; finding a business opportunity that also makes a positive social impact on my community. I’m also passionate about supporting my fellow veteran entrepreneurs and will continue to look for opportunities to make an impact in the veteran community.

Emma Wright

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

“Call me about your business plan, an impromptu trip, or when your basement floods.”

Hometown: Apple Valley, Minnesota

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love to bike, be it a short ride or long trip; I’ve biked on four continents and counting.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Minnesota. BA Inter-College Program: Business, Sustainability, and Political Science

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Brand and Marketing Project Manager, Cambridge Innovation Center

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest career accomplishments so far: identifying a structural gap in my company’s organizational structure, then pitching and executing a “consultancy project” to find a strategic solution. In partnership with senior leadership, I helped reframe and re-scope their brand and marketing challenges, to inform the development of a new marketing department.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? So far, I’d say humble. There are a lot of incredible students in the program who lead with humor, kindness, and support.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? I’m looking forward to Carlson’s Enterprise program. I find it important to take what I’ve learned in the classroom and apply it practically.  I’m excited to “test run” the consulting experience with clients before launching into an internship.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m looking forward to the Volunteer Consulting Club. I think it will be a great opportunity to apply the skills I’m learning in the classroom, while contributing to a philanthropic cause in my community.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Having worked in a wide range of industries and roles, I tend to be a “fixer,” jumping in to manage miscellaneous projects as they come. With an MBA, I plan to reflect on my experiences and interests to build a more specific career trajectory and skill set.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I decided to pursue an MBA because the potential job opportunities outside my field of experience and the long-term earning potential out-weighed the upfront costs.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I participated in the Forté Foundation’s Boston MBA launch program. I laid out a number of factors, including classroom learning style, culture, length of term, cost, and job opportunities post-graduation. To research class culture, I spoke with former students and went to classroom visits to get a feel for classroom dynamics.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? In high school, I had an environmental science teacher who often told us, “The world is run by those who show up.” While I didn’t realize it at the time, this moment and mantra went on to help shape my worldview and how I participate in the community. Through my civic engagement in undergrad, I learned the power of organizing and engagement by helping bring more bike lanes to campus and empower student voters. In my professional life, I learned to listen to stakeholders and the importance of being present in the day-to-day work – no matter how long or tiring it is.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I’m currently set on a career in management consulting in the short term. Consulting comes with intense learning experiences, rapid growth, and great long-term career prospects. This experience will help provide me with the credibility, capital, and network to launch my post-MBA career.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself in the Twin Cities helping to shape, build, and grow the innovation community. My role there takes many forms. I’m an entrepreneur, a CEO, a mentee/mentor, an investor, and a civic participant.

 

 

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