2018 MBAs To Watch: Desiree Shannon, Purdue University (Krannert) - Poets&Quants

Desiree Shannon

Krannert School of Management, Purdue University

“I am a highly motivated, self-propelled servant-leader striving to bring about socially-responsible change.”

Age: 23

Hometown: Mt. Vernon, Ohio

Fun fact about yourself: I have been cake decorating since age 11. By age 17, I began my own online remote bakery called “Desi’s Delectables”. Upon graduation, I will restart this business under the name “The Scrumptious Duchess” delivering customized cakes and cupcakes to those in my next destination. My specialty is the strawberry shortcake cupcake!

Undergraduate School and Degree: Ohio University, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and History.

Where did you work before enrolling in business school? AmeriCorps, Ohio College Guide

Where did you intern during the summer of 2017? Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis as a Business Analyst in the Treasury Services department.

Where will you be working after graduation? I am currently interviewing with 3 different organizations, including 2 governmental agencies and a for-profit Fortune 100 company.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: Throughout the past two years at Krannert, I have served with the following organizations: Habitat for Humanity, YWCA Women’s Domestic Abuse & Prevention Center, Hunger Hike, Pack Away Hunger, Food Finder’s Food Bank, Inc. and Bayou City Relief. These opportunities have been made possible because of my term as the President of the Management Volunteer Program within the Krannert School of Management. I have driven over 450 hours of direct community service from Krannert Masters students, raised $1,500 in grant dollars, managed a budget of $5850, and generated nearly $1500 in fundraising dollars in my short time as President. Because of my service work, I am in the process of editing a research article named “Restoring the Damaged Pieces: Practicing Graduate Service-Learning in Hurricane Harvey Wrecked Houston” that will be published in the Fall 2018 edition of the Purdue Journal of Service Learning and International Engagement. In addition to this vast servant-leadership work, I have led my peers as a two-year Graduate Assistant and as first-year Mentor. As a graduate assistant in the Leadership Communication Studio, I have engaged over 475 freshmen, 575 kindergarteners through 3rd grade students, and built partnerships with West Monroe partners, Deloitte, Wall Street Prep, and other Purdue Colleges. I have been afforded the opportunity to manage, plan, and coordinate eight signature-learning projects for both graduates and undergraduates. As a mentor, I supported a group of four incoming MBAs and MSHRMs throughout their adjustment to the Krannert School of Management. To this day, I continue to nurture these mentor-mentee relationships.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? In the fall, I had the opportunity to lead a team of nine Masters students to Houston, Texas to aid in Hurricane Relief. I secured a $1500 grant to support our trip expenses with the Office of Engagement and Service-Learning, and ultimately, we generated over 264 hours of direct community service in this trip. As a result, we saved people tens of thousands of dollars and aided in any grief these families felt.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career?  Prior to attending graduate school, I had the honor of serving as an AmeriCorps Ohio College Guide working with over 1,000 students from the Appalachia Ohio area serving over 1,724 hours. This is my most proud achievement because I had the chance to impact and change the course of disadvantaged youth’s lives. To know I am a positive role model and potentially touched just one kid’s life is the most fulfilling feeling I have ever experienced.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? During my time at Krannert, I have had the pleasure of taking 5 classes with Professor Cara Putman, J.D. She consistently connects her legal expertise and nonprofit experience to the course concepts. Students feel her energy every class, and feel comfortable sharing their perspectives. She and I have had the chance to build a strong relationship based on our similar backgrounds, as she has with numerous students. Her willingness to support her students and ability to adapt her class concepts to their interests makes her by far my favorite professor in the MBA program.

What was your favorite MBA Course During the MBA program, I have had series of amazing classes, but one specific course was my favorite. Macroeconomics, taught by Professor Gerald Lynch, provided me with a great deal of insight that expanded upon the knowledge I gained from my internship at the Fed. There is a tedious balance between maintaining independence and transparency. His engaging lecture style consumed my interest! Most importantly, I learned that the globalized macroeconomy cannot be boiled down to one factor, but encompasses a broad range of variable factors.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose the Krannert School of Management because they offered me the chance to build close relationships with relatively small class sizes and strong faculty support.

What is your best piece advice to an applicant hoping to get into your school’s MBA program? Any applicant hoping to attend the Krannert School of Management should take the time network with Krannert alumni and current Krannert students during the application process in addition to building their technical knowledge. This adds an extra layer of self-motivation, perseverance, and quantitative strength that is highly attractive in the MBA program.

What is the biggest myth about your school? A large myth about Purdue University is that if you walk under the Bell Tower you will not graduate. I wouldn’t know if this is true or not because I haven’t walked under the bell tower, and I don’t want to find out!

 What was your biggest regret in business school? Taking more social time to spend with my brilliant peers! I am still meeting people that I have not had a chance to get to know, and sooner than later we will be going our separate ways. Cherish the time with your peers

Which MBA classmate do you most admire?  Throughout the duration of my courses I have grown to admire David Page. He is enthusiastic, passionate and consistently positive. I can always look forward to his motivational attitude and bright smile. When we are in class together he asks strong questions, and is always upbeat!

Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? During my undergraduate studies, I developed a strong relationship with the Associate Director of the History Department, Dr. Korcaighe Hale. From day one, she saw potential in me that I did not even see in myself at one point. She snatched me up as a history major, and invested her time in my success. Aside from academics and personal life, Korcaighe advised me to get real world experience and, once I built that experience, I should attend graduate school. She encouraged the inevitable which ultimately led to my attendance at business school. Without her pushing me to strive for a graduate level education and build upon my existing business knowledge, I am not sure I would have pursued my MBA.

“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…a professional baker.”

If you were a dean for a day, what one thing would you change about the MBA experience?  If I was dean for the day, I would develop and implement a business-related service-learning course. This course would involve pro-bono consulting services to make real-world change within the local nonprofit sector. The course would aim to provide students with an experiential service-learning initiative that builds upon their marketing, human resources, finance, operations, management, and technological skills. Furthermore, it would provide nonprofits with much-needed MBA talent and vast economic value.

What are the top two items on your bucket list? My top items on my bucket list includes participating in a pub crawl in Dublin, Ireland and to snorkel around the Palancar Reef in the island of Cozumel.

In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you? I want my peers to remember me as a person who demonstrates the importance and impact of being socially responsible, and as an example of someone who lives to learn from serving others.

What is your favorite movie about business?  My favorite business movie is Working Girl because it shows young women that women can “do it” too, and just as well. It shows women that resiliency in their goals to overcome societal barriers can lead to future success.

What would your theme song be? ”Congratulations” – Post Malone

Favorite vacation spot: Rome, Italy+

Hobbies? I enjoy cake decorating, swimming, cuddling with my dog, and anything to do with arts and crafts.

What made Desiree such an invaluable addition to the class of 2018?

“Desiree Shannon is an ambitious Krannert MBA that exemplifies the true definition of “giving back.” Desiree’s passion and social responsibility is apparent in and outside the classroom. In addition to earning her MBA, Desiree has served on countless non-profit organizations, including: Habitat for Humanity, YWCA, Hunger Hike, Pack Away Hunger, Food Finder’s Food Bank Inc. and Bayou City Relief.  Desiree is extremely motivated and determined individual who also has an entrepreneurship spirit. From restarting her online remote bakery to looking for a job with a non-profit organization or governmental agency, Desiree is sure to leave a mark everywhere she goes. She constantly strives for social change and is advocate and leader amongst her peers. She has been a great asset to the Krannert School of Management.”

Jennifer Schukraft
Associate Director of Student Services

 

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2018 MBAs To Watch: Steven Sanders, Purdue University (Krannert) - Poets&Quants

Steven Sanders

Krannert School of Management, Purdue University

“I am a young businessman and engineer committed to the business of developing life-changing biotechnology.”

Age: 28

Hometown: Argos, IN (1 Stoplight)

Fun fact about yourself: I am a self-taught men’s choral music composer and in 2012 wrote a song based on the state poem of Indiana. While the song took three years to write, it has now been performed hundreds of times throughout the state, the country, at the U.S. Capitol Building and overseas by the Purdue Varsity Glee Club and local community men’s choruses and quartets.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Purdue University, B.S. Chemical Engineering

Where did you work before enrolling in business school? Cargill, Process Engineer

Where did you intern during the summer of 2017? Eli Lilly & Co., Greenfield IN

Where will you be working after graduation? Eli Lilly, Elanco Animal Care Expansion Business Analyst

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• President, Purdue Student Managed Investment Fund
• President, Purdue Graduate Entrepreneurship Club
• Gold Team Lead, Student Managed Venture Fund
• At-Large Board Member, Indianapolis Arts Chorale
• Chicken Tender Tent Volunteer, St. Boniface Parish Germanfest

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Taking over the Student Managed Investment Fund and growing it from an 8-member graduate student exclusive club to a 40-member Graduate and Undergraduate club with $300k funds under management. It was my first experience building an organization completely from the ground up, and taught me a lot about managing talent when roles are largely undefined and real financial risk exists.  

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Mentoring three of my process engineering interns through completion of challenging but successful internships and on to successful early careers in the engineering field.

Who was your favorite MBA professor?  Professor John Burr – he teaches corporate consulting with bare knuckles. Because of his mentorship, my view of a professional client deliverable has completely changed.

What was your favorite MBA Course Student Managed Venture Fund – Having a chance to complete due diligence on startup companies with real funding on the line was a tremendous experience.  The support from our faculty advisors was fantastic and getting the chance to chat about best practices with Alumni VC Partners helped spark a passion in my heart for a career in early stage business development.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Purdue for its strong technology development ecosystem. I was looking for a chance to experience the world of early stage tech commercialization. As I found out, there is no university in the world where it is easier to become immediately and fully immersed than at Purdue. The Purdue Foundry incubator plugged me in to startup consulting very quickly and the Purdue Graduate Entrepreneurship Club allowed me the incredible experience of watching a group of 15 students from all over the globe come together and launch three new businesses in a room right before my eyes.

What is your best piece advice to an applicant hoping to get into your school’s MBA program? Purdue’s unofficial patron saint is Neil Armstrong. I think the people that choose to come to Purdue are those that embody the values Neil lived. Purdue MBA’s are analytically quick to act yet slow to take credit.    

What is the biggest myth about your school?  Purdue has a small business school and a small business school is a bad thing – I think the right school for a potential student has nothing to do with the size of the institution. It’s all about mutual fit. If you are going to a school for the rankings alone, then you are making a mistake.  Your best option is to attend the school whose strengths are aligned with your personal and professional interests.

What was your biggest regret in business school?  Not starting my own company – after countless discussions with mentors and friends, I realized that I didn’t have the risk tolerance that it takes to jump full steam into a startup. Being a founder takes a special type of person, and when you meet founders who have taken out second mortgages on their homes to keep the business alive, you think a little more about real risk tolerance and whether you are that person. I wish that I would have been able to find the courage. Maybe someday it will find me.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Avanthi Boopalan – in one of our classes we learned about Level 5 leaders, and I think that Avanthi is one.  She is an incredibly talented aerospace engineer, pilot, diesel engine designer and future Amazon Lab 126 analyst who would never mention any of her accomplishments to you in conversation. However, she WILL ask you how your day is going, how your wife is feeling today, and apologize for overstepping the team by creating the most exquisite and advanced Excel model mankind has ever created. Purdue is a more intelligent and kind university because Avanthi has been here.

Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? My Dad, undoubtedly.  We’ve been crafting new agricultural business ideas for a decade or two now (none of which have worked out) and his ability to apply and speak through business logic is something that I enjoy and am learning.  He is a non-traditional student who paid his way through college working as a farm hand.  I’ve never met anyone who has accomplished so much while having such a great time doing it.  He is the truest definition of a happy warrior.

“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…an astronaut.”

If you were a dean for a day, what one thing would you change about the MBA experience? I think I would attempt to expose more students to management of a startup as a non-founder. Our MBA training at Purdue is heavily weighted towards large companies and early stage startups. I think having some training on how to succeed as the 15th person hired in a company would be valuable. It’s a managerial place that often gets overlooked, but can be crucial to a company’s success. As Ben Horowitz says, scaling can be one of the most difficult tasks a company is ever faced with.

What are the top two items on your bucket list?

1. Get my private pilot’s license and someday own a small plane
2. Become CEO of a biotech/pharma company that cures cancer

In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you? Steve loved getting good things done and celebrating them with good friends at Harry’s Chocolate Shop.

What is your favorite movie about business? Moneyball – It’s a great example that a lack of financial resources won’t prevent a committed and innovative team from being successful.

What would your theme song be?  The River by Garth Brooks

Favorite vacation spot: The Furr Ranch, Olney, TX

Hobbies? Guitar, Reading, Music Composition, Hunting

What made Steve such an invaluable addition to the class of 2018?

“Steve Sanders is the ultimate go-to guy and one of the most earnest Krannert MBAs you’ll find anywhere. His infectious energy and passion for Boilermaker culture made him an invaluable resource both in the classroom and in the recruiting process, where he engaged with many prospective students as a Graduate Assistant. Beyond that, his leadership of TWO student organizations (the Purdue Graduate Entrepreneurship Club and the Student Managed Investment Fund) was critical to their respective success and the advancement of Krannert’s culture of innovation and collaboration. We’ll miss him next year, but he’s already at the top of our ‘Young Alums to Watch’ list.”

Nick Rambo
Assistant Director of Recruiting   

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2018 Best MBAs: Sheldon Anderson, Purdue University (Krannert) - Poets&Quants

Sheldon Anderson

Krannert School of Management, Purdue University

Engineer | Team Player | Family | Analytical| Leader | Community | Innovative | Ambitious| God-Fearing

Age: 28

Hometown: Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Fun fact about yourself: I love to travel! I’ve visited nearly 10 countries across 4 continents in 2017 alone. All with my beautiful fiancée of over 6 years.

Undergraduate School and Degree: University of Florida, Industrial & Systems Engineering

Where did you work before enrolling in business school? Procter & Gamble – Supply Network Operations – Transportation Operations Leader

Where did you intern during the summer of 2017? Deloitte Consulting – Technology – Summer Associate – Chicago, IL

Where will you be working after graduation? Deloitte Consulting – Technology – Senior Consultant – Chicago, IL

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

Student Involvement & Awards

• President of Net Impact Club
• Treasurer of Krannert Graduate Society of Black Managers
• Dean’s List
• Graduate Assistantship at Purdue’s Center for Entrepreneurship
• Management Leadership for Tomorrow Fellow

Community Involvement

• Master of Ceremonies for Krannert’s Inaugural Charity Pitch Competition
• Facilitator for Financial Planning Session for Young Adult Scholars Club in affiliation with HeadsUp! and Purdue’s Black Graduate Student Association
• Purdue Jr. MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences) Symposium Business Pitch Competition Judge

Case Competitions

• NBMBAA Case Competition ‘17
• KeyBank Case Competition ‘17
• Net Impact Case Competition ‘16

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I’m most proud of my work during a Purdue Sponsored Three-Week Study Abroad Internship in Bangalore, India at TVS Motor Company. While there, I was able to leverage my Supply Chain expertise to develop a new transportation strategy which could predict seasonality and provide more dynamic procurement solutions. I was also able to provide input on recommended Transportation Management Systems that would best suit TVS’s unique transportation network.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I’m most proud of my entrepreneurial ventures. Over the past five years, I’ve co-founded a K-12 school, a small business consulting firm, and a real estate redevelopment firm. Each has had its own success and challenges, but I’ve grown exponentially from these experiences. I look forward to bringing these skills to Deloitte as I work with various corporations on their challenges.

What was your favorite MBA Course My favorite MBA course was Technology Strategy. This course took experiential learning to another level. The class discussions were pure and always insightful. We were not required to read chapters or cases, but you would get nothing out of the class if you did not. It pushed the boundaries of intrinsic learning, and I certainly got the most out of it. In addition to case discussions, we were also put into teams and assigned a startup company to offer our consulting services to. There were no instructions. No rubric. Just our team working to add value to the company. This was the only course where I never thought about my grade. At the same time, I learned how to add value in ambiguity and provide a real startup with a solid strategy to bring it to the next level.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Krannert for the people. During my visits, I felt like a part of the family. Not only with the students, but also with the faculty and staff. While here, I’ve met lifetime friends, mentors and business partners. This is a decision I’ll never regret.

What is your best piece advice to an applicant hoping to get into your school’s MBA program? Take the time to visit. Krannert is a unique MBA program. With a class of less than 100 students it’s a very intimate culture that you must be comfortable with. I can see how it’s not for everyone. For those who do fit, it’s a life changing experience. So visit! When you arrive, if it’s a fit, the decision will be a no brainer.

 What is the biggest myth about your school? Myth: Krannert is a quant heavy school for engineers only. Do we have some excellent quant classes? Yes. However, you have the freedom to design your schedule. We have a total of 8 modules. 3 of the 8 are fairly standard. But, for the remaining, you have free reign to take whatever you want. That includes a full set of strategy, marketing, communication, finance and accounting classes. There’s also the opportunity to take classes abroad and complete independent studies. Your schedule is a blank canvas for you to craft.

What was your biggest regret in business school? None. I’ve travelled the world, met amazing people and grew stronger in my personal and professional relationships. I’m living the dream!

 Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I most admire my classmate and business partner Adam Myers. We found out early in b-school that we both have bold entrepreneurial goals. So bold that they couldn’t wait! We both decided to jump head first into developing a real estate development firm in Indianapolis that we would work on between classes, nights and weekends. We have been able to challenge each other to push our business further than we first imagined. Many talk the talk, but few are willing to walk the walk, like Adam has proven to do.

 Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? My brilliant and inspiring fiancée, Domenique Lumpkin. Domenique received her MS in Mechanical Engineering and is now pursuing her PhD in Civil Engineering at Purdue University. Domenique has always pushed me to follow my dreams and never be afraid to succeed. She is a true life partner that I can have fun with while we push each other to greatness.

“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…pursuing my dreams some other way. Business school hasn’t defined me, but it’s given me a heck of a leap forward.”

 If you were a dean for a day, what one thing would you change about the MBA experience? I would put more emphasis on attending conferences and provide support for those willing to attend. There are several conferences available to attend ranging from the National Black MBA Association Conference, the Net Impact Conference, etc. These are amazing opportunities to network with bright minds around the country that everyone should experience.  

 What are the top two items on your bucket list? I don’t have a bucket list. I live life one day at a time. The only things on my bucket list are keeping God at the center of all that I do and continue to have no regrets.

In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you? An ambitious leader who will continue to push for success while always bringing others up with him along the way.

What is your favorite movie about business? The Pursuit of Happiness. It shows that life is so much more than business. Everyone has something to live for and we can never forget that. Also, no matter what adversity you are faced with, we can all find a way to succeed.

What would your theme song be? “Buffalo Soldier” by Bob Marley

Favorite vacation spot: Jamaica – The most beautiful place on earth which is also my heritage.

Hobbies? When not traveling, I love watching documentaries and listening to podcasts.

What made Sheldon such an invaluable addition to the class of 2018?

“Sheldon brought a wealth of knowledge and was a tremendous contribution to the class of 2018; from his operations and engineering experience at Procter & Gamble, his leadership experience as the President of the Net Impact Club, to his willingness to help incoming students with career insight and preparation from his participation in Management Leadership for Tomorrow along with his internship at Deloitte Consulting. Sheldon has made a lasting impression on the MBA program at Krannert even through his participation in recruiting efforts for the next class.  I was very fortunate to coach Sheldon during his time as an MLT fellow and was overjoyed with his decision to pursue his MBA at Purdue.”

Wendy Dukes
Director of Corporate Stewardship and Alumni Engagement
Krannert Professional Development Center

 

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