Charlotte Turovsky, Kellogg MBA Class of 2019
Age: 28
Hometown: Larchmont, NY
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Carleton College, art history
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Four years in healthcare consulting; two years at a Series-A tech startup in the emergency calling/connected health space
Why business school? Why now? I sought to earn my MBA in order to round out my consulting and healthcare background and experience running operations (and wearing many hats) at a startup with a formal business education. I wanted to solidify my finance knowledge, increase my exposure to the healthcare industry outside of the tech/IT world, and continue to grow as a leader.
Why Kellogg? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? I was very drawn to Kellogg’s institutional commitment to MBAs who focus on societal good in addition to shareholder returns—I wanted to attend an institution with a real soul and a clear perspective on the responsibility of private industry and business leaders.
Two key factors also played into my decision: culture and resources. Kellogg was a place that I instantly felt at home—I knew that the warmth here would provide a conducive environment to stretch outside of my comfort zone and challenge me to grow as a person and a professional. The collaborative culture and team mentality here fosters an environment where peers build each other up, rather than compete with each other, and I knew that was a place I could thrive.
I was also really impressed by the deep commitment by Kellogg students, professors, and alumni to solving critical challenges in the healthcare community and the strong healthcare connections here. The number of students looking to pursue healthcare in some capacity, whether through consulting, startups, tech, or industry is astounding and the number of classes and extracurriculars devoted to the industry here is only growing—I wanted to be part of this dynamic community.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2019? Wow—this is a tough question with such accomplished peers! I am naturally curious and enjoy learning about other’s backgrounds and then introducing people with common interests or goals. Nothing gives me greater joy than introducing two people with unique interests or backgrounds that click instantly when they meet or find a way to solve a problem together. I am also a very positive person and can often find the silver lining when others can’t—I hope my optimism can be a force for good with my classmates!
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I am more creative than I let on—in addition to spending my free time in museums or exploring modern architecture, I love to bake elaborate desserts, redecorate, and do ceramics.
Post-MBA career interests? I am pursuing a career in healthcare innovation and investment, focusing on healthcare IT/tech—I am passionate about reducing barriers to healthcare through technology.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? Talk to as many current students as possible to really learn about the personality of the school and the learning environment.
–One thing you would change or do differently? I would be more patient—MBA applications are a marathon, not a sprint, and endurance is important! Though the process was long and felt arduous at times, I learned a lot about myself and the type of environments where I thrive!
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? The waiting! Leaning back into activities I had let slip while working on apps and focusing on projects at work that I wanted to wrap up before leaving for school all helped!
Greatest highlight so far at Kellogg? Easily the people that I’ve met! I’ve met an amazing array of welcoming people, all with an interesting story to share. People have also been so willing to share their background and make really helpful connections on my behalf. Getting to go to school with the most beautiful view of Lake Michigan right outside the gigantic windows doesn’t hurt either!
One thing about Kellogg that you didn’t expect before arriving? How accessible professors and administrators have been—everyone wants to talk, solicit your feedback, and offer advice. Lunches with professors are a regular occurrence here and I have professors who say, “Call me anytime if there’s anything I can do to help!”
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year? Overcommitting—Kellogg students are really involved, and I wanted to try to be really intentional about the clubs I joined and leadership roles I took on. I wanted to make sure every role helped me to grow in an area that I hope to focus on during my time at b-school, not just activities I had done previously.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year? Learning so much in such a short amount of time—the pace of school moves fast! However, I feel like I gain a new nugget of insight from every class, presentation, and conversation.
