Kallie Parchman, Chicago Booth MBA Class of 2019
Age: 25
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Yale, psychology and economics
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Three years at Morgan Stanley in New York City, first in the Firm Strategy & Execution Group and then in the Office of the Firm’s President
Why business school? Why now? After gaining irreplaceable experience working on M&A deals and strategy for Morgan Stanley, I became interested in working with young companies early in their growth stage. Business school, and Booth in particular, offered me the unique opportunity to obtain a myriad of experiences over the course of just two years. I was also drawn to the opportunity to learn from others with a wide range of backgrounds all at once early in my career.
Why Chicago Booth? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? Three distinguishing factors drew me to Booth: the pay-it-forward culture, the flexible and experiential learning curriculum, and the quantitative rigor of the program. Firstly, from second-years to alumni to faculty and staff, the sincere nature of the community was apparent from the minute I visited campus. Secondly, the flexible curriculum allows students to carve out the best path for their interests. For example, I knew that I wanted to intern during the academic year, and I have already had the chance to do so through the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Finally, the quantitative focus of the program is unparalleled. When considering the time investment an MBA requires, it was important to me to come out of my program with a rigorous analytical foundation.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2019? We have an incredible class, and I am honored to be a part of the Class of 2019. From a professional standpoint, I am able to share with my classmates the perspective of how decisions are made at a senior level at a global financial institution. Additionally, as a former collegiate athlete, team settings are opportunities where I can help groups successfully determine how to achieve a shared goal.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I have been in a trapeze show.
Post-MBA career interests? I am interested in working with growth-stage companies, both from an investing and an operational perspective. Being a part of teams focused on the nascent stages of the value creation process excites me, and I am motivated to explore various opportunities to do so both at Booth and beyond.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? Visit! I had heard great things about Booth before experiencing the culture in person, yet there really is no replacement to observing it first hand.
–One thing you would change or do differently? Be a bit less stressed. The process can be long, yet the self-reflection that comes from it is a worthwhile experience and helps showcase what really matters to you.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? The waiting. Having family and friends help keep the whole process in perspective was incredibly helpful.
Greatest highlight so far at Chicago Booth? The people! Starting from First Day (admit weekend), to my Random Walk (pre-school trips organized by Booth) to New Zealand, to LEAD (our leadership development program) during orientation, and so much more, I am constantly in awe of how talented yet down-to-earth my classmates are. The second-years have also been beyond generous with their time—the pay-it-forward culture has been more than I even hoped for.
One thing about Chicago Booth that you didn’t expect before arriving? How quickly our schedules became so busy. Right from the start, there were almost limitless occasions to get involved in various social, academic, and professional opportunities at Booth and around Chicago.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year? Finding the right balance for me. With so many exciting opportunities, it is important to remain focused on what I came to Booth to accomplish.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year? The chance to keep trying new things. One of my goals at Booth is to consistently push myself out of my comfort zone, for both my personal and professional development. And our winter ski trip!
