Clay Lanier, Goizueta MBA Class of 2019
Age: 30
Hometown: Laurinburg, NC
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Wofford College, philosophy
Pre-MBA Work Experience: I worked for six years in both sales and operations for an international glass manufacturer.
Why business school? Why now? While I loved my previous job and co-workers, I knew that it would likely be years before a promotional opportunity arose. As trite as it sounds, I wanted to accelerate my career path by pivoting into consulting, and an MBA was the best path toward that ambition.
Why Goizueta? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? I toured a number of schools in October prior to applications and vividly remember boarding a plane in Atlanta where it was a sunny 65 degrees, only to land in Boston where it was 28 degrees and sleeting. In that instant, I knew that I needed to focus my search to warmer climates. Weather aside, Emory checked all the boxes for me: located in a thriving metropolis, strong presence in the consulting industry, small class size, and great people.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2019? With my previous employer, I was fortunate enough to work across a number of business functions to gain a well-rounded understanding of the business model. Glass manufacturing is a continuous flow operation with extremely high operating leverage. Hands-on experience with this sort of process is relatively uncommon among B-school students and allows me to bring a slightly different perspective to class discussions.
Post-MBA career interests? I am pursuing a career in consulting, focusing on aligning the operations and commercial strategies for industrial manufacturers.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? I cast a pretty wide net with the schools that I visited. It was a taxing process, but it gave great insights to the culture of each school. For Emory specifically, I attended class with a current student with lunch to follow. It was an excellent way to see the campus, observe a class, and meet current students.
–One thing you would change or do differently? I think I underestimated the importance of the essays and interview. Thankfully, I had a great experience during my interviews but have since learned that these factors weigh just as heavily as GMAT, GPA, and work experience. Having a firm understanding of the school, curriculum, etc. is critical.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? The entire process of touring, networking, applying, interviewing, etc. felt grueling at points, but in retrospect, each one of these steps was critical in finding the right fit for me. I would encourage those in the midst of applications that the end will justify the means.
Greatest highlight so far at Goizueta? At the beginning of the orientation process, the entire class takes a trip to a lake resort outside of the city. I won’t ruin the surprises, but it was a fantastic experience for getting to know my fellow classmates in a rather scenic setting.
One thing about Goizueta that you didn’t expect before arriving? I was surprised by how quickly the internship recruiting process picks up. Our first career event was five days before our first class. New students should be prepared to hit the ground running.
Thing you’ve been most anxious about in your first year? The biggest source of anxiety for me has been internship recruiting. Goizueta has maintained a 100 percent internship rate for the past five years and the mantra around campus is “everyone will get a great job,” but this does little to assuage the angst that comes with recruiting. I ultimately landed the internship that I had hoped for, but it was still a stressful process.
Thing you’ve been most excited about in your first year? This spring, I will be traveling with 25 classmates to Copenhagen and Amsterdam as part of a course that compares and contrasts the American, Dutch, and Danish healthcare systems.
