Jarrod Pierce, MIT Sloan MBA Class of 2020
Hometown: Denver, CO
Undergraduate Institution and Major: New York University, BA in economics
Pre-MBA Work Experience: I worked as a model and actor for nearly 10 years, primarily with Wilhelmina and New York Models. I had various agencies and contracts all over the world. This experience not only gave me the opportunity to travel but more importantly to fully immerse myself in foreign countries and experience various cultures and people.
Concurrently, I also worked on Wall Street at Merrill Lynch for several years as an interest rates trader. This experience was more “real-world” and provided me with a solid foundation in markets and finance. Being part of a trading team and working in an environment with constant pressure was a valuable experience as well. Making decisions that directly led to the team’s and company’s bottom line was exciting, as was learning the nuances and complexity of financial markets.
Why business school? Why now? Going to business school was always in the back of my mind. Many MBA students use the opportunity to pivot careers or launch new companies. While these reasons apply to me, too, I was always focused on the learning and development that MBA programs offer.
Sharpening my business and leadership skills, as well as exploring interests and finding other like-minded students, was very important to me. Like many of my colleagues, I don’t exactly know where I want to go, and business school gives me a chance to fully explore, develop, and invest in myself.
I chose to come to business school now because I realized I needed the education and skills to take my career to the next level. As I said, it was always in the back of my mind, and I realized that kicking the can down the road wasn’t the solution. As we say at MIT, “the time is now.”
Why Sloan? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? Many factors contributed to my decision of where to attend—academic offerings and rigor, extracurricular opportunities and clubs, a global presence with a strong alumni network, and many more.
But most importantly, the people. From the admissions office to the program office, from the students to the professors and faculty, Sloan embodies collaboration, teamwork, diversity, and innovation. The energy and mindset of the people here made my decision very easy.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2020? This is a difficult question to answer, as I’ve been blown away time and time again by the experiences and backgrounds of my classmates. Aside from my previous work experiences, I think a valuable contribution I can make to the Class of 2020 is my ability to work through adversity and sacrifice for the good of the team.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I was a late bloomer and still had my baby teeth in high school.
Post-MBA career interests? After graduating, I’d like to work with a couple partners and start a company focused on markets or financial services. Specifically, I see myself in fintech as I’d like to improve efficiency and transparency in markets, particularly fixed income. It’s a fast-paced, exciting space that has a lot of room for improvement.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? Be brutally honesty. Like many students with unconventional backgrounds, I was afraid to put it all out there and worried about being the “perfect fit” for the school. Don’t do that—be open and be honest, it’s part of the MBA journey. Secondly, narrow down your school choices.
–One thing you would change or do differently? Don’t second guess yourself, and start the process early. I was a late round applicant, but I would start the process earlier if I could go back. If you know you want to come to business school, get the ball rolling now. Visit schools, speak with current students, and take the time to really self-reflect. Starting early also takes a lot of stress off for things that require time, like recommendation letters, essays, and studying for the graduate exams.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? Waiting for my admission decisions was definitely the worst part! But in all seriousness, I would have skipped some of the essays. I felt that sometimes they became repetitive or redundant, but I got through it by remembering how important they really are. They were my chance to tell my story and show my passions, and I could not take them lightly, no matter how I was feeling at the time. My trick was to stop writing, take a break, and come back with a better mindset.
What is your initial impression of Sloan’s students/culture/community? Sloan’s students, culture, and community are nothing short of incredible. The first semester core, which is demanding and intense, is only possible through collaboration, camaraderie, and community. Every student here is brilliant and intelligent, yet the team-focused mentality and kindness shines through. The diversity is also notable, yet everyone here moves together to become principled leaders who want to improve the world.
One thing you have learned about Sloan that has surprised you? I knew that there would be many opportunities and possibilities outside of the classroom once I set foot on campus, but the speed and amount definitely surprised me. From Day 1 you are getting pulled in multiple directions, and the energy of the other Sloanies is contagious.But the need to get better with time-management and prioritizing definitely caught me off guard. Learning to trust my classmates and not take everything on single-handedly was something I wasn’t used to. Drinking from a fire hose is a fitting analogy.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year? Similarly to the last question, I’m most anxious about everything that’s going on outside of the classroom—joining clubs, going to events, networking, job recruitment, trips, and everything else that comes with business school. It can be incredibly overwhelming, especially for people that like to put 100 percent into everything or like to be involved with everything. (FOMO is real.)
You get anxious if you feel like you’re missing out on something, not involved with the right groups, or not networking enough. You can quickly spread yourself too thin, so it’s important to be true to yourself, prioritize your interests and health, and master time management.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year? Professionally, I’m most excited about exploring my interests and developing a foundation for starting a company. There are an incredible amount of entrepreneurship opportunities at MIT, and I’m excited about getting involved with MIT’s fintech and finance-focused communities and bringing my experience in markets and trading. Personally, I’m looking forward to taking this journey with my classmates and building the foundation for lifelong friendships.
