Glen Gregory, MIT Sloan MBA Class of 2020
Age: 31
Hometown: Fairhope, AL
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Tulane University, business management and finance
Pre-MBA Work Experience: 10 years, U.S. Navy SEAL Officer
Why business school? Why now? The military provided me with many incredible experiences and a high level community to work with on a daily basis. Leaving the military was a difficult decision, but ultimately, I felt that I could make an even greater impact in the private sector by leveraging the unique skill set I developed. Business school is an incredible tool for veterans making the transition into the civilian sector, because it provides the network and core business skills needed when making a career change out of the military.
Why Sloan? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? The top factor that differentiated the MIT Sloan program from others was the integration of the business school into the broader MIT community. There are constant opportunities to interact with high-level academia and students from across all MIT departments. I felt like this provided a unique opportunity during my two years to learn about and potentially solve macro problems unpaired by other MBA programs. The location of the program was also a big deciding factor—I love the culture of Boston, especially the sports teams. Go Pats!
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2020? This is a great question and I think what differentiates me from the many other talented students at MIT Sloan is the unique experience I bring to the table in terms of leading teams toward a common goal in a high-stakes environment. I’m excited to share my perspective on this topic with my cohort to gain greater personal insight into my own leadership style and to help my peers grow in their own.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I once participated in an experimental trial for purple sunscreen.
Post-MBA career interests? I’m interested in solving unique problems, either in a venture capital context by helping young businesses to scale or through a consulting context to help solve specific problem sets across many different industries.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? Visit classes at each school you plan to apply to. It really is the best way to get a feel for the program to see if it will be a good “fit.”
–One thing you would change or do differently? I wish I would have visited a club or social event at MIT Sloan during the application process. The community aspect of MIT Sloan is inspiring, and it’s hard to grasp without seeing it in action.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? I would have skipped all the self-imposed stress. The application process for an MBA program is a valuable learning tool. It enables you to examine yourself closer than you would normally. In the end, whether you get into your dream school or not, there is a huge net value gained through the process.
What is your initial impression of Sloan’s students/culture/community? MIT Sloan is an extremely diverse community, and every student brings a unique experience to the table. It’s incredible to be surrounded by that type of cohort within the learning environment and resources that MIT Sloan provides. I’ve been extremely impressed from day one of stepping on campus.
One thing you have learned about Sloan that has surprised you? The overall MIT campus is much larger than I expected, and each building has a ton of history.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year? Resisting the fear of missing out. There are so many incredible opportunities at MIT Sloan and in the broader MIT community that the biggest challenge is prioritizing what matters most to you and involving yourself in events/groups/classes that you can make the biggest impact on and vice versa.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year? Challenging myself in ways that I am not accustomed to. My goal coming to MIT Sloan is to get out of my comfort zone as much as possible. I am excited to make that journey over the next two years.
