Jamie Woeste, Kellogg MBA Class of 2020
Age: 29
Hometown: Highland, MI
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Ohio State University, BSBA: marketing major, fashion and retail studies minor
Pre-MBA Work Experience: For the seven years prior to Kellogg, I held merchandising, buying, and sales roles for well-known companies in the retail, beauty, and travel industries.
Why business school? Why now? I chose to pursue an MBA because I believe it will give me the tools and skills to manage a business holistically. I want to expand on my years of experience in the beauty and retail industries and increase my knowledge of how businesses operate and grow in a challenging and rapidly changing environment. I also recognize that for career advancement, I need more experience with managing people and teams, and an MBA would help develop leadership skills.
Why Kellogg? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? I only applied to Kellogg because I felt that it was the right school for me for a few different reasons. First and foremost, I believe Kellogg is a great cultural fit. The collaborative, inclusive, and supportive environment I saw at Kellogg was something that appealed to me.
Prior to applying, when I visited Kellogg, everyone was very friendly and engaging, and I knew this would be an enjoyable experience. I was also excited about the academics and marketing program’s reputation, as well as the impressive faculty. In addition, Kellogg offered many opportunities to learn through a variety of clubs that I have been eager to participate in.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2020? I hope to bring an interesting perspective to the class from my experience in the retail, beauty, and travel industries. I am also great at managing projects, which will be helpful for the various group work we do.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I’m a foodie, and I love exploring new places to eat in Chicago or anywhere I travel.
Post-MBA career interests? I thoroughly enjoy the beauty and CPG industry. I would like to stay in this industry but move into a brand/product management role.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
—One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? I would visit Kellogg and talk to as many students, alumni, and faculty as possible. Doing that really solidified my decision that Kellogg was the right MBA program for me.
–One thing you would change or do differently? I would study and take the GMAT before starting the application process. Doing both at the same time was difficult.
-Part you would have skipped if you could and what helped you get through it? The anxiety of waiting for the decision. I tried to keep my mind busy with other activities and spending time with friends and family.
What is your initial impression of Kellogg’s students/culture/community? I have loved everyone I have met at Kellogg. Everyone is so friendly, smart, and talented and has such unique experiences! The culture is everything I expected and more, and the community support is amazing.
One thing you have learned about Kellogg that has surprised you? The amount of time and effort faculty puts into getting to know students. They try to make themselves as accessible as possible and even set up lunches and dinners, which gives students an opportunity to get to know them on a personal level.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year? Missing out on any Kellogg events. There are so many different activities, both social and professional. Hopefully I will be able to prioritize.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year? I am excited about all the trips I will be taking this year with other Kellogg students and their spouses. From KWEST to Skip Trip to cultural trips, I am excited to explore new cities and countries and bond with my classmates.
