Miya Sharpe, Yale SOM Class of 2020
Name: Miya Sharpe
Age: 25
Hometown: Washington, DC (Northeast!)
Undergraduate Institution and Major: North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University|
Pre-MBA Work Experience: 4 years at 3M, two in the Industrial Business Group (marketing and analytics) and two in 3Mgives (corporate social responsibility and strategic grant-making)
Why business school? Why now? I think business school has a unique way of shaping your mindset to think bigger. I’m consistently telling people to aim higher, but that’s easier said than done when the social issues of the world seem impossible to solve. A great business school puts you into situations where you’ll work with a diverse team to solve large, vague problems with very little direction forcing you to broaden your horizons in a very short period of time.
An MBA also adds a level of credibility when seeking roles that involve driving more strategic change. Now was the ideal time for me because I feel like I was finally gaining momentum in my career, being trusted with decision-making responsibility where my decisions had larger, longer-lasting impact. I knew as I continued to succeed, these responsibilities would only continue to grow. If I wanted to be the best team member I could be, I needed to be grounded with skills such as the ones I mentioned earlier like navigating ambiguity and operating in the gray.
Why Yale? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? Initially, Yale SOM’s mission to educate leaders for business and society really spoke to me, my passion for driving racial equity, and the overall impact I want to have on the world. Furthermore, a mentor of mine told me to go to a school that would carry weight in whatever I wanted to do next. Since I don’t know exactly what I want to do next, I knew for me this meant choosing a school that carries weight everywhere and is respected both domestically and internationally.
Finally, as I began to narrow down my options, MLT encouraged me to do a lot of reflection about what was important to me and to be completely honest with myself. I found myself consistently going back to fit. Is this school a good fit for me?
I’ve been blessed in that during my time at 3M, I never felt like I had to code-switch, put on, or be anything but my authentic self and I thrived. So I knew a good fit for me ultimately came down to an MBA program where I felt I could do the same, where my quirks and eccentricities are not only accepted, but encouraged.
When I went to welcome weekend at SOM and I danced my life away with fellow admits and current students and then we all woke up and handled business, I knew it was a perfect fit.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2020? Attending the largest HBCU (historically black college or university) in the country instilled in me a great deal of confidence in my own skin. Being surrounded by brilliance in such a diverse group of individuals is like a constant reminder that you don’t have to be anybody but you, and in the right environment you will flourish. My most valuable contribution to the class of 2020 is my ability to bring my whole self to any environment. I firmly believe authenticity builds stronger teams.
A friend I met at a diversity weekend in my MBA admissions journey told me, “When you can remain your authentic self even in new environments, you give people the power, courage, and agency to do the same.” I believe this will have a domino effect and result in the building of a new generation of diverse, unapologetically authentic, and transparent leaders.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I can kick myself in the back of the head.
Post-MBA career interests? I’m not exactly sure yet, but I know whatever it is, I have to be personally passionate about it. It will likely involve leveraging business resources to make an impact on the world, specifically in historically under-resourced and/or marginalized communities.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? Remain myself.
–One thing you would change or do differently? Start taking the GMAT seriously earlier in the process.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? The GMAT. My MLT family cheering me up after my third failed attempt to reach my ideal score and all my family and friends celebrating me when I finally got the score I wanted. It took me five times, so don’t stress if you don’t immediately knock it out of the park.
What is your initial impression of YALE’s students/culture/community? Amazing! This is a supportive community and the support begins before you even walk in the door. As I prepared for Consortium’s OP, I had so many second years and alum reach out to me to make sure I was prepared. Without them, I certainly wouldn’t have been as successful during early recruiting.
One thing you have learned about Yale that has surprised you? That people actually stay in New Haven on Fridays. I assumed that everyone would just go to New York or Philly or Boston for the weekend for a good time, but there’s more going on in New Haven on a Friday than you’d think.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year? Overextending myself. I tend to be one that likes to get super involved very early, but I’ve heard all about the intensity that is Fall 1 and 2 so I know I’ll have to restrain myself from getting to deeply involved in extracurriculars.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year? Meeting so many people from so many different places from all over the world (and selfishly trying all their different favorite local cuisines as I love to eat).
