Arjun Murthy, Yale SOM Class of 2020
Name: Arjun Murthy
Age: 24
Hometown: Orlando, FL
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Babson College, economics
Pre-MBA Work Experience: 3 years in business development at H. Krevit & Company (manufacturing company in New Haven)
Why business school? Why now? I have been interested in business from a young age and went to a business-focused undergraduate institution to build a foundational set of knowledge.
Spending three years in a corporate strategy and business development role in a chemical manufacturing company opened my eyes to the many opportunities that exist to consolidate businesses in mature industries and deploy technology in more traditional ‘brick and mortar’ businesses.
Doing an MBA at SOM gives me the opportunity to refine my skills and integrate what I have learned both in the classroom and the real world to better identify opportunities to use technology to enhance performance and create value in more traditional industries.
Why Yale? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? What stood out to me most about the SOM was its mission “to Educate Leaders for Business and Society.” Having been in business for the past few years, I thoroughly believe that the only way to establish a successful business in the long run is to create real value for society and then aim to capture a small part of that value for your business.
My view is that a successful business focuses on solving relevant and substantial problems that people face and then aims to create a business model based off that solution. Hence, a focus on the intersection of business and society is not just a “nice to have,” it is critical for building a sustainable business.
I was also drawn to the relatively small class size of SOM, which I think allows students to make more meaningful interactions with their classmates. Even the courtyard-centered design of Evans Hall helps with forging connections among classmates.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2020? In a class with many talented individuals, it is hard to say I have something completely unique to offer. That said, having lived and worked in New Haven for several years before coming to SOM, I hope I will be able to help my classmates explore all the great things the city of New Haven has to offer, including those outside the immediate Yale campus. New Haven is a vibrant city with a lot to do, and I hope my classmates get to know it as well as I have.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I love good Italian food, especially pasta. I can make a tasty homemade pesto sauce and aim to learn other recipes as well.
Post-MBA career interests? Working on discovering and implementing new use cases for emerging technologies such as machine learning. I hope to work in a business development/strategy role in one of the many growing companies that are using these technologies to transform industries and improve productivity.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? Be genuine. I think authenticity really shines through in your application and helps you connect with the admissions reader. If you are authentic, it is much easier to communicate your story in a tangible way that attracts interest.
–One thing you would change or do differently? I wish I had focused more of my application on why I would be a positive addition to the class and less on why I was qualified to join. Since the majority of applicants to top schools are well-qualified, it is not enough to show you are qualified—instead, applicants should seek to convey why they would make a great fit to the class and how they would contribute something unique that would help round out the group.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? The GMAT was not the most pleasant experience, but what got me through was my sense of the bigger mission to get an MBA.
What is your initial impression of Yale SOM’s students/culture/community? Everyone, including classmates, faculty, and staff, are very friendly and warm. I can really feel the collaborative culture among the students, and everyone seems genuinely interested in making your experience the very best it can be.
One thing you have learned about Yale SOM that has surprised you? How good the food is! I am not used to a university cafeteria having such quality food.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year? Finding a way to ensure I do not get stuck in my comfort zone and continue to learn new subjects, explore new opportunities, and meet new people.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year? Getting to know my classmates on more than just a superficial level.
