Pia Moore, Cornell Johnson MBA Class of 2020
Age: 30
Hometown: Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Queensland University of Technology, Dance
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 3 yrs as professional dancer, 6yrs as a photographer working in luxury fashion, lifestyle and beauty
Why business school? Why now? Until two years ago, I had never considered going to business school. I was certain that I didn’t have enough relevant experience to be considered for a program, let alone one at a top school. Through a chance meeting with a Johnson alum, whose background was in classical opera, I learned not only that business school was a possibility, but that my background was going to be a huge strength during the application process. At the time, I was working as a photographer in New York. My projects involved developing creative strategies and campaigns for clients and I began to realize that while I loved working creatively, it was the strategy and execution of the work that I felt most passionate about. Coming to business school to focus on marketing seemed like a natural progression, as it would allow me to hone my analytical and quantitative skills and deepen my understanding of the business decisions underlying the creative strategies I’d been developing.
Why Johnson? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? Fit and community was a big factor in my decision making process. I was really attracted to Johnson’s smaller class size. I wanted to get to know my classmates and feel like I was involved within the community. Location was also an important consideration for me. I think one of the reasons the community is so great here is that there aren’t all the distractions of a big city. People come to Ithaca for the MBA program, and they are really invested in getting involved with their classmates and school activities.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2020? We have a lot of people coming from non-traditional backgrounds in the class of 2020, but not many that have worked purely in the creative industries. There are so many soft skills that you learn through working creatively that aren’t developed as readily for people working in corporate environments, and I hope that exposing my classmates to some of the lessons I have learned about leadership and teamwork helps them consider new ways of approaching business problems.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? When I was living Sydney I worked as a dog walker. I would often walk up to 16 dogs at a time!
Post-MBA career interests? I’m looking at roles in marketing and general management. I’m also eager to work in an environment with plenty of leadership development opportunities. I would love to return to Australia one day.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
Talk to as many people as you can to help you decide where to apply and consider looking at a variety of schools. Going to a top school is a great accomplishment, but it’s important that the fit is right and you feel like a valued member of a school’s community. The time you spend in the MBA program is a huge investment and you want to make sure you pick a program that will allow you to make the most of it.
One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? Last August I attended Johnson Women in Business (JWiB). It was a fantastic two-day event where I was able to meet current and former Johnson students, staff, and faculty. Not only did it give me a first-hand look into the school, the campus, and the Johnson program, it also allowed me to really start looking at the challenges the women are facing in the business world and how I can be part of the generation that helps to catalyze change. Visiting alumni were very candid about the challenges they had faced in their careers, and I really appreciated the open and honest dialogue.
One thing you would change or do differently? I spent an enormous amount of time worrying about how I would stack up to my classmates. I felt that with no business background I would be starting off my journey trailing behind my peers. I also discounted all the things I had to offer. I have realized that some of the skills and experiences I brought with me were valuable and difficult to learn. The program here is designed to be challenging, and I ended up being no worse off having not worked in a corporate environment.
Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? Definitely the GMAT. Coming from a creative background, I hadn’t taken a math course in 12 years, so the quantitative section of the test was really difficult for me. It also took me a long time to prepare in general. So if anyone from a background similar to mine is despairing out there, you can do it! It’s definitely a rough period, and it seems to get a lot worse before it gets better.
I also got a puppy during my GMAT prep, which complicated the study process. However, I would say that once he was a little bigger, he forced me to go outside and get some fresh air. Doing even a small amount of gentle exercise really helps you refresh and de-stress after a long day of studying.
One thing you have learned about Johnson that has surprised you? You’re really encouraged here to get out of the business school and make use of the amazing resources the school has to offer. If you can think about something you might like to do at Cornell, chances are there’s a class for it. Right now, in addition to my classes in the business school, I’m taking a Modern Dance elective, which I never thought I would have the chance to do coming into business school. I also just returned from a three-day leadership trek, during which we canoed and hiked through the Adirondacks. Cornell has great initiatives for developing skills that get you out of your comfort zone and really allows you to reflect on who you want to be when you come out of the program in two years’ time.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year? The Johnson first-year program is an accelerated learning experience, and, as such, the pace is quick. I am anxious about keeping up while also attending recruiting events, polishing my resume, getting ready for my summer internship, and trying to squeeze in a few hikes!
Thing you are most excited about in your first year? It’s so fun to be surrounded by 280 highly driven and interesting people, and I can’t wait to see what I can learn from working with people from different backgrounds and experiences.
