Katherine Nimmo, Chicago Booth MBA Class of 2020
Age: 26
Hometown: Wellesley, MA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Dartmouth College, English Literature
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Two years in investment banking and two years in growth equity.
Why business school? Why now?
In looking at the scope of my current role at my company and juxtaposing it with what would be required of me at the level above mine, I identified two core differences: managing people and interacting more with portfolio companies in a strategic capacity.
Business school presents the opportunity to hone my leadership skills and also to take classes in functional areas I haven’t been exposed to in my professional career, like marketing and operations, as well as collaborate with peers from those industries in group settings. I saw business school as a way to advance both soft and technical skills that would be required of me in my pursuit of a long-term career in investing.
Why Booth? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I was looking for a rigorous finance curriculum to complement my liberal arts undergrad experience. Booth has always been known as a strong quant school, but I love that it is constantly innovating.
From the offerings of the Polsky Center to the Lab classes, in which students simultaneously take a class and have a part-time internship during the school year, Booth continues to provide new and exciting opportunities for those interested in finance professions.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2020?
I’m an English major who has worked in finance for the last four years, so I think I have the ability to both see the big picture and get in the weeds on the analytical side of things.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
I keep a journal that I write in almost every day; it helps me reflect and decompress. Of course, sometimes it’s not enough, and that’s when I turn to Grey’s Anatomy and Ben & Jerry’s.
Post-MBA career interests?
I intend to return to early-stage investing. It’s qualitative and quantitative and puts me in front of so many new, intelligent entrepreneurs—it’s got everything!
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Visiting and talking to students is incredibly important. I believe in the inexplicable “gut feeling” about a place, so it was important to me to get on campus and see student life in action. Booth hosts an awesome program called Booth Live, which is a day of programming for prospective students, and I’m glad I got the opportunity to attend.
–One thing you would change or do differently?
I would have gotten more feedback from family members and close friends on my essay topics. Applying to school is a great opportunity to be introspective, but I think it helps to get some outside perspective on how others see you as well, particularly as it pertains to what value you can add to a school.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The waiting game was tough! It helped to focus on the steps still in my control. After I pressed submit on my application, I stayed sane by attending a few online webinars, talking to additional current students, and practicing interview questions, rather than let myself second-guess essay topics and parts of the application that had already passed.
What is your initial impression of Booth’s students/culture/community?
I love that Booth encourages you to explore what is exciting to you, specifically. With LEAD as the only required course, there’s definitely some connective tissue among all students, but then you’re free to take classes in what interests you, and in doing whatever that is, you’ll receive tremendous support.
The pay-it-forward mentality really stands out as well, and I’ve already benefited from it countless times. When I first got in, Booth paired me with a current student who had a similar professional background to mine, and she hopped on the phone to answer my questions and share her experiences.
Our Classes of 2019-2020 Slack channel this summer has also been buzzing with advice and support from second-years. As not only a new student, but also as someone new to Chicago, this guidance has been invaluable.
One thing you have learned about Booth that has surprised you?
I’m surrounded by both incredibly talented and incredibly humble individuals. People are quick to volunteer their experience if it can be helpful to you, but no one is a shameless self-promoter.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I’m worried I won’t have time to do everything I want and to take every class I want – in fact, I know I won’t. Ultimately, however, I think that’s a great reflection on Booth.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’m excited to meet new people and to take classes on totally new subjects. It’s two years to stretch my “normal,” both in terms of people and my knowledge base.
