Yatharth Khullar, Kelley MBA Class of 2020
Age: 24
Hometown: Buffalo Grove, IL
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Purdue University, Electrical Engineering
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 2.5 years, Operations Management at Procter & Gamble
Why business school? Why now?
I decided to pursue business school for two primary reasons.
First, while my time at P&G gave me the chance to gain management experience early on in my career, I realized that for leading broader teams that impact larger areas of the company, I needed a more holistic knowledge of business. I saw myself desiring to take on these broadening assignments more and as a result, decided to attend business school now.
Second, later on in my career I would like to pursue teaching, a field in which a graduate degree can open up significantly more opportunities.
Why Kelley? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
While visiting different schools as I made my decision to attend, Kelley’s culture of collaboration stood out the most. Kelley’s class size (a modest 185) and diversity gives me a chance to get to know and collaborate with individuals from all over the world with vastly varied experiences. Further, Kelley’s alumni network is one of the largest, which would give me the chance to connect with leaders globally.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2020? –Diversity is a key tenet of Kelley and the Class of 2020 and I am glad to add my own diverse experience to this. By the time I was 16, I had lived in India, Australia and had just started my life in the U.S., eventually going on to live in different cities in the Midwest.
All these moves brought along their own challenges but ultimately helped me grow and learn to adapt in different situations. I hope to use my experience to help others as they pivot to different opportunities and grow their own diversity.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
Last year, to commemorate our travels, my partner and I started collecting Starbucks “You are Here”/”Been There” Collection mugs as we traveled to different cities. We only have 13 so far but hope to collect them all!
Post-MBA career interests?
Operations Leadership or Operations Consulting.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
— One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Visit the campus! If they have a preview/experience weekend, try your best to make it there. Not only will you get a chance to meet current students and network, but also see the campus to find how you fit in with the location.
— One thing you would change or do differently?
Not overstress the GMAT. Instead, spend more time networking with the current and graduate students of the program. Reach out to the faculty of the program you are interested in and get their perspective. Most MBA staff and faculty have industry experience and contacts that can help you see how an MBA helped them.
— Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Writing the application essays. It can be hard to write concisely when you are trying to get your story across. Definitely use your family and friends to bounce ideas off of and receive feedback on the brand your essays are portraying.
What is your initial impression of Kelley’s students/culture/community?
Collaborative and humble. The faculty, career services (GCS), students and everyone else at Kelley are really here to help everyone succeed. Faculty and staff have a ton of events outside of class to try to get to know everyone personally.
GCS has multiple programs available to challenge you and prepare you for the career you pick. Second-years returning from their internships help first-years prepare for interviews. There is no limit to the amount of support available to help you succeed in the career of your choice.
One thing you have learned about Kelley that has surprised you?
The Comedy Attic in Bloomington! The comedy club is one of the most popular in the US and frequently headlines famous stand-up comedians.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Managing time between classes, networking, clubs, along with everything else. At the end of the day, we just have to prioritize and realize that completing everything is practically impossible.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year?
The Academy experience. Every first-year picks one of six academies (Supply Chain, Consumer Marketing, Consulting etc.) that is tailored to help you learn more about the field of your choice, connect you with related companies, and ultimately gain marketable skills that you can use throughout your career.
