Olesya Sukhareva, SMU Cox MBA Class of 2020
Age: 32
Hometown: McKinney, TX
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Georgia Tech, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 9 years, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
Why business school? Why now?
Having worked 9 years in Research & Development at a CPG company, I was able to obtain a substantial technical understanding of product innovation and process improvement. However, I wanted to learn more about the business side, like what specifically goes into marketing a new product, the logistical details of procuring raw ingredients, and how to read and understand a company’s annual report. For me, business school was the obvious next step.
Why SMU Cox? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Since I wanted to stay local, I was looking for a Texas school with a reputable MBA program. A friend of mine had received her MBA from SMU Cox a few years back, so I decided to talk to her about her experience.
She absolutely loved her time at SMU, from the faculty & staff to the people in her MBA class to all the extras SMU provides that other schools don’t have, such as the Business Leadership Center and the Leadership Development Program. It didn’t take long for her to convince me that SMU Cox was the place where I wanted to be.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2020?
In addition to my technical background, I spent a fairly long time (almost a decade!) in industry, and there are some things that just simply cannot be taught in the classroom. I hope to be able to pull on that knowledge to help my peers in ventures outside the classroom, such as case studies, interview preparation, and general insight into the CPG industry.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
I love dogs! In fact, I have been a volunteer and foster for the Boston Terrier Rescue of North Texas for the past two years. In addition to my 3 dogs, we typically have between 1 and 2 fosters at my house at any given time, so most of the time it’s a madhouse! It’s important for me to get the “adopt, don’t shop” word out there. There are so many wonderful shelter and rescue dogs that need a forever home, and I love being part of a group that helps them find that.
Post-MBA career interests?
My goal is to land a role in supply chain and/or operations management. I would love to work for a retailer like Target or Walmart to help develop their eCommerce portfolio. Nearly all businesses rely on logistics to deliver their product to their customers, and I want to be a part of making that process as quick and efficient as possible.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Research the school as much as you can – What makes it stand out from other institutions? How big is the class size? What does the program offer, both as part of the curriculum and outside of class? You need to be able to give a truthful, concise answer when asked “Why SMU?”
–One thing you would change or do differently?
I would give myself more time to prepare for the GMAT/GRE. Specifically, the biggest piece of advice I would give is to time yourself when taking practice tests. That’s something I didn’t do, and I ended up running out of time during the actual test, which cost me points in the end.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Again, the GMAT/GRE! Studying for a test is a skill I had to relearn after being out of practice for almost 10 years. I had to figure out how to deconstruct paragraphs and draw Venn diagrams all over again. However, it prepared me for re-entry into academia, and I’ve actually found overlapping material in some of my MBA classes.
What is your initial impression of SMU Cox’s students/culture/community?
The SMU Cox community is essentially a support group filled with professors, career coaches, mentors, and peers that want to help you succeed in any way they can. Someone is always there to answer your questions, whether they are about last night’s homework assignment, the company you want to interview with for your internship, or the best taco joint in Uptown. I am proud to be able to call myself a part of this community and hope to contribute to it both during my time here and post graduation.
One thing you have learned about SMU Cox that has surprised you?
The network here is extensive; there is almost always someone that knows someone else that works in the company/industry/sector you’re interested in. Make connections! You never know when you’ll need to utilize them in the future.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Learning how to be a student again!
Thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Taking classes on topics I have little to no prior knowledge about, like accounting! I had no idea what a balance sheet was 4 weeks ago.
