Andres Michel Jr., Tepper MBA Class of 2020
Age: 28
Hometown: Houston, TX
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Houston (Electrical Engineering)
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): I worked for Chevron North America in the Oil & Gas industry for four years prior to attending business school.
Why business school? Why now?
Since I was a child I have always been a curious individual. My most current role at Chevron allowed me to learn how the Oil & Gas industry operates. I wanted to learn more about the decision making on funding projects and I knew I was lacking the business fundamentals and that is I why I decided to attend business school. I was at a point in my career that I had a good understanding of the field operations and felt that I was ready to transition into a business corporate role.
Why Tepper? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? With my engineering background I have had the opportunity to work with a lot of different improvement projects. As an engineer my task was always to implement technologies that would help gather data to predict future failures in equipment or predict future outcomes. After successfully bringing the data back to the office from the field, the biggest issue was understanding what the data was representing.
While I was researching different schools, I wanted an MBA program that applied data analytics to business decisions. Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business really stood out to me and how the curriculum they have developed is main core in data analytics. I believe that data analytics is the future of any industry.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2020? My most valuable contribution to my Class of 2020 is my life experience of overcoming adversity. The first year in MBA school is challenging, getting adjusted to being a student again and I think my humble experiences in life can lighten up my classmates struggles by encouraging them to push forward.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
My wife and I attended the same elementary school.
Post-MBA career interests?
Post-MBA career interest is to continue developing my career in a leadership development program in the Energy Industry.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Visit the schools before applying. The last thing you want to do is to attend a school that is not a good fit for you.
–One thing you would change or do differently?
Begin the GMAT prep early and start brainstorming your accomplishments in your life and career.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would have liked to skip the GMAT exam. I knew that I really wanted to attend a top business school and I was not going to let a test score overshadow my own accomplishments in life.
What is your initial impression of Tepper’s students/culture/community?
It has been a very humble experience collaborating with my fellow classmates. Every day I am surrounded by highly intelligent individuals that are willing to help others reach their full potential.
One thing you have learned about Tepper that has surprised you?
Tepper is a small community environment but no matter what industry you want to pivot Tepper has the resources needed to connect you with alumni from the school in any industry.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Job recruiting is about to start, and I am anxious to start job recruiting.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am excited to participate with my classmates on future trips out of the country and learn more about the world.
