Logan Booth, Kellogg MBA Class of 2021
Age: 30
Hometown: Brookfield, CT
Undergraduate Institution and Major: New York University / Double Major: History & Religious Studies
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 5 years / Attorney
Why business school? Why now?
After 5 years of practicing corporate law, I decided that the part of my job that interested me the most was not the legal intricacies of the transactions that I was working on, but instead the business rationale behind these deals. As such, I made the decision to pivot to a more business-facing role.
Given that my previous education was focused on humanities and law, I realized that gaining a solid foundation in business-related topics such as finance, economics, marketing, etc., would provide me with the necessary foundation to make this career shift.
Why Kellogg? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
What attracted me most to Kellogg was the program’s focus on collegiality and teamwork. Whereas the practice of law is a comparatively solitary profession, the essence of any business leader is the ability to build consensus and manage teams.
The fact that every stage of the Kellogg experience (the application process, the way classes are taught, and the strong emphasis on extracurricular activities) incorporates a team-based approach, tremendously resonated with me.
Additionally, given that I was already living in Chicago and intended to pursue my post-MBA career here, I wanted to attend a school that would allow me to grow my existing professional network, while providing me with access to new business leaders in the area.
Lastly, I was named an FC Austin Scholar, and generously offered the Austin Scholarship, which greatly reduced the financial burden of attending business school, and afforded me entrance into an elite cohort. This really made Kellogg the most appealing place to pursue my MBA.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2021?
In law, success is defined by mitigating risk for your client, which is perhaps the most antithetical perspective to success in business. History is replete of fabulously successful businesses that were risky endeavors in their beginning stages. I am really curious to see how the risk-averse mentality I’ve acquired over the last five years as a lawyer evolves during my time in business school, and how I can utilize that perspective to contribute to the learning environment with my peers at Kellogg.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
In college, I traveled to Kazakhstan on a community service trip. About 10 months after returning, I was having brunch at a restaurant in Manhattan, and coincidently, was seated next to Sacha Baron Cohen (who played Borat in Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan). I introduced myself and said that I had been to Kazakhstan.
He told me that the scenes of the movie that appear to be filmed in Kazakhstan were actually filmed in Romania, so he himself had never been (despite probably being the most famous “Kazakhstani” in the history of cinema). I spent the next hour answering his questions and telling him all about my experience. Best brunch I’ve ever had, hands down.
Post-MBA career interests?
Immediately post-MBA I intend to pursue a career in management consulting because I believe this would provide me with a solid foundation in how businesses operate. In addition to my civilian career as an attorney, I’m also an intelligence officer in the US Navy Reserve.
Ultimately, I would like to synthesize my professional experience as an attorney, the business experience I will receive at both Kellogg and post-MBA, and my work in national security to advise companies of the geopolitical and business considerations of operating in emerging and unstable markets.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Take the time to really reflect on why you’re going to business school, and what you hope to get out of it. Whereas going to law school is a necessary step to becoming an attorney or going to medical school is a necessary step to becoming a doctor, most business roles don’t require an MBA credential.
I believe having a coherent rationale as to why you want to take a two-year hiatus from working to attend business school, and how that experience is essential to your long-term career goals, is the most important part of a successful application.
–One thing you would change or do differently?
Because of my work and travel schedule, I had very little opportunity to spend a significant time on the campuses of those programs to which I was admitted. While rankings and reputation are important, I think the defining feature of a business school experience is fit, and while I am completely confident with the decision I made, I think it would have been helpful to have more face-to-face time with each program.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Agonizing over in-person interviews. Although I already have two graduate-level degrees (an MA and JD), neither of those programs required an interview as a part of the admissions process. Therefore, my only formal interview experience prior to applying to business school was for jobs.
The only similarity between an interview for a job and an interview for a business school is the word “interview.” Whereas the former is concerned with competency and qualifications, the latter—at least at Kellogg—is all about who you are as a person and your fit with the program. In that sense, I’d analogize it more like going on a first date than interviewing for a position that you want. Be yourself, don’t try to impress to embellish, and if the fit is mutual, everything will work out.
–What is your initial impression of Kellogg’s students/culture/community?
I moved to Chicago from New York two years ago, and I’m still amazed everyday about how “Midwestern nice” is actually a thing. Kellogg is the business school microcosm of Midwestern nice. Everyone I have encountered is so helpful, collegial, and willing to provide any help or assistance that they can.
Despite being an elite business school program with impressive faculty and alumni, pretentiousness does not exist. Admittedly, while I was very interested in other business school programs because of their name, reputation or ranking, the only program where I was impressed with the people was Kellogg.
And given that I’m about to spend two years of my life surrounded by these people, I think that says everything that needs to be said.
One thing you have learned about Kellogg that has surprised you?
How impressive the facilities are. Kellogg’s Global Hub looks like a cross between a luxury waterfront resort and the headquarters of a Fortune 500 company. Given how much time I will spend there over the next two years between classes and extracurricular activities, I really can’t imagine a more hospitable environment to pursue my MBA than the Global Hub at Kellogg.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
How I’m going to balance academics, a social life, extracurricular activities, and networking for jobs! Admittedly, I’m an unabashed ‘fear of missing out’ sufferer, so I know it is going to be my personality to want to take advantage of everything that is offered to me over the next two years.
When you’re in the working world, you really only have to balance your professional life and your personal life, and that is already a daunting task at times! Throw in studying and interviewing on top of that, and it becomes even more challenging. But, it’s a challenge that I’m excited to undertake.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year?
The opportunity to make 480 new friends! One of my main reasons for leaving law was how solitary a profession it can be. I love networking, meeting new people, and working in a collaborative environment. The excitement I feel by having been given the opportunity to foster personal and professional connections with people from diverse and dynamic backgrounds is hard to articulate; I can’t wait!
