When one considers the motto of the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business—“Developing leaders who make a positive difference in the world”—it comes as no surprise that Ross alumni can be found doing exactly that. Across the world within virtually every imaginable field, Ross alumni have garnered a reputation for taking on positions of significant social and cultural impact. And the Class of 2021 only seeks to perpetuate the Ross legacy.
The Class of 2021 boasts an impressive level of diversity, with 45 percent women, 27 percent hailing from outside the US, and 22 percent identifying as underrepresented minorities. In regards to their academic history, the group averaged a 3.5 GPA at their undergraduate institutions, with 38 percent having majored in business/economics, 33 percent in STEM and 29 percent in humanities. From education to economic development, e-commerce to international business, the 421 candidates for the Ross Class of 2021 draw on an average of 5 years of diverse work experience. Just over a quarter come from consulting and another 16 percent worked in finance. Eleven percent of the latest class brought a background in tech while another 9 percent had worked in the education/non-profit/government sectors. Healthcare sourced eight percent of the class and four percent came from the military. Others arrived on campus with professional experience in consumer goods, retail, engineering and more.
When asked, “Why business school?” responses from our first-year subjects were just as varied. While some Ross 2021 candidates equated an MBA with giving them the tools to create greater social impact, others noted how the MBA experience will help them establish stronger professional networks or help them pivot into a new career. What the profiled students all seem to have in common is that they recognize the power of a Ross MBA to help bolster their leadership skills. One candidate explained, “I wanted to develop a CEO’s perspective by deepening my skills in business analytics, mastering how to lead transformations, and creating powerful strategies, not just executing them.” The common response to why they chose Ross in particular is that the MBA offers exceptional and practical learning opportunities. The unanimous mention of Ross’s conscious, diverse and supportive community makes it clear that this MBA is for those who have their eye on leading businesses and having social impact.
Ross’s Class of 2021 is poised to follow in their predecessors’ footsteps as a diverse group of young business leaders looking to make an impact as torchbearers in their respective fields. Read on for the start of their journeys at Ross.
