Justin VanNoy, Carnegie Mellon Tepper MBA Class of 2022
Age: 30
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Morehouse College, Business Administration
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 8 years, Healthcare / Marketing
Why business school? Why now?
To become a more well-rounded player in the business world, I decided to return to school and balance my existing creative and qualitative acumen with more quantitative skills.
Why Carnegie Mellon Tepper? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
As a STEM-designated MBA program, Tepper is pioneering and innovating at the intersection of business, technology, and analytics. Tepper also has an abundance of resources for students looking to transform themselves into business leaders the world needs. I wanted to join a small MBA program that can help me sharpen my leadership skills and pursue my ongoing passion for bringing business to science and science to business. Tepper is a leading program that rose to the top of my list.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2022?
My most valuable contribution would have to be my positive energy. There is a direct correlation between positive energy and positive results.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
I really love to read. My love for reading was so strong that in high school I would skip lunch to read books in the library. The only detention I ever got in middle school and high school was for overdue library books!
Post-MBA career interests?
Post MBA I would like to grow into a leader of an organization that brings therapies to those who need them most. I have an interest in the healthcare industry with a keen interest in healthcare tech, big pharma, biotech, medical devices, and the life sciences.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would connect with like-minded individuals again through organizations such as MLT and the Consortium. The network and lessons I gained with these organizations played a major role in my MBA success.
–One thing you would change or do differently?
I would spend my time and money working with two resources to prep for the GMAT: Target Test Prep for Quant and Veritas for Verbal.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would not skip any part of this process. Every experience associated with getting into business school was an ordered step and has contributed to my transformation. I was also able to learn a lot about myself and how I learn.
What is your initial impression of Carnegie Mellon Tepper’s students/culture/community?
A small STEM-designated MBA program that was pioneering and innovating at the intersection of business, technology, and analytics.
One thing you have learned about Carnegie Mellon Tepper that has surprised you?
Tepper also has an abundance of resources for students looking to transform themselves into business leaders the world needs. For me, these resources include clubs such as the healthcare club and entrepreneurship club and initiatives such as the Schwartz Center for Entrepreneurship, the Tepper Health Care Initiative, and the Heinz School of Public Policy.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Balancing in-person classes with virtual classes due to the recent pandemic.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Taking advantage of everything that Tepper has to offer as I continue to transform into a business leader the world needs.
