Vladislav Azimhodjaev, Tuck’s MBA Class of 2022
Hometown: Namangan, Uzbekistan
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Maryland Baltimore County, Financial Economics
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 6 years in Startups (education and food delivery), 2 years in Financial Services
Why business school? Why now?
My ultimate goal is to uplift millions of Uzbeks out of hardship through education. I plan to launch a chain of education centers across Uzbekistan that will teach skills ranging from computer programming to English and offer job placement services. An MBA will help me learn how to market products, manage operations, and lead people to achieve this goal.
Why Dartmouth/Tuck School of Business? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Initially, I was drawn to Tuck because of its leadership development program (e.g. Outward Bound), its portfolio of experiential global learning projects (e.g. TuckGO), and its strength in general management.
Then, when I visited the school I fell in love with its community. From current students taking me out to dinner to get to know me, to Professor Foster hosting me in his home where we discussed topics including intergenerational wealth transfer, I felt that I was embraced as part of the Tuck family. After three days spent there, I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2022?
I look forward to becoming an active member of the Center for Entrepreneurship at Tuck and helping my peers launch their startups.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? 
As a teenager, I used to breed fish and sell them at the market each Sunday.
Post-MBA career interests?
My short-term goal is to join either a consulting firm or a Fortune 100 company (focusing on retail, education, or tech) in a strategy or business development role to develop strategies and lead initiatives to expand into new geographies and product offerings.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Try to find students and alumni at each school from a similar background. As an Uzbek applicant, I had an easier time connecting with students from former-USSR countries.
–One thing you would change or do differently?
Visit schools ahead of time (perhaps even one year earlier) to learn about them to narrow down the school list to a few you really like.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I wish schools required fewer essays. I’m lucky to have started ahead of time.
What is your initial impression of Tuck’s students/culture/community?
It’s super tight-knit. People stop to talk to each other between classes. Professors invite students for dinners (and vice versa). When alumni visit Tuck, they spend days meeting with students. It’s very unique.
One thing you have learned about Tuck that has surprised you?
I was pleasantly surprised by Tuck’s network and how easy it was to get connected to alumni. Before school started, I had already talked to a few partners at top consulting firms as well as a few C-level executives at billion-dollar companies.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
FOMO—there is so much going on and it’s hard to pick things that I need to skip.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Tuck Winter Carnival and FYPGO.
