Kristen Westerbeck, Vanderbilt Owen MBA Class of 2022
Age: 31
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Belmont University, Music Business
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): Marketing Director, Jackalope Brewing Company, Nashville, TN, Years: 9 years, 2011-2020; Industry: Food & Beverage. Booking Agent Assistant, Creative Artist Agency, Nashville, TN, Years: 2 years, 2012-2014, Industry: Entertainment
Why business school? Why now?
I came to business school from a company that I loved. I worked at a craft brewery in Nashville for eight years from its foundation to expansion, and I had reached my finish line. At the brewery, I worked in marketing but developed a passion for operations and sustainability over the years. Business school would allow me to explore these new passions on a larger scale, or as I like to put it, turn up the volume! I was currently making a large impact at a small company, and b-school could provide me with the opportunity to make a small impact at a larger company – right where I wanted to be.
Why Owen? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Owen was the only school on my list, actually! I explored other programs prior to the application process, and Owen was the one program that checked every box between people, program, and location. The first experience I had with an Owen alumnus was a 30-minute coffee chat that lasted two hours because she simply wanted me to succeed. This support remains consistent throughout the faculty and students; each person I meet has an incredible story of how they came to Owen, without pretentiousness. Owen is filled with brilliant people who are down-to-earth and committed to helping you succeed.
Regarding the MBA program at Owen, it is not an easy program. If you’re looking to coast through business school, this is not your school! Everyone who is in the program wants to be there, which is evident through active class participation. Juggling five classes, recruiting for a summer internship, and adapting to a new social schedule provided the challenge I needed to pursue the next step in my career. The best part – the smaller class sizes (20-30 persons per class) allowed me to form personal relationships with my classmates and my professors. They know me by first name, even with a mask on!
Lastly, Owen’s location is in the heart of Nashville. Two blocks from famed Music Row, walkable to hip neighborhoods like Midtown, Hillsboro Village, and The Gulch, I’m able to work hard and play hard. Owen wants me to experience the city it loves as much as the MBA program. The area has so much to offer besides music, too! It’s filled with natural hiking areas, farmer’s markets, and my favorite part – lots of waterfalls.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2022?
My contribution will hopefully be the idea that a business school student doesn’t have to come from a standard business background. I had a non-traditional background prior to joining business school (as did most of my Owen classmates!). Whatever topic you’re well-versed in, whether it’s beer, the Army, fashion, healthcare, etc., you have the opportunity to contribute valuable opinions during your time at b-school. Your background allows you to have a different perspective of a problem and more importantly, a unique approach to a solution!
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
Last year I achieved my goal of setting foot on all seven continents with a trip to Antarctica with my mom. Next year’s goal is a 19-day trek to Everest Base Camp prior to my summer internship!
Post-MBA career interests?
My goal is to work for an innovative company that blends both my love for operations with my passion for sustainability. There’s work to be done in sustainable sourcing and manufacturing of products. It’s also important to me to work for a company whose mission I believe in, and whose culture is inclusive. I’m excited to announce I’ve accepted the Global Operations Internship with Nike for Summer 2021! Nike has always pushed me to be better as a consumer, and I’m so excited to have the opportunity to contribute to the dynamic organization as an intern.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Put the work and time into your resume. Before you leave your current job for b-school, be sure you have the information you need to quantify each bullet point on your resume. The work put into your resume will not only shine to the prospective school but be a valuable asset during the first semester when your attention is pulled in many other directions!
–One thing you would change or do differently?
During the interview, be yourself! I was nervous about making the ‘right’ impression, but ultimately Owen wasn’t looking for someone who was like the crowd. I hid parts of my personality in order to fit into a mold that didn’t even exist! My advice is to be yourself, relax, and realize that you already have the qualities you need to contribute to your prospective MBA program.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The GMAT was tough for me. I hadn’t attended school in eight years and restarting my brain for quantitative reasoning was a challenge! What helped me get through the GMAT was staying focused on how much attending grad school could help redirect my life. Taking the GMAT was the most painful part of grad school; once you’re through that, you’re through the worst of it.
What is your initial impression of Owen’s students/culture/community?
Caliber is the word that most comes to mind. I have had the chance to work with some incredible groups of people throughout my career, and nothing compares to the caliber of the Owen community. The Owen community is inclusive, challenging, respectful, and most importantly, approachable.
One thing you have learned about Owen that has surprised you?
There is no such thing a ‘business school student’ at Owen. Everyone is diverse in their experiences and the program is personalized. If you think you don’t fit into a certain ‘business student’ mold, you most likely belong at Owen.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Imposter syndrome is real! The first few weeks at Owen, I felt surrounded by classmates who had experience at much larger companies than my small brewery. This caused me to discount my own experiences. I expressed these feelings of doubt to an incredible coach named Melinda Allen in Owen’s Career Management Center, who gave me the tough talk that differences do not mean better or worse. My own value and uniqueness not only contribute to my success but the growth of others in my class. Once I dealt with those feelings, I felt unstoppable.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year?
This list could go on forever! I’m most excited about meeting new people and listening to their experiences. I was sitting in one class with an engineer from Boeing on one side of me and a guy who ran an independent bicycle shop in China for seven years on the other side. Everyone has a story that is as incredible as my own, and there’s so much to learn from others’ experiences. The second thing I’m most excited for – cheering on the Vanderbilt Commodores. I’ve never attended a university with a football team, so I’m ready to make up for lost time. Go ‘Dores!
