Ugo Ume, MIT Sloan MBA Class of 2022
Age: 27
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Arizona, B.S. Finance
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): Real Estate ~4 years.
Why business school? Why now?
I wanted to transition into a more strategic role. Something ideally within Healthcare, but I’m pretty open. In terms of timing, I had spent some time in the workforce and gained more clarity about the direction in which I wanted my life to go.. and I hit that inflection point last year.
Why MIT Sloan? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
There were two main factors:
- Analytical Toolkit – I wanted a place in which I could build my analytic and statistical toolkit to future-proof my career, and I don’t think there’s a better place than MIT Sloan for that.
- Entrepreneurship – I have a long-term interest in entrepreneurship, and the opportunity to not only learn from budding entrepreneurs but also leverage MIT’s network in the future was significant for me.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2022?
I think my experience with having spent half my life in a developing nation and the other half in the US gives me a unique perspective on a lot of issues.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
I competed at the world youth chess championships back in the day.
Post-MBA career interests?
Something related to analytics or healthcare, but I’m pretty open and flexible so long as the career/job/firm provides interesting work and growth opportunities.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Self-Reflect. The application process required a lot of self-reflection, helped me grow as a person, and brought out a different side of me.
–One thing you would change or do differently?
We had to create a one minute video telling our future classmates about ourselves, and mine was honestly embarrassing. We weren’t allowed to edit and it had to be done in a single take. I could have spent more time prepping for and filming the video.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would have skipped the video part of the application if I could for the above reason. I got through it because I had to, and it’s also an opportunity to be as creative as you want, so it’s also fun.
What is your initial impression of MIT Sloan’s students/culture/community?
The community is incredibly diverse. There are folks from all walks of life and people with interesting experiences. One of my core-team classmates (we’re divided into groups of six for the core semester) played professional soccer prior to enrolling at Sloan. I found that intriguing because I love soccer, and I also understand how difficult it is to make it at that level. There are lots of amazingly impressive folks in the class.
One thing you have learned about MIT Sloan that has surprised you?
The endless opportunities to fill your cup with whatever interests you. I signed up for so many clubs initially and quickly realized that there was no way I could actively participate in all of them, so I dropped some. There are so many opportunities here and you can also cross-register at other MIT schools. I plan to take a class called “How to Win at Poker” during the Independent Activities Period (January) and I’m excited because I have always wanted to learn to play poker.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I’m most anxious about opportunities to socialize and network with my given situation (pandemic). It’s a bizarre time to be in school, but the school has done a great job creating opportunities for students to get to meet/know each other safely.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’m most excited to meet more of my peers next semester. Also excited to help organize some of the entrepreneurship competitions – especially the $100k competitions and the Healthcare (SHIP) Entrepreneurship competition. I’m learning a ton from folks who founded successful ventures and those who are still at the beginning stages of doing so.
