Oliver White, NYU Stern MBA Class of 2024
Oliver White, NYU Stern MBA Class of 2024Age: 27
Hometown: Belmont, MA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Harvard University, Sociology, (minor in) African American History.
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): Media consultant/2 years/Nielsen, Professional soccer player/4 years.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I want to be the president of a sports network one day. After participating in the three prominent levels of soccer in the US (youth, collegiate, professional), playing in foreign countries and intermittent experiences playing on live television broadcasts, I decided to attend business school to transition my career to sports media. As I do so, I feel encouraged that as I network, research and recruit within the industry, everything I learn and internalize will be from a discrete perspective. One that is humble but comprehensively experienced in watching sports on TV, playing sports on TV, and studying the business side of sports on TV. I made the decision to attend business school to ensure I did not leave any stone unturned in that third category.
Why did you choose NYU Stern? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I have been blessed to live in multiple cities around the world, each with a distinct culture and not many commonalities other than love for sports and an admiration of New York City. From that experience I am able to contextualize the international love for how remarkable this city is, particularly when it comes to sports, entertainment, diversity, cuisine, and fashion – all passions that I share. When I decided to apply to graduate school, I knew attending the best business school in the country’s most cross-cultural city would be of considerable benefit to someone hoping to enter into a niche business that transcends cultures, languages, borders, prejudices, and identities.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024?
Hopefully, my Humanism.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I love movies, and if I ever watch a movie because I liked the trailer, I try to re-watch the trailer after the fact.
Post-MBA career interests:
Sports Media, Entertainment, Consulting, Media Consulting, Marketing, Strategy, Operations
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Apply to Stern through the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management. In addition to the tangible benefits like an orientation with fellow MBA students and a facilitated network of companies to recruit for; the Consortium also cultivates a network that increased my personal comfort and excitement for the record scratch that is interrupting a career for business school.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would take the GRE (or GMAT) considerably further in advance than applying. In retrospect, I thought simultaneously engaging in both tasks would be a benefit because they drew on similar literary skills. While it was not necessarily an impediment, there was negligible benefit.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The math section of the GRE. Shoutout to Pieter Zenner, one of my former college teammates – a multihyphenate athlete, actor, comedian, math-tutor and pianist, who was exceptionally helpful. Thanks Zen.
What is your initial impression of the Stern students/culture/community?
Eclectic, caring, social, cosmopolitan, collaborative.
What is one thing you have learned about NYU Stern that has surprised you?
I have been quite pleasantly surprised how well the school incorporates EQ into their dogma, and not just into their recruitment brochures.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I haven’t had to compare my grades to my brothers or parents at the dinner table in a while. We are all very competitive.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
The “Doing Business in…” courses. Or just traveling with other students in general.
