Ozioma Aniagu, Carnegie Mellon Tepper MBA Class of 2024
Hometown: Enugu, Nigeria
Undergraduate Institution and Major: National Open University of Nigeria – B.sc Communication & Information Technology
Graduate Degree Institution and Course: Concordia University, Montreal – Master of Engineering – Software Engineering
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 9 years – Department of State Service (DSS), Nigeria; 5 years – Software Engineer, Toronto, Canada.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I spent nearly a decade at the Department of State Service, Nigeria (DSS) as an Intelligence Analyst and a Field Agent. I forged a career that gave me eye-opening insight into the machinations of the Nigerian state and taught me to think on my feet under extreme pressure. I learned to trust my intuition and use emotional intelligence to decipher human behavior by taking calculated and measured risks.
I pivoted to software engineering years ago because of my passion for information technology, which has inspired me toward positively impacting lives through the development, implementation, and application of computer software technology. My life as a software engineer has been nothing but eventful; I love the eureka moments and feeling of immense gratification after solving puzzling software situations.
There’s a big misconception that software engineers just code and technically develop software, but that’s only partly true. In reality, much of my job as a software engineer involves translating business requirements to other engineers and explaining the technical limitations of those business requirements to partners and stakeholders who are not technically adept.
I aspire to advance my career to a technical product management role in which I can set a vision for a software product, make key decisions regarding its design, and lead several teams at the intersection of business and technology. Though I have strong technical skills as a software engineer, I aspire to further my knowledge and understanding of business concepts while also sharpening my skills in cooperative management through an MBA. Without a strong erudite business foundation, it would be extremely difficult to successfully define/ideate a software product, make informed business decisions that significantly and positively impact both product and people, or successfully navigate the bureaucratic spaces of a company as a black female business leader. An MBA education will enhance and broaden my understanding of the global business market, improve communication skills, and expand my professional network as well as also place me in a better position to mitigate the existing and limiting gap between technical and non-technical teams in tech industries.
Why did you choose Carnegie Mellon Tepper? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
One of the main reasons I chose Tepper was because of its rigorous and robust curriculum that is based on the novel application of advanced analytics using Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies towards data use to inform the best practices of business and management. Within its mini-semester structure are concentrations, programs, and tracks that are tailored toward helping me attain my immediate and long-term career goals.
Also, Tepper has a close-knit community, which, as a first-year MBA student, gave me early access to the Tepper alumni community and the second years, both of which served as invaluable resources to new Tepper MBA students like me. Before I joined Tepper, I had the pleasure of speaking to about five then-first-year and now second-year Tepper students. Their willingness to provide me with appropriate information/guidelines was nothing short of immensely helpful and insightful of the nature and character of Tepper’s MBA program. I believe this quality fosters a learning environment that is open-minded, collectively supportive, and particularly passionate about my success both in and post business school.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Tepper MBA Class of 2024?
My ability to think both outside the box and on my feet, due to my background as an intelligence analyst and field agent in the Nigerian DSS, as well as my technical expertise and experience in the development and translation of computer software, especially e-commerce applications.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
It’s nearly impossible for my friends to make me any special chocolate dessert because I don’t like chocolate. I am among the odd few that find all types of chocolate to taste overwhelmingly bitter regardless of type. Thus, I am a super-taster; just one bite of chocolate will send me complaining about the bitterness of the supposed sweet confectionery that is a favorite delicacy of most people.
Post-MBA career interests:
Technical Product Management.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
Start early
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Be my authentic self.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I underestimated the need to destress from work prior to commencing the program in August. In hindsight, I would have resigned earlier than I did. That would have given me more time to reflect and reconnect with myself before starting off graduate studies at Tepper.
–What is your initial impression of the Carnegie Mellon Tepper students/culture/community?
As one of the top MBA programs in the country, I assumed that Tepper students would be uncomfortably competitive and distant. However, my interaction with them before and after I joined Tepper has assuaged my fears/beliefs. The second years continuously surprise me: they are but one email away from any sort of help or assistance that I could need.
What is one thing you have learned about Carnegie Mellon Tepper that has surprised you?
Friday Beers! Tepper students study and play hard. Students have beers and food every Friday. This is another avenue to mingle with your cohort (future business leaders) and strengthen bonds.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
One of the questions that I asked the Tepper AdCom who interviewed me during the admission interviews “is what I could do to succeed and get the best out of the MBA program”. His answer was “learn how to manage your time before you get to Tepper.” I thought I did (laughing), but three weeks after base camp, I think I need to reassess my current time management tactics. I like to check tasks off my to-do list, but not when there are more tasks undone than done. Thus, I am learning to prioritize what’s more important and to work efficiently without burning out.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Everyone that I have met in Tepper is personally and professionally unique. It is unimaginably diverse and refreshing; the wealth of knowledge and background in a Tepper gathering. I like to learn from everyone I encounter because I believe we all have something special to offer to each other. I am looking forward to making genuine connections within my cohort and strengthening ties with my peers by fostering engagements that are both personal and professional.
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your personal application or admissions process in any way? If so, how?
The remote work switch that characterized the COVID-19 pandemic period positively enabled me to better study for tests and effectively research/write my admission essays. The presence of a remote work option eliminated the long commute I had to make to and back from work and thus provided me with ample time to complete admission requirements without being too exhausted/tired upon return from work.
