Matt Trumbore, UGA Terry MBA Class of 2024
Age: 28
Hometown: Novi, MI
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, Economics
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 6 years, Healthcare Technology Consulting
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I’ve long-held a fascination for the ways technological innovation can catalyze business development. It’s my belief that the current era of digital transformation will continue to play a pivotal role in the future of corporate strategy, and it’s my desire to be at the epicenter of that widespread initiative. After immersing myself in digital transformation work in the healthcare industry for several years, I’ve chosen to return to business school to expand my personal and professional network, sharpen my business acumen, and gain exposure to technology transformation across many different business sectors.
Why did you choose UGA Terry? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
After looking into numerous MBA programs, I knew the right fit for me would offer:
- Genuine Human Connection: Meaningful relationships with colleagues energize me and encourage me to be my best self, both personally and professionally. Terry’s smaller class size provides the opportunity to develop a connection with everyone – peers, professors, program staff, and even the dean of the college. It was evident from my first interaction with the Georgia MBA program that the people were deeply connected, and everyone was in your corner.
- High ROI: Making the decision to return to business school presents a high opportunity cost, and that reality is well recognized at Terry. The program provides a multitude of opportunities and avenues to lighten the burden of returning to school, while working tirelessly to help their students attain their professional goals after the program.
- Location: Growing up and spending the first chapter of my professional career in the Midwest, I grew tired of long seasons of snow and ice (especially in the month of April!). Lots of my personal passions involve being outside, so I decided to prioritize a location that allowed me to continue practicing those passions with comfort and regularity.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024?
My most valuable contribution to this class is my ability to promote inclusion and foster connection for our incoming class. I traveled frequently at my previous job, and even relocated internationally. Those experiences put me in situations (planes, cars, hotels, even foreign countries) with people I had never met and forced me to develop relationships quickly. I’ll apply this same skillset to my fellow classmates at Terry, helping students find common ground, creating enjoyable shared experiences, and solidifying a unified class.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
In the spring of 2011, I sang the national anthem for the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Post-MBA career interests:
Management Consulting, Digital Strategy
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
This is frequently said, but I’ll reemphasize: Be yourself, throughout the entire process. This will help to find the right program fit for you and take away a lot of stress of trying to be the perfect candidate. MBA schools legitimately want real candidates, not perfect candidates.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would engage with people involved in the program ten times more than I did during my application processes. Call the school and ask to connect with admissions staff, current students, alumni, professors, career services, etc. These relationships will give you lots of insight into the culture of the program, and you will gain a lot more insight than solely researching online.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The GMAT. It’s not fun preparing for this exam while you’re working full time. However, it’s a great sneak
peek into the types of problems and academic challenges you’ll face in business school. Beyond the academic side, balancing other obligations with GMAT preparations is excellent time management practice – a skill you will need as you enter an MBA program.
What is your initial impression of the UGA Terry students/culture/community?
The culture in the Georgia MBA is family centric. Given the smaller class size, you can build deep relationships with students and staff that simply isn’t feasible at a program with hundreds of students and faculty. Our program has created an environment where everyone involved with the program is rooting for your success, and therefore, willing to go above and beyond to help you reach your goals.
What is one thing you have learned about UGA Terry that has surprised you?
Everyone, from the students to the staff, is extremely down to earth. The Georgia MBA program hasn’t felt stuffy or manufactured for a single moment.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Time Management. As you begin your MBA journey, you’ll have lots of opportunities presented to you – coursework, experiential learning opportunities, recruiting opportunities, student organizations, and more. It can be overwhelming to try and balance all the competing priorities, and easy to stretch yourself extremely thin. It’s imperative to practice good time management to get the most out of your MBA experience without over-extending yourself.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
As a college football fan, I’m really excited for the UGA football season this fall. The football team is embedded into the culture of the university and the town of Athens, and I’m excited to take part in the SEC football culture. As a bonus, the UGA football team is returning to the field after winning their first national championship in over 40 years which generates a lot of excitement and enthusiasm for everyone involved at the university.
