Cryspin “Kavaar” Kavaarpuo, Minnesota Carlson MBA Class of 2024
Age: 29
Hometown: Nandom, Ghana
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University for Development Studies, Ghana
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 5 years in investment banking
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I had worked in investment banking for five years, and as I grew in my career, my responsibilities tended to require more leadership, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills. The idea was to leverage an MBA to bridge these skills gaps. I also wanted to build some practical skills from working in a developed market, so I chose a school outside my home country, Ghana.
Why did you choose Carlson? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
There were three reasons why I chose Carlson.
Firstly, Carlson has one of the world’s biggest student-run investment funds, which I am thrilled to be part of. I was particular about building practical investing experiences in a developed market while pursuing my MBA.
Secondly, I was looking for a small student community where I could immerse myself and build a close-knit network early in the program. The class of 2024 is made up of 73 very talented individuals, and my cohort is just 35 people. This allows me, as an international student, to build that close-knit network without the distraction of being around too many people.
Finally, the Twin Cities is a beautiful place filled with myriad opportunities. Nineteen fortune 500 companies are headquartered here, and they all recruit students from the University. It is an excellent city for recent graduates and promises a high quality of life, ranked as one of the most livable cities in the United States. However, I must say that bearing with the brutal winters of Minnesota was the one thing I had to convince myself about.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024?
I bring on board a unique perspective contributing to my cohort’s diversity. I spent five years in Debt Capital Markets and securities trading in a frontier market, which allows me to speak thoroughly about the macroeconomics of emerging markets, which my peers find fascinating. This is especially topical because of the world’s current state; inflation and interest rates are skyrocketing, emerging market currencies nosediving, and there are disagreements about a recession.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
My parents call me Mwintiero, which means “God’s thoughts” in Dagara. I like to think that it implies that I think like God, but that’s incorrect. The spirit of my name is that God’s intentions for my parents were different from what they believed. My mother, God bless her, had several stillbirths before she had me, and when they had just given up hope, I showed up and did not die as many expected – so they named me in honor of the Creator’s good intentions for them.
Post-MBA career interests:
Before I came to Carlson, I wanted to go into investment management post-MBA, which is why the Funds Enterprise was a key dealmaker for me. My interests have recently shifted to management consulting, and I will be interning with BCG in the summer of 2023. I hope to work with their Principal Investors and Private Equity (PIPE) practice- so I am not leaving the idea of investment; I am just pivoting into doing diligence for private equity investors.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I will engage the admissions committee and current students. It helped me with two things: first, I got to know the kind of candidate that Carlson was looking for, and second, I got to validate my interest in the school.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I’m not too fond of standardized tests. Since Covid, Carlson allows applicants to request a test waiver, but I believed providing a test score would enhance my profile, so I took the GRE. I think the one thing that got me through was determination. I was determined to attend business school, so I did what I needed.
–What is your initial impression of the Carlson students/culture/community?
Carlson is intentional about creating a community that works well together. For instance, right before classes started, MBA core teams were tasked to develop a team charter- a document that regulates how they will work together within their core groups on things like group assignments and conflict resolution. I thought this act set the tone for effectiveness and allowed people to define boundaries and ensure respect.
What is one thing you have learned about Carlson that has surprised you?
I thought the MBA would be “chill”, but it is the exact opposite. This first semester has been like drinking from a fire hose- very intense.
