Muneeb B. Hafeez, Minnesota Carlson MBA Class of 2024
Age: 29
Hometown: Islamabad, Pakistan
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, Pakistan – Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Dual Concentration in Finance & Strategy
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 6 years, in multiple sectors including Corporate & Investment Banking @ Citi and the Federal Government (Public Sector) in a wide range of functions including Project Management, Policy Research, Human Resource Management, Finance and Digital Transformation
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Seven years after graduating and having worked in multiple sectors and functions, I knew that I needed to develop myself further if I were to move to the next level in my career. During the worst COVID waves, I was serving in an essential services federal organization. During that time, I realized the huge potential for tech in government and led multiple projects in the digital transformation space. While I derived immense satisfaction from working on these, I had realized that I needed to further develop my technology management skills.
While I wanted to study information systems, I wanted my study to be in a management context (rather than a technical one) and with an experienced cohort. This would only be possible in a business school. I had also acquired a decent amount of work experience, but deeply felt the need to return to an academic setting to ‘process’ these experiences and also learn from other similarly placed individuals. Hence, the MBA seemed the most logical next step in my career.
Why did you choose Carlson? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
There were three main reasons. As a Fulbright Scholar who firmly believes in the vision of Senator J. William Fulbright, I wanted to be in a school that sees business as more than just an economic activity, and the Carlson School was absolutely perfect with its philosophy of viewing business as a force for good. This convinced me that I would be in a place where my desire to have a greater impact than just a bottom-line would be respected and understood.
Secondly, as mentioned earlier, I wanted to study information systems within the framework of a business school. Carlson ranks very well in the subject area of information systems, and offers an excellent IS concentration within the MBA program. This meant that the program would be well placed to help achieve my academic objectives.
Lastly, I absolutely loved the enterprise program offered by the Carlson School that allows students to join one of the four enterprises. I had gone through an experiential learning program as part of my undergraduate degree, and had realized that the learning from such a component can be exponential, not to mention the amazing networking opportunities one gets as part of such a program. When I came across the enterprise experiential learning component of the Carlson MBA, I was completely convinced that this was where I wanted to be.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024?
I am the only Fulbright Scholar, the only Pakistani, and the only member of the cohort with an absolute love for American History.
On a more serious note, I bring multi-sector, multi-functional experiences, and a unique blend of public and private sector perspectives. I think that I’ll be able to offer a point of view that will introduce a unique point of view to class discussions.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I remember almost half the text of the American Declaration of Independence by heart (fun fact, ha!)
Post-MBA career interests:
Consulting (Generalist & Digital); Entrepreneurship (I aim to launch a start-up that focuses on the provision of digital transformation solutions for improving service delivery)
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
If you have it, share your desire to use business as a force for good, to have an impact, and to make the world a better place. Business plays, perhaps, the most important role in society which is widely misunderstood as just making money. No. Business creates value, and if harnessed correctly, it has the potential to leave the most sustainable impact in the world of today. Carlson understands this, and if this resonates with you, be vocal about your desire to use business to make the world a better place!
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Nothing. I gave it my best, and am fully satisfied with the outcome.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Asking busy professionals for separate letters of recommendation can be a relatively vexing task. While these are people who want to advocate for you, these are senior, busy people with limited time on their hands. Instead of asking for custom-made LoRs, business schools should move to the standardized LoR format to make this part easier for applicants and recommenders. Carlson is absolutely great in this area since they were kind enough to accept my LoRs submitted to the Fulbright Commission. More business schools need to follow suit.
What is your initial impression of the Carlson students/culture/community?
I am in love. Because of the small class size, we’re a super closely-knit community, and everyone knows everyone in a matter of days. Also, the culture of the school and the wider community is so, so welcoming, with alumni being extremely responsive and excited to connect with the incoming class.
What is one thing you have learned about Carlson that has surprised you?
The huge emphasis on supporting each other. Business schools are hyper-competitive places with a natural inclination for attracting Type-A personalities. But the Carlson community is way more focused on collaboration, with a blend of healthy competition as well. Gophers root for each other, no matter who wins. I was pleasantly surprised to see this.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I had no idea about the vast number of opportunities available to first years at Carlson. The clubs, the enterprises, and the other opportunities offered by the larger university ecosystem. Not only has my perspective changed, but I also have some FOMO now. Who’d want to miss anything when so much amazing stuff is happening around you? That being said, it is an amazing feeling to be here, and everyone finds their focus pretty quickly.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
The enterprise program. Carlson gives first years the opportunity to work on real-world projects even before the internship and that is something that gives Carlson students a significant advantage in the professional arena. I am so, so excited to explore this part of the program.
