Rohith Manoj, Washington Foster’s MBA Class of 2024
Age: 25
Hometown: Dubai, UAE
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of California, San Diego – Mathematics and Computer Science
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 3 years as a software engineer in the tech/gaming industry at PlayStation
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I’ve always loved being involved in a team environment. From being elected to student government to organizing social events for my coworkers, I feel comfortable working with others to reach a common goal. My professional career so far took me down a slightly different path; as a software developer, I relied primarily on my technical background to architect solutions to engineering problems. It was a great experience, as I love tinkering with code and building robust systems, but I felt that I was ready to move forward.
An MBA will provide me with the opportunity to combine my two biggest passions: working with and helping people on a larger scale, and finding creative solutions for technical problems.
The gaming industry is currently at an inflection point; the rise of cloud gaming services has transformed the industry and we are now seeing multiple companies adopt the cloud service model. I want to be at the forefront of this paradigm shift, while also continuing to have a hand with the more traditional aspect of gaming, which I believe will continue to flourish. An MBA is the best way for me to achieve these goals.
Why did you choose Washington Foster? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Foster’s emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility makes it the best place for me to learn more, and ensure that these values are permeated throughout every step I take as I move forward in my career. It is rare for a business school to focus on bettering humanity over monetary gains. I was also excited by the smaller class size, which really helps in making deeper connections with the people in my cohort. Each student also receives more personalized resources over the course of 2 years. Seattle’s unique position as a center of innovation, both inside and outside of UW, also factored into my decision to join Foster. It doesn’t hurt that the city and campus are absolutely stunning.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Foster MBA Class of 2024?
I’m one of the youngest members of my class; while I’m less experienced than my peers, I bring a different perspective to the table. I have, in my adult life, worked almost exclusively during the pandemic. I think that that experience provided me with an understanding of how people work, and will help me be a better leader moving forward.
I also come from the gaming industry; a relatively eclectic industry space that is now growing rapidly. I believe that the industry is in dire need of young leaders, and I hope to showcase the best of the gaming industry to my class so that more people consider a career that’s filled with creativity and fun.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
My favorite pastime is reading Wikipedia articles and going down its hyperlink rabbit hole. My friends often catch me reading up on completely random topics while we’re out together.
Post-MBA career interests:
Product Management (Technical/Non-Technical)
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
For me, self-reflection has always been a difficult skill to practice. However, it was something I knew was necessary for my MBA applications, as it is almost impossible to write essays without knowing yourself better. I spent days before actually starting my applications by writing down what I viewed as my strengths, and where I had opportunities for growth. I had a huge resource pool of personal stories and ideas to pull from when I wrote my essays. I believe that was the single most important step I took during my application process.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I think I spent a lot of time on online MBA boards looking at the stories and accomplishments of other prospective students. It added a lot of anxiety and uncertainty to what was an already stressful period. My advice to a prospective applicant would be to spend more time on yourself. Yes, there may be others who have major accomplishments in their lives, but your story is unique. What you view in your life as mundane may be outstanding to thousands of others. Focus on searching for what makes you, you. And most importantly, spend time taking care of yourself. Allow yourself space to relax, spend quality time with loved ones, and stay healthy.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would have skipped taking the GMAT if I could. I think it took a lot of time to prepare for, while I was also working full-time, and it left me exhausted before I even began my applications. What helped me get through that period was spending time with my partner. She always knows what to say and it helped me ease my mind and focus on the task at hand. Our weekend trips helped me take my mind off of the practice tests, and allowed me to reset before continuing my work.
What is your initial impression of the Foster students/culture/community?
I’ve been extremely impressed by the culture here at Foster. The school really highlights the importance of being good humans before being great business people. We have a fantastic cohort with some of the brightest and kindest people I’ve ever met. We’ve had opportunities to form deep connections with our fellow classmates due to the smaller cohort size, and the core teams that we are assigned to. Being able to crush an assignment and then enjoy the attractions that Seattle has to offer with my core team has been the highlight of my time at Foster so far.
What is one thing you have learned about Foster that has surprised you?
The collaborative spirit of Foster has surprised me the most. Everyone is invested in each other’s success, whether that is by offering information about internships or helping a classmate with a case interview. It’s rare to be in a place where people are genuine and good to one another.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I think finding a balance between academics, events and recruiting will be a difficult task during my first year. Foster offers a lot of resources, and my first instinct is to make use of them all. However, there are a lot of priorities that I have to provide equal attention to. Most importantly, I want to make sure that I still leave time for my personal life.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am very excited about all the events that Foster hosts over the course of the year. We’ve had, and will continue to have, leaders from top institutions in the world come to speak to us. We also had the opportunity to visit the Google campus during the orientation weeks. The tailgates for the football team have also been a lot of fun to attend. These events speak to the amazing sense of community that Foster has and will continue to build.
