Jessica Berry, Wharton’s MBA Class of 2024
Jessica Berry, Wharton’s MBA Class of 2024Age: 29
Hometown: Fort Mill, South Carolina
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Princeton University, Psychology
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 7 years in operations at technology startups
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Early on in my career, I decided to focus on roles and companies that would provide as many learning opportunities as possible. But I’ve also had this underlying desire to find a career that allows me to work more directly on topics I’m passionate about. Now that I’ve built a well-rounded breadth of experience, it felt like business school was the right next step to give myself time and space to reflect on what I want for this next stage of my career.
Why did you choose Wharton? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
As an undergrad, I studied social and cognitive psychology and have always been fascinated by how those topics play out in the workforce – how you organize a team, what motivates people, what characteristics differentiate the best leaders, etc. As a result, I was drawn to Wharton for the Organizational Effectiveness major and the world-renowned faculty in the Management department. That academic focus, combined with Wharton’s continued investment in the entrepreneurship ecosystem on campus, made it the perfect fit for my future career goals.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Wharton MBA Class of 2024?
I feel very fortunate to have joined a couple of startups during their hyper-growth stages – Jet.com from launch to acquisition and Samsara from unicorn status to IPO. Having that hands-on experience helping to build a company has given me a unique perspective that I’m excited to bring to the classroom and the growing entrepreneurship community at Wharton.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I used to be a dancer – I started when I was three and even got my minor in it at Princeton! I’ve heard Philly has a great performing arts scene so I’m excited to check out performances while I’m here.
Post-MBA career interests:
After school, I would like to go back into the early-stage startup ecosystem. I’m currently targeting venture capital funds that focus specifically on the future of work / edtech – helping workers upskill and reskill to meet the needs of the changing job market. I hope to leverage my previous startup operations experience to help founders who are addressing economic mobility, which I view as one of the major social challenges of our time.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Before I started my applications, I wrote down the experiences, events, choices, and people that had an impact on the trajectory of my life. Seeing my “story” laid out on post-it notes was very helpful in revealing the common themes and values that continually surfaced throughout. Even had I not attended business school, that self-reflection aspect of the application process was very impactful and grounding.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
In hindsight, I wish I had asked a wider group of people for feedback on my written applications. I have some incredible friends and family who were willing to read through my essays and offer their perspectives, but they were all equally invested in my business school journey as I was. It would have been interesting to hear feedback from someone more objective to see if the themes I was trying to get across in my essays came through as I intended.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The application process can be all-consuming, from both a time and mental perspective. After hitting submit, it felt like I waited for an excruciatingly long time before interviews were announced, especially for schools with rolling invites. I wish I could have skipped that waiting period entirely, or at the very least, I wish I had used that time to reconnect with friends, hobbies, etc., instead of worrying about something that was ultimately out of my control at that point.
What is your initial impression of the Wharton students/culture/community?
The Wharton community is incredibly diverse on so many different dimensions. Each person brings an interesting perspective and background to this experience, and everyone I have met has been so open and eager to share and learn from each other. I’m also very proud to be a member of the second Wharton class with 50% women and it’s very clear that Wharton is invested in developing a strong community on campus for female leaders.
What is one thing you have learned about Wharton that has surprised you?
I’ve been very pleasantly surprised by the number of resources available here for self-reflection and leadership development. For example, the People Analytics Lab offers two assessments for 1st years – Wharton Leadership 360 and the Character Index, where you can collect data from previous colleagues to determine leadership strengths and areas for development. Then in your second year, you can participate in executive coaching. Having this safe space to actively work on my personal and professional development as a leader is going to be an invaluable part of my Wharton experience.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Business school offers endless opportunities, and it’s impossible to do it all in two short years. I’m most anxious about ensuring I’m allocating my time in a way that feels genuine to me and aligns with my goals. I can already tell the next two years are going to fly by, so it’s important to me to be thoughtful about how I’m spending that time.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
This winter I will be travelling to South Africa as part of a Global Immersion Program (GIP), which is an elective course where you learn about the economic, political, and cultural drivers of a country. My dance teacher growing up, who was like a grandmother to me and sadly passed last year, was from South Africa and constantly shared stories about her time there. Finally, getting to visit her country will be an incredible experience for me personally!
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your personal application or admissions process in any way? If so, how?
Like many people, the pandemic forced me re-assess various aspects of my life. Business school was something I had thought about for a while, but that time spent reflecting was a big impetus for finally taking the plunge and applying – and I’m very glad that I did!
