Melanie Pierce, Stanford GSB MBA Class of 2024
Melanie Pierce, Stanford GSB MBA Class of 2024Age: 27
Hometown: Livonia, MI
Undergraduate Institution and Major: BBA with a concentration in Finance from University of Michigan – Ross School of Business
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 2 years in Power & Utilities Investment Banking, 3 years in Consumer and Healthcare Private Equity Investing
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I had been working in different finance roles since undergrad and wanted to go to business school to explore different career paths, particularly on the operating side of business. I additionally saw business school as an amazing opportunity to make new friends and grow my professional network with extremely high-quality people.
Why did you choose Stanford GSB? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I was really drawn to the entrepreneurial spirit that fills the campus. Even if you come here with no interest in entrepreneurship, the energy at the GSB makes you feel like anything is possible and there are no limits to what you can create or achieve. Separately, the majority of my network from both undergrad and finance is on the east coast, so spending a few years in California is a great opportunity for me to grow my west coast network.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024?
I love bringing a big smile and upbeat energy to every situation – whether it is class, coffee chats, club events, or a night out with friends. I came to the GSB wanting to make the most of my time here, so I really try to fill every day with getting to know my classmates better. I believe bringing this warm and enthusiastic energy can positively impact any situation and create closer connections with all classmates.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
Before starting at the GSB, I spent 6 weeks living in Utila, one of Honduras’ Bay Islands, getting my PADI divemaster certification.
Post-MBA career interests:
I’m interested in moving from investing to operating and, more specifically, interested in consumer product growth marketing and strategy roles.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I did a ton of brainstorming and thought really deeply about the essays – particularly “What Matters Most” – before actually sitting down to write anything. Putting in that work upfront made the writing process much easier.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would have given myself way more time to write my essays. Due to some work projects I had leading up to the application deadline, I did most of my essay writing over the course of a few weeks. Starting earlier would have saved me a lot of stress!
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Taking the GMAT (particularly the quant section!) was not fun. When working through all of the studying and the test itself, it was helpful to keep reminding myself of what the ultimate goal – an acceptance to the GSB – would feel like once I achieved it. Every practice problem was worth it!
What is your initial impression of the Stanford GSB students/culture/community?
I have loved everything about the community at the GSB. From day one, everyone is super excited to meet each other and make new friends. The quality of the people here is truly amazing as well. Not only is everyone’s resume extremely impressive, but every classmate also has so many interesting layers, whether that is their background, hobbies, etc., that I continue to be surprised and impressed by even after months of getting to know the class. I had high expectations for the community I would build here, and reality has far surpassed that.
What is one thing you have learned about Stanford GSB that has surprised you?
Everyone I spoke with before starting at the GSB warned me that managing your calendar is one of the most challenging parts of business school, and even with that warning, I still wasn’t ready for the amount of choice you have to make in terms of where you spend your time. It is so important to come into the school year with a plan for how you are going to prioritize your time, so you don’t get overwhelmed with the endless amount of event invites you receive!
