Desmond Dahlberg, Boston Carroll MBA Class of 2025
Age: 29
Hometown: Arlington, VA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Kenyon College, BA Economics
Pre-MBA Work Experience (role, company, years): Senior Economist, Keybridge Research, 7 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Before my MBA, I was lucky enough to spend seven years working for a boutique public policy and economic consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. At Keybridge I was a generalist, working with clients across a broad range of industries including energy, industrial metals, telecom, financial services, transportation, and more. Much of my work was focused on assessing how economic and policy developments impact business decisions, and I realized that I ultimately wanted to be someone making those decisions.
Why did you choose Boston Carroll? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Though I covered a broad array of industries during my time at Keybridge, I often found myself looking for common threads to tie my work for various clients together. The most common question I found myself asking was “how will these developments play out in financial markets?” My focus on financial market impacts led me to BC, where I am also pursuing a M.S. in Finance along with my MBA. Carroll’s finance faculty are often ranked among the best in the country (and the world), so it was a no brainer for me when I learned I could pursue both degrees.
Separately, the small class sizes were a huge selling point too given my undergraduate experience at a small liberal arts college.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the BC Carroll School of Management Class of 2025?
My experience prior to grad school put me in the room (literally, until 2020, that is) with leaders from some of America’s most prominent businesses. I didn’t fully realize it at the time, but in several instances my day-to-day job was a business school case study come to life. This unique experience has positioned me well to engage on a wide range of topics with classmates who come from an amazingly diverse set of backgrounds.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
During the pandemic I started a second Instagram account dedicated to cooking beef.
Post-MBA career interests:
Energy finance, banking, private equity
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Get the GMAT out of the way early so you can focus on other parts of your application! I took the GMAT in September 2019 and applied to BC in late 2022/early 2023.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would have attended a class in person during the application process.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
None – the process was fairly straightforward!
What is your initial impression of the Boston Carroll students/culture/community?
Engaging, curious, and thoughtful. My first interaction with the Carroll community was with a current second-year student with a wildly different professional background than mine, and I found it helpful to understand their reasoning for why they chose to pursue an MBA at Carroll.
What is one thing you have learned about Boston Carroll that has surprised you?
I knew the community and network were strong, but not this strong. I was at baggage claim at Boston Logan wearing a BC shirt before classes had started and was stopped by someone asking if I went to BC. We got to talking and it turned out that he was an alum of the MBA program and he lived around the corner from me. He ended up offering me a ride home from the airport, along with an impromptu information session about his time at BC and his professional background. The BC network is amazing!
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Generally, when you leave the office, you don’t have to worry about studying at home or preparing for midterms, finals, etc. Getting back into the routine of doing classwork and homework instead of professional work will be an adjustment.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Immersing myself in every aspect of the BC community – especially the athletics. I can’t wait for football games and tailgates!
