Forrest Hardy, Texas McCombs MBA Class of 2025
Forrest Hardy, Texas McCombs MBA Class of 2025Age: 31
Hometown: Winter Park, FL
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Central Florida, Mechanical Engineering
Pre-MBA Work Experience (role, company, years): Seamless Capital LP, Venture Associate (Summer 2023 Internship); Casata, Head of Technology, Marketing, & Ancillary Revenue (Nov 2020 – Dec 2022), Technology, Marketing, Revenue Consultant (Aug 2020 – Oct 2020); Florida Social Capital, Technology Startup Consultant (June 2020 – Dec 2020); HappyKey, Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer (Oct 2019 – March 2020); Snapgood, Co-Founder & CEO (Sep 2013 – Feb 2020)
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Since starting my professional career, I have always wanted to get a degree in business, but the timing was never quite right. Halfway through my undergraduate program, I decided to found my first startup, and I have remained in this industry ever since. Fast-forwarding to the end of last year, I was laid off and had the opportunity to think about what my next best career and self-development move would be. It was at that moment when I realized now was the perfect time to pursue my MBA: I had built up enough direct experience in the business world for the curriculum to be highly relatable and relevant, yet I still have many functional areas to improve upon where the curriculum will be immensely valuable.
Why did you choose Texas McCombs School of Business? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I moved to Austin two and a half years ago to explore its vibrant startup scene and enjoy all the other benefits the city has to offer. Since then, I’ve fallen in love with the city and decided to make this my home. With that in mind, I was looking to stay in the region for my MBA and build up my network here, since I am a relative newcomer. The strength of the McCombs alumni network is incredible, so this was an immediate strong fit in terms of building my network and remaining in the area.
Additionally, I had several other criteria that were very important to me: a top business school and curriculum nationally to make sure I get the best possible business education, specialization in technology and product management (my intended career field), and a friendly, warm, and welcoming culture.
McCombs was able to meet all these criteria in spades, and I was even fortunate to get a waiver for the GMAT/GRE due to my mechanical engineering background.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Texas McCombs School of Business Class of 2025?
Our class is an incredibly diverse group of people from many countries, and I believe each individual has something unique to offer. For me, my non-traditional startup background and experience in the space is something that makes me unique and has already come in handy as many individuals in our class are considering the path of entrepreneurship. I thoroughly enjoy helping fellow founders and potential founders through mentorship and feedback on their ideas, so I am looking forward to contributing in this way throughout my two years at McCombs.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I used to be a professional balloon artist and entertainer in fifteen different restaurants in Central Florida. I made balloon animals for children and adults to brighten their day and had great time doing it!
Post-MBA career interests:
With my prior entrepreneurial experience, a lot of my work was in the field of tech product management. I am now looking to hold a formal role in this function with a tech company building a product or suite of products I am passionate about. Alternatively, I am also considering a career in venture capital to participate in the tech and innovation space from a different angle.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would take the time to get to know the admissions team well, including visiting them and the school in person, to truly determine if the school was the right fit for me.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
If my personal timing had been different, I would’ve liked to apply earlier as this would have increased my opportunities for scholarships and general school preparation. Applying to later rounds can result in lower scholarship offers from many schools, as I learned during the process.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
One thing I actually did skip was taking the GMAT or GRE. I discovered some schools offered test waivers, typically for those with strong STEM backgrounds, so I saved a tremendous amount of time by taking this path.
That aside, I don’t think there’s anything else I would have skipped during the application process, as I was careful to narrow down my potential choices to only apply to three schools in total.
What is your initial impression of the Texas McCombs students/culture/community?
My initial impression is exactly what I felt during my tour in the spring – a warm, welcoming community of current and future leaders that emphasizes collaboration over competition. As a whole, I feel this community is a reflection of greater Austin, which goes back to why I have chosen to make this city my home.
What is one thing you have learned about Texas McCombs that has surprised you?
I was recently surprised to learn how many top ten rankings the school has in MBA specializations, including being ranked #1 in the nation for the accounting specialization by U.S. News & World Report.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
There are a ton of great professional and recreational clubs to choose from, along with many valuable career development and recruiting opportunities, and these are all on top of the eight courses we take in our first semester! Balancing everything requires very strong time management and clarity on what is most important, so this has kept me on my feet so far.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am most excited to make deep, lasting friendships with like-minded people here in Austin. I’ve heard from many alums that half or more of their friends here came from McCombs, and I can already see that happening for myself!
