Kyler McGillis, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School MBA Class of 2025
Kyler McGillis, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School MBA Class of 2025Age: 24
Hometown: Turtle Mountain, North Dakota
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Business Administration: Concentration on Marketing & Management, University of Jamestown, Jamestown, North Dakota.
Pre-MBA Work Experience (role, company, years): Founder & Executive Director, All Indigenous Recruiting Organization (AIRO), two (2) years. Derivatives Clearing Analyst, Morgan Stanley, four (4) months. Sales & Marketing Intern, Carrot Health, four (4) months. Marketing & Data Intern, RHR Swag, one (1) year.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Early in my career, I noticed that I wanted to drive change for tribal economies across the U.S. someday. I was unsure of the best way to combine my interests, skills, and long-term impact until I realized a vital issue in 2020. Many tribes across the nation suffered from the federal government’s lack of funding and resources due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This led many to pull from limited rainy-day funds and a need for investments.
After realizing the effect this had on so many of our people, I realized that I needed to understand how to build long-term economic prosperity – even through the most challenging times. Being at the Carey Business School allows me to pivot my career with a focus on building the foundational knowledge to become a better leader. It will also help me find opportunities with remarkable management consulting firms to accelerate my business knowledge further.
Why did you choose Johns Hopkins Carey? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Before finishing my applications to MBA schools, one of my mentors brought it to my attention to look at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. I didn’t necessarily have a healthcare background, but a core value separated them from the rest of the business schools – “commit to business with humanity in mind.” Their vision for investing in future leaders who want to create real impact helped me decide this was the place for me.
Additionally, Carey strongly focuses on developing both your leadership and analytical skills. It made perfect sense for my situation after looking at some of the classes I would take and the professors teaching them. Although Carey offers a smaller class size, it is an advantage since it would allow me to build stronger relationships with classmates, ask more questions, and work closer with professors.
Lastly, going to a business school in the harbor of Baltimore is a unique experience. It feels like a big city but small enough to breathe whenever needed. If you’re a fan of seafood, enjoy walking by the water, and want to have the option to do something fun every day – Charm City is the place to be.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2025?
Although I am one of the youngest in the cohort, I have engaged in diverse business environments, from corporate to startups to entrepreneurial ventures, gaining a well-rounded understanding of business operations. My curiosity, ambition, and adaptation to new experiences drive me to learn more.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
In high school, I made a 3/4 court basketball shot with one second remaining to win our first district championship in school history. PS, the video is on YouTube.
Post-MBA career interests:
I plan to work in management consulting at a top-tier firm to focus on my problem-solving and strategic skills and be able to apply those practices later in my career. This will improve my chances of leading and boosting tribal economies with an emphasis on sovereign wealth management.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Focus heavily on crafting and telling your story. You may have heard this repeatedly, but there are critical moments throughout the application process, whether it’s informational interviews, essay questions, or being interviewed by admissions. Not only will this help with your application process, but it’s also a valuable skill to speak for 30 seconds in the elevator with a CEO or in front of hundreds at a TED Talk.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Although I had opportunities to speak with professors and current students, I would have sought more chances to speak with recent graduates in the last three years. This would have given me another perspective on the post-MBA opportunities many graduates from Carey receive, especially those seeking a management consultant role.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
If there were one part I would have enjoyed skipping, it would have been taking the GRE. I prefer to avoid standardized testing, especially when some higher education systems remove it from their requirements. Spending time stressing out over this test did not seem worth it in the long run.
What is your initial impression of the Carey students/culture/community?
Carey is one of the most welcoming communities I have ever experienced. Connecting with leadership at a personal level is critical for us to grow. Our cohort comprises more than 50% international students, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in a program that allows for new perspectives worldwide. Learning from research is one thing, but sitting down and conversing with someone who grew up on the other side of the world is truly one of a kind.
What is one thing you have learned about Carey that has surprised you?
What has surprised me most so far is witnessing firsthand Carey’s innovative and future-oriented objectives, especially considering its relatively recent establishment in 2007. The school’s trajectory in the business education landscape has been nothing short of extraordinary. Being among one in ten American business schools to secure a STEM designation for its entire full-time MBA program speaks volumes. But even further, they have built a brand-new facility in Washington, D.C. this year. Not sure if surprised is the correct word; maybe it’s more so impressed.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
While I don’t necessarily label myself as lacking in the ability to prioritize, maintaining a perfect schedule could become a more prominent challenge as the school year progresses. There are many enticing opportunities — from entrepreneurial accelerators to case competitions and engaging social events like happy hours and group projects. Although it can get exciting, it’s important to stay disciplined about my goals and what I set out to be.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Witnessing everything and everyone for the first time at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School is exhilarating. This opportunity allows me to network, forge connections with my classmates, and engage with the second-year cohort. The environment here is filled with bright and ambitious minds, a setting that inspires me to improve every day. Moreover, the business school emphasizes greater personal responsibility in navigating a landscape with vast information and opportunities. While this may feel like an overload at times, it is a challenge that I find both demanding and thrilling.
