Real Humans of the Washington University Olin MBA Class of 2025

Jessica Tabb, Washington University Olin’s MBA Class of 2025

Age: 31
Hometown: Lebanon, MO
Undergraduate Institution and Major: United States Military Academy – West Point, B.S. Economics 
Pre-MBA Work Experience (role, company, years): US Army Officer, Military Intelligence ~ 6.5 years; JPMorgan Chase, ~ 2 Years

Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Many of my mentors in undergrad and through my time in the army had attended business school and then went on to pursue careers in business after the military. Similarly, my dad had an entrepreneurial spirit in starting his own private practice as a physician in the early 2000s and an interest in investing, which rubbed off on me. I had this mix of influences in my life that led me to pursue leadership in the military and leadership in business and a drive to get there – but the question for me was timing in getting an MBA. My initial plan was to attend an MBA after I separated from the military, but we were in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I had recently divorced. I decided to delay my MBA until I had a bit of stability in my personal life and in the broader environment so I could really get the most out of my MBA experience. Instead, I worked at JPMorgan Chase for a couple of years which gave me a bit of experience outside of the military and a few lessons in growing a business (this was a completely new team and we had to build a client book from the ground up). After a couple of years there, I felt like everything was finally in place to finally take a break and return to school for my MBA.

Why did you choose Washington Olin? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I had some constraints in my search for an MBA program – primarily in being able to raise my son. Some schools were out of the question because of the difficulties in moving to a new geography. But within that constraint – Olin offered the right mix of favorable outcomes in the industries and roles I was looking for, a community of diverse and driven candidates, and a very close alumni network that I hoped to be a part of after I graduate.

What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the WashU Olin MBA Class of 2025?
This class is incredibly diverse with a significant number of women, foreign students, and veterans in my cohort. There is also a very wide range of industries and roles coming into the MBA program, which really contributes to a rich and diverse discussion in the classroom. I have been most impressed with the amount of my classmates who want to go on to entrepreneurial or business ownership careers after our MBA program, which showcases the level of talent and vision within my class.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
More from a nature of timing than intentionally hiding anything: I started marathon training after my application and have my first race this fall! The training is a little difficult to balance at times during the program with the time commitment from longer runs, but by prioritizing the training, I’ve noticed that I keep myself balanced in other ways.

Post-MBA career interests:
I am very interested in private equity and entrepreneurship through acquisition. PE was an interest going into the program, but ETA was something I’ve learned more about in the weeks since starting the program. It seems like a great opportunity to blend the PE interest I have while also giving myself the opportunity to really put lessons I’m learning in the MBA program to the test.

Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Attend as many on-campus events and connect with as many students as possible to get an idea of what they like and dislike about various aspects of their programs. There is a lot of due diligence that’s not covered by rankings organizations. Similarly, connecting with alumni and getting their perspectives can help inform your decision – particularly if you have very specific post-MBA career interests.

–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
My military background made it a little difficult to really understand what opportunities were available with an MBA. I would have been more active while still serving in connecting with other veterans who got an MBA to get a better idea of how I want to develop my post-service career.

–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I wouldn’t have skipped anything – the difficult parts were where I learned the most through the process.

What is your initial impression of the Washington Olin students/culture/community?
The campus and the community is pretty close-knit! Everything on campus is very close, and there are a lot of opportunities that allow us to get to know everyone in the class and those from other classes or programs. Every evening there seems to be something on campus with an opportunity for networking or building community. Alternatively, there is also an amazing park that’s right next to campus with plenty of outdoor activities (including theater/music/and festivals!) and a few area sports teams if you want to do something off campus.

What is one thing you have learned about Washington Olin that has surprised you?
Olin really focuses on experiential learning, and there is an entire center available to students to help solve real business problems for real businesses. The opportunity to have an impact while you’re still in school and to learn outside of the classroom has been invaluable in practicing the tools and skills to be successful after graduation.

What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Probably because we are in the middle of on-campus fall recruiting at the moment, but I’m very anxious in getting an internship set up for next summer.

What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
 There are a couple of classes that will be available in the spring semester with some amazing professors. I’m also really looking forward to developing friendships and relationships with my classmates. I’m really happy to be here and to start the next chapter with this community!