Serena Kuang, Northwestern Kellogg’s MBAi Class of 2026
Age: 27
Hometown: Acton, MA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Massachusetts Amherst, Mathematics
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Product Manager, S&P Global, 3 years; Software Engineer, Capital One, 2 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
The biggest factor was that I was feeling stale in my prior industry and job. I was so lucky to make the pivot into product management after having worked as a software engineer. I found the job function of a product manager to be a much better fit to my skill set. But ultimately, the fintech space was never a goal of mine. It was simply where I found myself stumbling and getting comfortable in the past few years. There was a growing part of me that wanted to explore past that and find a more exciting balance between my background as an engineer and this product function. So I pushed myself to take on the opportunity cost to go back to grad school because I felt that personal life factors would only make it harder to make this commitment later on.
Why did you choose Northwestern Kellogg? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Northwestern was an easy choice because of its unique program offerings and outstanding community-oriented culture. I am part of the MBAi program, which is a joint degree between Kellogg and the McCormick School of Engineering with a focus on AI. It’s the only one of its kind at the moment and struck me as a perfect fit for my background and goals. Regardless of the MBAi program, Kellogg is already a top business school choice because of its emphasis on collaborative learning and reputation for ‘High impact, low ego’ students. Though…..
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2026?
I think I’m remarkably casual in comparison with the current student body, maybe to the point of coming off unprofessional, but that’s what I’m here to work on. Many of my peers here are incredibly high achieving and come from roles where it was necessary to make a specific impression on clients. Coming from a tech background, the environment around me had a very ‘give it to me straight’ attitude. For better or worse, I default to simple top-of-mind responses, whether it’s in a casual social environment, in front of an audience, or even in recruiting. I like to think of it as a refreshing perspective.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
My most recent position at S&P Global was 90% remote, and a fun pro of that was being able to travel and work from 8 different countries during my time in that role!
Post-MBA career interests:
My aim is to continue with Product Management and pivot over to big tech.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Take standardized testing as soon as you can make time for it. I did not have a clear plan for graduate studies up until the moment I had acceptances in hand. I merely had a feeling that graduate school might be a great way to step up in my career at some point ahead. So, regardless of anything, I took the GRE a couple years after graduating undergrad. At that point, it did not feel like a big lift to get back into test-taking habits, and having the score in hand took a huge weight off the application process.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would stay away from forums on MBAs where most of the users are not students (like Reddit). At first glance, these ought to be good starting points for research, but it’s too easy to slip into doom-scrolling and amplifying anxiety around applications. Instead, just reach out to students directly in relevant programs via personal networks or LinkedIn. Conversations with recent students will provide so much more context.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
If it had been an option, I would have taken any opportunity to skip the interview. Soon after my Kellogg interview was scheduled, a current student from one of the affinity clubs I had a marked interest in reached out to me, offering interview prep. This is a taste of what it’s like within the Kellogg student support system! We ran a mock interview with feedback that was instrumental to my application interview.
What is your initial impression of the Northwestern Kellogg students/culture/community?
Kellogg has a true commitment to community. From the moment you arrive in Evanston, Kellogg has so many programming options to bring people together. Prior to starting class, I participated in Culture Camp, which was a 40-person retreat focused on sharing culture abroad with KWEST in groups of 25 to explore and connect, and Culture is Made, our orientation that has a mix of activities from large to small groups. Every student that chooses Kellogg recognizes this and also highly prioritizes connection as part of their MBA experience.
What is one thing you have learned about Northwestern Kellogg that has surprised you?
The location of Kellogg is really lovely. The Global Hub that houses Kellogg classes is a stunning building right in front of the Lake. Beyond that, Evanston is a great mix of quaint but connected. It’s farther from Chicago than I expected. When I realized the distance I was worried about missing out on the lively city feel, but the result is a more vibrant campus culture and community. The vast majority of my free time is spent socializing in Evanston, so my day-to-day is very convenient, and there is still the option of getting to greater Chicagoland via public transit if needed.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I’m worried about getting swept up in the fear of missing out. There is a limited amount of time in this program and what feels like an endless amount of opportunities to take advantage of and amazing people to make connections with. It’s challenging but pivotal to make choices on what I can really commit to without wearing myself too thin.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
It’s exciting to be a student again! From elementary up to undergrad, being a student was the default role. Going back to grad school is a very deliberate choice. Here I don’t have direct reports to support or deliverables that would compromise the organization. This is a space for learning, risks, failure, figuring out what I want, and doing so alongside others who are just as excited to be here.
