Isaac Shiman, Vanderbilt Owen MBA Class of 2026
Age: 32
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Royal College of Music – London, Bachelor of Music, Violin Performance
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Session Musician, Capitol Record, 2 Years; Songwriter, Endurance Music Group, 4 Years; President/Co-Founder, Fox & Lauria Corp (Boutique Retail Consulting Firm), 4 Years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I originally stumbled upon business – I never thought when I graduated from a conservatory with a degree in violin that I would be a business owner 6 years later. As I dove headfirst into the startup world, I found satisfaction and success. I learned so much about business and about myself. Part of that learning process, however, was also realizing my shortcomings. I possessed creativity and outside the box thinking in spades because of my background in entertainment, but I realized I would need a grounding in business fundamentals if I wanted to reach larger scales of success. After a lot of thought and research, pursuing an MBA was the clear course of action to fill those fundamental gaps; so here I am!
Why did you choose Vanderbilt Owen? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
For those of you reading, I want to clarify: I didn’t have to think even for a second about the answer to this question.
I chose Owen for the people. It’s easy to talk about the quality of education, the facilities, and the access to various industries – most top programs afford those things. The people that comprise Owen, however, stand head and shoulders above the rest. From my classmates and the Recruiting and Admissions teams to the Career Management Center and everything in between, everyone here truly cares about our individual success. They will fight alongside you to make sure you have the best shot at your dream career.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2026?
As I mentioned, I’m a musician originally. Very few people get the opportunity to dive into a specific skillset as deeply as those with degrees in classical music. As a result, I have an eye for detail that is unique, and very helpful when thinking about business problems. That said, I’m also learning from my peers to develop my ability to zoom out and see the big picture!
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I’ve played 7 different instruments professionally!
Post-MBA career interests:
I am recruiting for consulting! My favorite aspect of business is when there is a problem I get to tinker with and think about from various perspectives.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Don’t wait on your GMAT or GRE. One thing I can say I’m proud of is the fact that I didn’t put it off. I dove straight in, studied as hard as I could, and didn’t stop until I had the score that I believed was the best I could possibly do. It’s hardly the whole application, but it’s a good way to signal that you’re serious about an MBA to your potential schools.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I waited until round two to apply to programs. If I could have started a bit earlier on the process and gotten a finished product done for round one, I would have. That said, life happens, so don’t stress at all if you can’t!
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The actual applications. I wish I could have snapped my fingers and had them magically completed. What got me through was that even though each application was long and tedious, it really forced me to think about what that specific program was all about – their values, their beliefs, and the culture that I’d be buying into as a potential student. So don’t try to resist it. I would encourage you to treat each application as an opportunity to learn.
What is your initial impression of the Vanderbilt Owen students/culture/community?
I already harped on this, but I’m happy to again! There is a saying you’ll hear 1000 times here at Owen: “Competitive, not cutthroat”. It could not be truer. Everyone has a drive and a passion about their career but are equally passionate about helping their peers succeed.
What is one thing you have learned about Vanderbilt Owen that has surprised you?
Coming from such a unique background, I thought that I would have a hard time relating to people who came from a more traditional business background. I was genuinely surprised at how, even though we all come from various walks of life, we all have SO much in common.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Recruiting! I know I’m in good hands, but it’s not stopping me from being anxious!
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Being able to explore different industries and job functions in a practical setting. I’m a knowledge junky, so being able to cast such a wide net is a blast for me!
