Tamika Turner, NYU Stern MBA Class of 2026
Age: 31
Hometown: Sylvania, Ohio
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Marketing, Miami University (Ohio)
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Press Assistant, Office of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (1 year: 2014-2015)
-Press Secretary, Office of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (2 years: 2015-2017); Constituency (Multicultural) Communications Officer, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (1 year :2017-2018); Associate Director of Constituency (Multicultural) Communications, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (1 year: 2018-2019); National Communications Director, Census Counts Campaign, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (1 year 2019-2020); Independent Non-profit Communications Consultant, Turner Strategies (Ongoing but started in 2020); Deputy Communications Director, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New York (2 years: 2022-2024)
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I decided to attend business school because I was at a critical point in my career where it felt like advancing further into non-profit and political communications would prevent me from having an entry point to explore marketing, my undergraduate major that I never pursued. I also loved my experiences creating partnerships with companies while I was working at non-profits. I saw avenues for these businesses to better implement and publicize their social impact initiatives, and I wanted to gain experience working directly on the corporate side. An MBA will give me the educational foundation I need to lead successful marketing ventures and develop social impact partnerships, initiatives, and investments that align with business needs.
Why did you choose NYU Stern? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
NYU Stern emphasizes how much the school values EQ in addition to IQ, and I really felt that from the students I engaged with before making my selection — culture fit is very important when choosing a program and I felt at home at Stern. I also really appreciated the diversity of electives available, the reputation of the professors teaching them, and how well they matched my interests. Social impact is a developing field, and not many schools have a curriculum that would have served my needs. Stern also allows students to take classes in other NYU schools to supplement our learning. Being in New York City is another huge perk when it comes to both recruiting and having an exciting off-campus life.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2026?
My most valuable contribution to the Class of 2026 is my perspective on how business interacts with the public sector, having come from working at large non-profit organizations and in Congress. Advocacy and government policies can radically shift the climate businesses are operating in, and I have insight on how that process works and the levers of change.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I was on Jeopardy’s Kids Week when I was younger!
Post-MBA career interests:
After my MBA, I hope to work in tech or consumer marketing, eventually leveraging my social impact background into a role where I can build a brand’s reputation as a responsible, conscientious, and community-oriented business.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
One of the best things I did as part of my application process was to have an in-depth discussion with the people who wrote my recommendation letters about my future goals and what I had accomplished before and since our time working together. While it’s great for your recommenders to speak about what they’ve seen firsthand, it’s helpful for them to have a holistic view of how all your experiences connect so they can contextualize their recommendations for the admissions committee.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
If I could do it over again, I would start considering business school earlier and seek out programs like Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) that help guide you through the application process.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
One part of the application process I wish I could have skipped was the standardized test! It was difficult to find time to study, and while NYU Stern does have a test waiver, I wanted to prove my quantitative skills as someone coming from a communications background. I got through it by meeting up with friends who freelance or could work remotely and turning that time into a combination social/study time. That made me feel like I wasn’t trading acing my application process for personal time with my friends.
What is your initial impression of the NYU Stern students/culture/community?
The NYU Stern culture is very welcoming and supportive — everyone wants to see you succeed and will guide you to the tools to make it happen. In addition, the atmosphere is very social and people are interested in building connections outside of the classroom.
What is one thing you have learned about NYU Stern that has surprised you?
One thing that has surprised me about NYU Stern is how active the clubs are in helping students navigate the recruitment process. I had assumed that all support would come through the Careers Office, but each professional-oriented club liaises with Careers and builds out its own curriculum on how to network and prepare for interviews depending on your industry and function.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
The thing I’m most anxious about is finding time to decompress. Between orientation, welcome events, and the beginning of recruitment, the first semester is very busy. Luckily, a lot of clubs at NYU Stern have officers that focus on wellness and plan ways for students to unplug and find balance.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
The thing I’m most excited about in my first year is getting to know my classmates and their stories! New York attracts such a diverse group of people, and I can’t wait to meet the people who will become my network in the years to come.
