Shayla Ellington, Johns Hopkins Carey MBA Class of 2026
Age: 28
Hometown: Huber Heights, Ohio
Undergraduate Institution and Major: The Georgia Institute of Technology and Biomedical Engineering with a Pre-Health Concentration and a Minor in Social Justice
Pre-MBA Work Experience: I have held many roles prior to pursuing my MBA, due to working from the age of 14, however the most instrumental roles I held are listed here: External Manufacturing Global Supply Chain Co-Op, Johnson & Johnson, 8 months; Biosurgery Co-Op, Johnson & Johnson, 6 months; Breakthrough Fellowship Intern – Transformation & Project Management, Pfizer, 2 Months; Technical Specialist, Apple, 5 Years; Breakthrough Fellow Associate, Pfizer, 2 Years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Through the Breakthrough Fellowship Program, I was granted the opportunity to pursue a graduate degree after 2 years as an associate. I decided it would be best for my career to tackle both an MPH and MBA dual degree program
Why did you choose Johns Hopkins Carey? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Carey doesn’t simply care about the bottom line or the highest profit margin, they care about maximizing profit while doing the least damage to society and local communities. During my visit to graduate schools, the faculty, staff, and students made sure to make me feel important and valued and not just another number in the applicant pool. The process of keeping humanity in mind truly resonated with my passion for equity and accessibility specifically in healthcare.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2026?
I bring a diverse perspective having an undergraduate education as a biomedical engineer, working for over 3 fortune 500 companies including Apple and Pfizer, and participating in startup accelerators in undergrad as a sole founder of a cosmetic company. On a lighter note, I enjoy showing my personality daily through fashion and ensuring my classmates are uplifted by checking in on them and keeping things as lighthearted as possible when I am around.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I used to compete in a Pokémon league when I was younger. I had the Pokédex, mat, and a binder with holographic cards and power ups properly sorted.
Post-MBA career interests:
Immediately Post-MBA I hope to leverage my dual MPH/MBA degree to lead a major project for Sickle Cell Disease within the Real-World Evidence team at Pfizer and eventually become a subject matter expert (SME). Long term, I hope to ascend to the C-Suite level.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
VISIT THE SCHOOLS. Visiting (or attempting to visit) the schools I was interested in attending was absolutely crucial to understanding what the proper fit for graduate school for me was.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would start preparation EARLY for the GMAT and I would also prepare my essays as early as possible. Everything that could go wrong for me did, Murphy’s Law. I ended up in the emergency room (ER) the night my consortium applications were due, and of course I procrastinated, so I was typing out very rushed essays while trying to be seen. Don’t be me. Do this as early as you can!
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would 100% skip taking the GMAT if I could. The main thing that got me through was recognizing that all I could do is my best and realize that my preparation would kick in once the test began. My favorite saying is “everything happens for a reason.” Luckily for me, my best got me into my top school, Carey Business School.
What is your initial impression of the Johns Hopkins Carey students/culture/community?
Absolutely amazing. The culture on campus is that everyone acts like a family and truly cares about your well-being. I was in awe that a staff member gave me her jacket because I was in my 8 AM class freezing and had left my jacket at home. I can’t think of any other graduate school that has staff as caring as the staff and faculty here at Carey.
What is one thing you have learned about Johns Hopkins Carey that has surprised you?
During foundations week I learned key skills in conflict resolution, that I have been able to translate into my everyday life. I also learned that graduate students have access to all parts of Hopkins, so my networking possibilities are truly endless.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Time Management. There are so many wonderful opportunities and events to attend that I struggle choosing the crucial ones.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Taking part in Carey’s global immersion courses in places like Chile, Milan, and Frankfurt, etc. that will help give me a more global perspective as a leader and allow me to develop that side of myself.
