Nick Eovaldi, Washington University Olin’s MBA Class of 2026
Age: 29
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Missouri – Columbia – Masters of Accountancy
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Audit Manager, Deloitte, 5.5 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
For me, the motivation to attend business school was about expanding my skillset and knowledge base so that I can provide better insights to the businesses that I will serve in the future. Having worked at Deloitte for more than five years, I was able to learn and grow a lot from both the amazing people I worked with as well as the experiences I had managing projects for companies, both big and small, across a variety of industries. I felt like I was at a point in my personal life and professional career that I was ready for a new adventure that would push me outside of my comfort zone. Attending business school was a way for me to blend my experiences at Deloitte with new business skills in a different environment.
Why did you choose WashU Olin? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Having been born and raised in St. Louis, I’ve always been aware of the impact WashU has on the community and I knew that by choosing WashU Olin I would have opportunities early on to get involved with the broader St. Louis community early on. The other biggest factor was the emphasis WashU Olin places on entrepreneurial skills. I love to tinker and try different ways of doing things and the WashU professors definitely encourage this train of thought and push you to explore the unknown to see where it takes you.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2026?
I think my most differentiating contribution to Olin’s Class of 2026 is my background and experience as a CPA. I believe that with this background I can lean on these skills to contribute to not only in-class projects, but also the numerous experiential learning opportunities that Olin provides to its students.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I love road-tripping. Every year I do a two-week road trip to different parts of the country to explore national parks, golf courses, and disconnect for a little bit.
Post-MBA career interests:
Post MBA, I am seeking to start my own company that will be geared to assist both local businesses and start-up companies in need of accounting assistance, market strategy, and general business development.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
The one thing I would absolutely do again is to just go all in and commit to the process. It is a long journey and involves sacrifices along the way, but the gratification you will receive from the hard work and commitment is worth it. If you are debating going to business school, start the process as soon as possible. The work you put in throughout the process will assist you in your career and help you grow as a professional. No matter where your journey takes you, the preparation and application process helps to build skills that are not typically trained and exercised in undergraduate programs or professional positions.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
The one thing I would have done differently would have been starting the process even earlier. I definitely underestimated the amount of time needed for each part of the application process, which may have caused some long nights, so I definitely recommend getting started early and chipping away at it.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Without a doubt I would have skipped the GMAT, as that was the most time-consuming part of the process for me. What helped me get through it was building a solid study plan, where I was very conscious about building in a buffer to never feel like I was behind. Sure, this makes the study plan longer, however, the well-being aspect of having a clear mind and not stressing out about being behind is a game-changer.
What is your initial impression of the WashU Olin students/culture/community?
Since joining the program my initial impression is of how much of a community feel it really is. Having a smaller cohort of classmates helps with this tremendously as it allows us to all get to know each other by name and what each of our backgrounds are.
What is one thing you have learned about WashU Olin that has surprised you?
The one thing that has surprised me the most is the support of the alumni. It is amazing that whoever you reach out to is not only willing to take time out of their day to meet up for a coffee or jump on a call, but they also want you to succeed and will help you connect with other people in their network to make that happen.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
The hardest part about the first year has been determining where to allocate your time. There are so many opportunities that are presented to you and you have to push yourself to be selfish at times to give yourself first the time needed for your personal commitments and then think about what will help you the most in the future, whether that is spending the time studying harder on certain subjects, joining or not joining certain clubs, networking with second-year students and alumni, amongst other involvement opportunities.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am most excited about embracing the change and starting a new chapter of my life. Everything that’s listed above as potentially causing anxiousness is also a list of potential opportunities that may lend a path of what will be a future business idea, business partners, and friendships.
