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Technology Careers

Published: April 11, 2024
‘Big Tech’ Hiring Declined for Class of 2023 MBA Graduates
Tech jobs have been a popular choice for MBA candidates since the early 2000s – gradually becoming one of the top three career paths that many business school graduates pursue (along with consulting and finance). In this analysis, we take a closer look at which leading MBA programs managed to place their graduates into tech industry jobs in 2023 despite the overall decline in tech industry hiring. We also review recent trends in MBA graduate hiring at Amazon, Apple, Google and Microsoft (aka Big Tech). Technology Industry Job Placement for the MBA Class of Read more
Published: March 14, 2023
‘Big Tech’ Jobs & Careers Remain Popular with MBA Graduates
Take a closer look at MBA graduates’ tech industry jobs placement overall and at Big Tech firms for the full-time MBA Classes of 2018 to 2022. Despite a recent decline in tech industry hiring, the technology sector continues to be a popular choice for MBA graduates because it provides them with the chance to impact a domain with a big influence on everyday life. For example, a project manager role in tech offers MBA graduates an opportunity to manage and launch the latest consumer tech brands. In addition, the top MBA programs have a strong track record Read more
Published: January 18, 2023
2019-2022 MBA Job Placement Trends: The Rise and Fall of Tech and the Return to Consulting and Finance
In our previous article, we highlighted the decline in tech industry jobs accepted and the increase in consulting jobs accepted from the Class of 2021 to the Class of 2022 among leading full-time MBA programs. To place this observation into a larger context, we dug into the last four years of MBA career report data to see larger trends in tech, consulting and finance industry job placement. From the Class of 2019 to the Class of 2021, there was an increase in tech jobs accepted across most top MBA programs as tech industry firms grew and successfully Read more
Published: January 17, 2023
Tech Jobs are in Decline at Top MBA Programs. Is This the Canary in the Coal Mine for MBA Hiring?
MBA Class of 2022 graduates were clearly impacted by the softening in the technology sector in 2022 after the pandemic-fueled growth in tech industry jobs in 2020 and 2021. Compared to the Class of 2021, Class of 2022 graduates were offered fewer jobs in the technology industry, leading many graduates in search of other options. Fortunately, consulting firms increased hiring for the Class of 2022 to help offset the decline in tech industry hiring.  Will this growth in consulting jobs last or is the decline in tech jobs an early sign of an overall MBA job market Read more
Published: March 20, 2022
Top MBA Program Career Placement Outcomes: U.S. Graduates Pursuing Post-MBA Careers in Tech
Post-MBA careers in tech are a very popular option for MBA graduates, whether they choose to join a large company like Google, Amazon, or Microsoft, or jump into a role with a small venture-backed tech start-up. In fact, tech, along with consulting and financial services, are three of the most popular industries for Class of 2021 MBA graduates. In this installment of Top MBA Program Career Placement Outcomes, we take a closer look at technology industry placements across leading U.S. business schools. Class of 2021 Post-MBA Career Placement in the Technology Read more
Published: March 16, 2022
Real Humans of Google: Ryan Yu, HBS MBA ’21, Product Manager | Google Cloud AI
MBAs are a vehicle for transformation–whether for your industry, function, geography or whatever else you can dream up–and that’s just what Ryan Yu went to business school for: A new path. Pivoting from consulting to tech, Ryan talks about how Harvard Business School helped him make this change. He also offers insights into landing a product manager role at Google in this edition of Real Humans: Alumni. Read on for his story, career advice and more. Ryan Yu, HBS MBA ’21, Product Manager at Google Age: 29 Hometown: Manila, Philippines Read more
Published: May 12, 2020
Real Humans of Adobe: Adrienne Tsai, Northwestern Kellogg ’18, Product Marketing Manager
Chances are you’ve needed to review a PDF this week—and if you have, you’ve used an Adobe product to open it.  In addition to their Acrobat Reader, Adobe Inc., an American multinational computer software company, is also known for Photoshop, Illustrator, Creative Cloud and more. The creative and business range of their products is part of what inspired Adrienne Tsai to join the company.  In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Tsai, a Northwestern Kellogg MBA ’18 and product marketing manager at Adobe, shares how business school prepared her for Adobe and Read more
Published: April 13, 2020
Real Humans of Amazon: Roshni Naidu, Wharton ’18, Senior Technical Product Manager
“Alexa, what is the weather today?” “Hey Alexa, play some 80s classics.” “Alexa, how many tech products does Amazon have?” Amazon, the largest online retailer and AI assistant producer, is a part of most people’s daily lives.  Hundreds of millions of people shop on their dot com, while countless others watch TV, request information, surveil their front doors and enjoy many other services with Amazon’s tech products.  Behind the scenes of these tools that yield efficiency and convenience, business leaders are hard at work developing them.  In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Roshni Read more
Published: April 12, 2020
Real Humans of Google: Senyo S. Abotsi, Wharton ’19, Product Specialist
Google has seven products with 1 billion users, and countless more products being ushered from ideation to development and delivery.  Their product management teams work on new technologies, platforms, consumer facing products, and/or enterprise systems.  Being in charge of product execution entails leadership, teamwork and superior management skills, among others that can be honed in business school.  In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, see how Senyo S. Abotsi, Wharton MBA ’19 and product specialist at Google, rose to the challenge of high expectations, developed a passion for business and now thrives Read more
Published: April 7, 2020
Real Humans of Apple: Kristin Glaspie, Wharton ’18, Supply Demand Management
The MBA experience can be a transformative one, opening up doors and ideas one may not have considered pre-business school. For Kristin Glaspie, Wharton MBA ’18, she expected to return to consulting post-MBA. But then, her internship during business school shifted her path to operations at Apple.  Majoring in operations and entrepreneurial management at Wharton supported this new direction, and she’s now a supply chain professional at the leading tech company.  Read on for her story, what stood out about her Wharton experience, and how she recommends approaching the post-MBA job search in this edition of Read more
Published: April 6, 2020
Real Humans of Microsoft: Steven Lipner, Wharton ’18, Account Executive for Commercial Enterprise
Headquartered in Redmond, Washington, Microsoft began there just about 45 years ago.  In the mid-1980s, it grew to dominate the personal computer operating system space, and has since maintained its stature as a household name.  Through decades of diversification, hundreds of millions of people now use Microsoft’s products.  From development to delivery, their products require a range of talent from a slew of sources—particularly from MBA graduates.  An MBA can provide diverse and versatile skills, allowing you to transition from such industries as finance and real estate, to a role combining consulting, tech and sales.  That’s just the path that Read more
Published: April 5, 2020
Real Humans of Amazon: Serhat Pakyuz, LBS ’17, Senior Program Manager – Air Strategy
The business of e-commerce shows no signs of slowing down, and customers demand that delivery services speed up.  While fleets of trucks support the supply chain and drone delivery experiments carry on, cargo planes zig zag the country to ensure Amazon buyers receive their orders in record time.  Amazon branded a cargo plane for the first time in 2016, and claims to be on track to operate 70 planes out of more than 20 U.S. gateways by next year.  What began as Prime Air now operates under the name Amazon Air, where our featured alumnus in this edition of Read more
Published: April 1, 2020
Real Humans of Facebook: Jenina Soto, Wharton ’17, GMS Business Planning & Operations Associate
Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook along with a handful of fellow students and roommates while at Harvard College.  Our featured alumna today, Jenina Soto, also spent some time at Harvard (albeit, the Kennedy School of Government) before joining the social media and tech giant.  Before Harvard, Soto earned her MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.  Read on for her story about how a dual degree program prepared her for success at Facebook, her main takeaways from her graduate education and more about the recruiting process in this edition of Read more
Published: March 31, 2020
Real Humans of Google: Rakshit Dhalla, Michigan Ross ’19, Strategy and Operations Manager
We’ve heard from MBA graduates in such diverse positions at Google in our Real Humans: Alumni series.  Google.com is the most visited site in the world, but the company also offers hundreds of services. Rakshit Dhalla, Michigan Ross MBA ’19 and strategy operations manager, deals with supporting related offerings for small and medium businesses.  Read on for what stands out about the work culture at Google, which MBA courses helped him the most, and how he landed a job at his dream company. Rakshit Dhalla, Michigan Ross ’19, Strategy and Operations Read more
Published: March 29, 2020
Real Humans of Google: Sam Breslow, NYU Stern ’19, Technical Account Manager for Cloud Professional Services
Cloud computing has revolutionized the way we conduct business and much more.  The days of floppy and Zip disks are long gone—many have probably only seen them in memes, while some of us still remember needing that flimsy piece of plastic to play Oregon Trail in grade school.  The present and future of data storage and computing power now belong in the cloud—remote servers we can access over the Internet.  Ensuring access and related business services requires a mix of technical skills and management acumen—some skills that can only be honed through an MBA program.  In this edition of Read more
Published: March 24, 2020
Real Humans of Apple: Andrew Kwan, NYU Stern ’19, Supply Demand Planner
There are over one billion active Apple products in the world right now.  Extensive supply chain management enables this continued reach.  Being part of the supply chain teams can also require advanced management and analytical skills, like the ones Andrew Kwan honed during the MBA program at NYU Stern.  In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, hear from Kwan regarding why he pursued an MBA, what prepared him the most for Apple, and what about the work culture there appeals to him the most. Andrew Kwan, NYU Stern MBA ’19, Supply Read more
Published: March 23, 2020
Real Humans of Google: Andrew Dunckelman, HBS ’14, Head of Impact and Insights
Google is not just a dot-com that we visit for any and all information—it’s also a dot-org with philanthropic efforts and goals.  Google CEO Sundar Pichai has set a five-year goal of awarding $1 billion in grants supporting education, equity, and entrepreneurship.  When it comes to directing and measuring Google’s social impact, in comes staff like Andrew Dunckelman, Harvard Business School MBA ’14 and head of impact and insights at Google.  Together with his team, he leads Google.org’s impact measurement, learning, and thought leadership agenda.  In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Read more
Published: March 18, 2020
Real Humans of Microsoft: Devna Shukla, NYU Stern ’19, Business Development Manager of Monetization
Current CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella, is credited with turning the culture of Microsoft around, to a “growth mindset.” The tech giant’s mission statement is now, “empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.” Similarly, business school is a pressure cooker for development.  From the classes and cohorts, to career services and skills, every aspect of an MBA program is designed to make you a better business leader.  Devna Shukla, NYU Stern MBA ’19 and business development manager at Microsoft, chose the New York City program and her post-MBA employer precisely because Read more
Published: March 17, 2020
Real Humans of Amazon: Varun Haralalka, Michigan Ross ’19, Sr. Instock Manager
Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Amazon has grown into the world’s largest retailer by annual revenue. In 2018, their sales accounted for 43 percent of all online sales, and the company marked a $1 trillion valuation in 2020. To reach such heights, employees at every level need to contribute innovative ideas, solid analytical skills and nimble management abilities.  Operationally, as part of supporting reaching global delivery destinations and ensuring Amazon’s continued success, instock managers oversee planning, analysis and optimization of inventory management systems and processes. Varun Haralalka, a Michigan Ross MBA ’19 and senior instock manager at Read more
Published: March 11, 2020
Real Humans of Google: Chris Eck, Duke Fuqua ’14, Senior Account Executive
Google is a top employer of MBAs, and we’ve already heard from graduates taking on roles in product management and engineering.  The tech giant also hires for any and all functions, from marketing to sales and strategy to operations.  In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Chris Eck, a Duke Fuqua MBA ’14 and senior account executive at Google, highlights what to expect in the recruiting process, what to make the most of in business school and how the curriculum carries over into the Read more
Published: March 8, 2020
Real Humans of Facebook: Bankole Makanju, HBS ’17, Product Manager
Like. Share. Post. Top Stories vs. Most Recent.  Tag Friends. Add to Your Story. No matter what you like to do most on Facebook, at least some part of the social media giant is likely integrated into your daily life.  And, while you peruse pictures of your family and friends, there are other people hard at work off-screen optimizing and delivering various products.  In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, we hear from a product manager at Facebook and graduate of Harvard Business School in 2017.  Read on for Bankole Makanju’s journey Read more
Published: March 3, 2020
Real Humans of Apple: Richie Huang, Northwestern Kellogg ’19, Operations Program Manager
Apple is the world’s largest tech company. They started with personal computers in the 1970s, then continuously evolved, developing consumer electronics—the iPod, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch and more—that are now ubiquitous. As of January 2018, the world’s population uses over 1.3 billion Apple products.  So, what skills does it take to thrive at the tech giant?  In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, we find out from Richie Huang, an alumnus of Northwestern Kellogg and operations program manager at Apple. Read on for his story about choosing Kellogg’s MMM program, which confers Read more
Published: March 1, 2020
Real Humans of Amazon: Tolu Alabi, Stanford GSB ’17, Senior Technical Product Manager
Amazon began as an online book retailer in 1994, but now has a branch in every business sector imaginable.  The professional opportunities at the organization are boundless, as Tolu Alabi, Stanford GSB MBA ’17 and Senior Technical Product Manager, knows well. In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Alabi recounts her journey of self-reflection and b-school student life to landing at the company.  Read on to learn more about Amazon’s culture, the valuable skills of graduate management education, and how the MBA community carries on after graduation and more. Tolu Alabi, Stanford Read more
Published: February 25, 2020
Real Humans of Google: Juan Vasquez, Booth ’19, Android Partner Engineering Strategy and Operations
Most know Google through our computer or phone screens, typing requests next to the magnifying glass or simply saying “Hey Google!” to retrieve instant answers about whatever is on our mind.  But, what is it like to work for the tech giant?  Google employees, affectionately referred to as “Googlers,” collaborate on large, cross- functional and departmental projects. Employees are encouraged to spend time on big ideas and innovate at every level of the company, outside of their day-to-day tasks. Most may also know Chicago Booth as a finance powerhouse, but their post-MBA Read more
Published: February 20, 2020
Real Humans of Microsoft: Jamell Culler, Michigan Ross ’19, Azure IoT Product Marketing Manager
Microsoft is woven into the fabric of business. You probably even have one of their products open on your computer right now—from Excel and PowerPoint to Word, likely even running on their Windows operating system.  Or maybe you’ve checked LinkedIn today—a company that Microsoft acquired in 2016. While several long standing building blocks of business can be attributed to Microsoft, the tech company continues to innovate and pursue new foundations for the future.  This potential for shaping the reach of new products and services is what drew Jamell Culler, Michigan Ross MBA ’19 and Azure IoT Read more

MBA Applywire

7
November 18, 2024 12:50am ET
Applying: Columbia, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, Emory / Goizueta, NYU Stern, UNC Kenan-Flagler, Yale SOM
Intake Year: 2025
Pre-MBA Career: Consulting
Post-MBA Target Industry: Investment Banking Companies: Bank of America , Barclays , Citibank , Credit Suisse , Goldman Sachs , JP Morgan Chase
GRE: 323
GPA: 3.32
Years of Work Experience: 7
Notes:

Education:
- Combined Major in Economics and Statistics
- CFA Charterholder (passed all three levels on the first attempt)

Professional Experience:
- Manager at a Big 4 firm Specializing in capital projects and infrastructure, with a role similar to investment banking
- Seven years of experience, mainly in financial services in Ghana

Extracurricular Activities:
- Pro bono capital-raising services for SMEs
- Aspiring to run a full advisory firm for SMEs in the future
- CFA exam coaching and tutorial classes for candidates
- Founder of a travel and tour club offering affordable trips to explore beautiful and historic scenes in Ghana

Will being 32 years old affect the attractiveness of my candidacy?
10
November 17, 2024 9:24am ET
Applying: Columbia, , Georgetown / McDonough, Harvard Business School, INSEAD, NYU Stern, Oxford / Saïd, Stanford GSB, UCLA Anderson, Yale SOM
Pre-MBA Career: Higher Education
Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Technology, Investment Banking, Venture Capital, Private Equity, Media, Undecided Companies: Bain , BCG , McKinsey , JP Morgan , Morgan Stanley , JP Morgan Chase , Apple , Google , Microsoft , Andressen Horowitz , Charles River , Sequoia Capital , Blackstone , KKR , 21st Century Fox , Comcast , Walt Disney
GPA: 3.97
Years of Work Experience: 5
Location: Denver, Colorado
Post MBA Location: New York City
3
November 16, 2024 5:16pm ET
Applying: ESADE, IE Business School, IESE
Intake Year: 2025
Pre-MBA Career: Tech
Post-MBA Target Industry: Technology, Pharmaceutical Companies: Apple , Facebook , Google , Microsoft , Oracle , Johnson & Johnson , Novartis , Pfizer , Roche
GMAT: 525
GPA: 2.79
Years of Work Experience: 4
Post MBA Location: Europe
Notes:

Asian, female, USA. Top 10 Undergraduate school in USA, majored in Biomedical Engineering. Worked for Salesforce, Accenture, and Microsoft within sales department. Major accomplishments within sales roles. Strong personal essays. Letters of Recommendations from direct managers. Founder and held multiple leadership positions in school clubs during Undergrad. Just a really bad test taker and cannot seem to get my scores up no matter how many times I take it specifically in the quant section. American trying to stay in Europe post MBA and only applying to European B-schools.
7
November 15, 2024 9:32am ET
Applying: Cornell / Johnson, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, Michigan / Ross, Minnesota / Carlson, UVA / Darden, Yale SOM
Pre-MBA Career: Insurance
Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting Companies: Bain , BCG , McKinsey , Other
GMAT: 505
GPA: 3.44
Years of Work Experience: 3
Post MBA Location: Midwest, Northeast
Notes:

GMAT Note:
* The score is an unofficial practice test. I am beginning my studies for the real thing now.

Undergrad Majors:
* Economics
* Business Management

Work Experience Notes:
* Insurance experience is at a family business
* I implemented data analytics into business operations since that was not a practice beforehand.
* I help with sales, customer service, bookkeeping, and marketing.

Extracurriculars & Volunteer Activities:
* Worked as an economics research assistant during my undergrad where I consulted public and private entities
* Was part of an economics research project that won a national award for its work in community economic development
* Published 2 university-sponsored economics articles
* During my senior year, I was appointed to a university faculty committee to help plan university award ceremonies and delegate student scholarships
* Won a leadership award from my university
* Economics honor society member
* President of a student club (1 year) and a club's Senior Advisor (1 year)
* Started and led 2 initiatives that installed free smoke alarms in rural area homes (received a leadership award from the American Red Cross for this)
* Ironman triathlete
13
November 14, 2024 8:16pm ET
Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Cambridge / Judge, Columbia, Cornell / Johnson, emlyon, IESE, Imperial, INSEAD, London Business School, Manchester / AMBS, Northwestern / Kellogg, NYU Stern, UPenn / Wharton
Intake Year: 2025
Pre-MBA Career: Hospitality
Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Technology, Consumer Goods, Other Companies: Amazon , Apple , Google , Coca Cola , LVMH , Nestle , Nike
GRE: 326
GPA: 3.46
Years of Work Experience: 6
Post MBA Location: Consultancy
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MBA LiveWire

November 18, 2024 5:40pm ET
Rejected at MIT Sloan
Round: Round 1
Received via email on October 27, 2024
GPA: 3.93
GMAT: 720
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Finance
November 18, 2024 4:47pm ET
Interview Invite to NYU Stern
Round: Round 1
Received via email November 18, 2024
GPA: 4.44/5.0
GRE: 332
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Technology
Application Location: Nigeria
November 18, 2024 4:47pm ET
Interview Invite to NYU Stern
Round: Round 1
Received via email November 18, 2024
GRE: 326
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Note:

Applied Consortium R1
November 18, 2024 4:42pm ET
Interview Invite to NYU Stern
Round: Round 1
Received via email November 18, 2024
GPA: 3.91
GRE: 318
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Consulting
Application Location: Texas
Note:

Got the invite today from round 1, don’t lose hope!
November 18, 2024 4:38pm ET
Interview Invite to NYU Stern
Round: Round 1
Received via email November 18, 2024
EA: 165
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Finance
Application Location: Brazil
Note:

Applied with EA (165 score); Submitted on September 4
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