Real Humans - Alumni

Published: April 10, 2024

Real Humans of Goldman Sachs: Likita Chilukuri, Chicago Booth MBA ’23, Investment Banking Associate

After studying and/or working in India, Spain and England, Likita Chilukuri chose the MBA program at Chicago Booth to make her transition to working in the U.S. in investment banking at Goldman Sachs. In addition to a strong curriculum, Chilukuri found the well-structured recruiting process at Booth gave her the support she needed. Read on for Chilukuri’s story and advice in this installment of our Real Humans: Alumni series. Likita Chilukuri, Chicago Booth MBA ’23, Investment Banking Associate at Goldman Sachs Undergraduate Institution and Major: National Institute of Technology, Read more

Published: April 8, 2024

Real Humans of Amazon: Maria Peña-Gomez, Cornell Johnson MBA ’21, Product Manager

The MBA is a vehicle for change, as in the case of Maria Peña-Gomez, Cornell Johnson MBA ’21, who loved being a lawyer and needed a strong management foundation to make the transition to product management at Amazon. In this Real Humans Alumni, Peña-Gomez shares how Cornell Johnson provided the foundational skills in business, real-world experience, and support for her journey. Maria Peña-Gomez, Cornell Johnson MBA ’21, Product Manager at Amazon Age: 31 Hometown: Bogotá, Colombia Undergraduate Institution and Major: Universidad de Read more

Published: April 4, 2024

Real Humans of Google: Tony Hung, Columbia Business School MBA ’21, Product Manager

Amid the trials and trials and tribulations of learning consulting and tech strategy on-the-job, Tony Hung realized that the best mentors and most successful product managers had MBAs. From his own journey into graduate management education, Hung shares how an MBA from Columbia Business School provided a foundation for his success at Google in this edition of our Real Humans: Alumni series below. Tony Hung, Columbia Business School MBA ’21, Product Manager at Google Age: 31 Hometown: New York City Undergraduate Institution and Major: Columbia University School of Engineering, Read more

Published: April 3, 2024

Real Humans of Johnson & Johnson: Edward Yap, Georgetown McDonough MBA ’23, Marketing Manager

How does one make a triple transition in function, industry, and geography? For Edward Yap, it was through the MBA program at Georgetown McDonough. In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, we learn how Yap found Georgetown’s focus on cura personalis and talented cohort exactly what he needed to develop his understanding of core business disciplines and confidence in a new corporate setting. Read on for more on how McDonough prepared him for a huge career leap and success at Johnson & Johnson. Edward Yap, Georgetown McDonough MBA ’23, Marketing Manager at Johnson & Johnson Read more

Published: April 1, 2024

Real Humans of Uber: Nishant Nair, LBS MBA ’22, Senior Strategy & Operations Manager

In today’s Real Humans: Alumni, we meet Nishant Nair, a Senior Strategy & Operations Manager at Uber. His father, who pursued multiple masters degrees while working full-time, was an inspiring role model, and Nair decided an MBA was the best way for him to grow professionally. He chose the London Business School partly due to its truly global program, experiential learning model, and location in one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. Read on to discover how LBS’s MBA program helped Nair appreciate diverse perspectives, meet new people and enjoy new Read more

Published: March 28, 2024

Real Humans of Merck: Erick De Jesus Loyo, UMD Smith MBA ’20, Associate Director

In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, we hear from Erick De Jesus Loyo, whose MBA program at UMD Smith led him to his goal of a new career in the pharmaceutical industry at Merck. Loyo was drawn to business school by the need to improve his skillset and fill knowledge gaps to advance his professional and personal growth. Smith provided a strategic combination of community, student-to-professor ratio, location, and cost, and a curriculum that increased both his business acumen as well as his creative and problem-solving abilities. Read his story here. Erick De Read more

Published: March 27, 2024

Real Humans of General Mills: Taylor Valentine, Wharton MBA ’22, Sr. Associate Brand Manager

In this installment of our Real Humans: Alumni series, Taylor Valentine tells us how The Wharton School MBA allowed her to explore a variety of industries, learn state-of-the-art analytics, and gain a strong entrepreneurial mindset to prepare for brand management at General Mills. Valentine found that she was no longer energized by her current career path and wanted to be in the “driver’s seat,” leading and being a changemaker. Though she had a great transferable skillset, she lacked enough industry-specific knowledge and needed a more powerful network to change industries. Read on to learn how the Wharton MBA Read more

Published: March 25, 2024

Real Humans of Bain & Co.: Amanda Tan, IMD MBA ’22, Consultant

In this installment of our Real Humans: Alumni series, we meet Amanda Tan whose IMD MBA experience led her to becoming a consultant at Bain & Co. IMD’s emphasis on personal growth and leadership development was exactly what she needed to succeed in the high-demand world of consulting. Read below for her story. Amanda Tan, IMD MBA ’22, Consultant at Bain & Company Age: 30 Hometown: Jakarta, Indonesia Undergraduate Institution and Major: Durham University, BA Combined Honours in Social Sciences Read more

Published: March 21, 2024

Real Humans of JPMorgan Chase & Co.: Joshua Paulus, The Ohio State Fisher MBA ’23, Senior Associate

In this edition of our Real Humans: Alumni series, Joshua Paulus explains why The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business was the natural choice for his MBA, and how Fisher’s focus on problem-solving and collaboration helped him leverage his career in finance at JPMorgan Chase & Co. Joshua Paulus OSU Fisher MBA ’23, Senior Associate at JPMorgan Chase & Co. Age: 30 Hometown: Versailles, Ohio Undergraduate Institution and Major: The Ohio State University, Sports Industry Major Graduate Business Read more

Published: March 20, 2024

Real Humans of Hulu: Jess Keane, NYU Stern MBA ’22, Senior Content Acquisition Associate

Jess Keane’s passion for storytelling and film ultimately led her to Hulu, a career pivot enabled by an MBA from NYU Stern. In this edition of our Real Humans: Alumni series, Keane shares her story of how she found the perfect program to pursue her dreams–one with an entertainment specialization, emphasis on emotional intelligence and empathy, and industry opportunities that helped her galvanize the skills she needed to embark on her new career. From investment banking to entertainment, follow her path below. Jess Keane, NYU Stern MBA ’22, Senior Content Acquisition Associate at Read more

Published: March 18, 2024

Real Humans of EY-Parthenon: Andrew Davey-Greaves, Yale SOM MBA/MEM ’18, Senior Director

This edition of Real Humans: Alumni takes us to Denver, where dual degree candidate Andrew Davey-Greaves strives to impact environmental sustainability and human rights out of EY-Parthenon. But first, in his pursuit of higher education, Andrew recognized that Yale School of Management (SOM) had positioned itself as the place to have the related forward-looking conversations on business and society. Read on to learn how Yale SOM’s MBA & MEM programs prepared Andrew to excel as a strategist. Andrew Davey-Greaves, Yale SOM MBA/MEM ’18, Senior Director at EY-Parthenon Age: Read more

Published: March 18, 2024

Real Humans of Nike: Anton de Avila, Berkeley Haas MBA ’22, Senior Brand Marketing Associate

In this installment of Real Humans: Alumni, we head to Nike to meet Anton de Avila, who knew that to round out his business acumen, broaden his network, and gain great life experience, he would need an MBA. The small class size, humble community, and move from the Midwest to the West Coast enticed him to enroll at Berkeley Haas. Read his story below to learn how Haas helped de Avila pivot to consumer goods brand marketing at Nike, where he was selected as one of five associates for Nike’s post-MBA marketing Read more

Published: March 14, 2024

Real Humans of Uber: Reuben Shorser, Stanford GSB MBA ’22, Product Manager

Reuben Shorser has had quite a “ride” from building a restaurant chain in NYC to product management at Uber in San Francisco–with the Stanford GSB MBA being a vehicle for such a dynamic change. In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Shorser explains how the MBA program at Stanford GSB helped him step back, reflect, and accelerate in a new direction. Read below for Shorser’s story of change and growth into a new career. Reuben Shorser, Stanford GSB MBA ’22, Product Manager at Uber Age: 32 Hometown: Pound Read more

Published: March 13, 2024

Real Humans of PepsiCo: Darrin Rahn, HBS MBA ’19, Strategy Director

In today’s Real Humans: Alumni feature, we meet Darrin Rahn, HBS MBA ’19 & PepsiCo Strategy Director, whose career involves revolutionizing the future of food. To begin his journey toward his aspirations, Rahn wanted to expand his leadership abilities, gain a deeper understanding of global and emerging markets, and expand his professional network. He would find all he needed to accomplish those goals at Harvard Business School. Keep reading to learn how the MBA at HBS gave Rahn the skills necessary to tackle industry challenges like health and wellness, food sustainability, and consumer Read more

Published: March 11, 2024

Real Humans of Johnson & Johnson: Sophia Fischer, UCI Merage MBA ’22, MLDP Marketing Manager

In this installment of Real Humans: Alumni, Sophia Fischer shares her story of how and why University of California, Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business became the right place for her MBA and how the program prepared her to be an MLDP marketing manager at Johnson & Johnson. For Fischer, pursuing an MBA was an investment in personal growth, one that required choosing a school that would make that same investment in her as a student and also ensure she would find a company to continue that growth. Sophia Fischer, UCI Merage MBA ’22, MLDP Marketing Manager Read more

Published: March 11, 2024

Real Humans of Amazon: Tanique Philogene, Notre Dame Mendoza MBA ’23, Senior Program Manager

In this Real Humans: Alumni, Tanique Philogene reveals how the Notre Dame Mendoza MBA program’s hands-on experiential learning gave her exactly the skills she needed for her pivot from finance to the tech industry. Some individuals know for sure where their path leads, and are just looking for the right opportunity at the right time. For Philogene, who knew before graduating high school she wanted an MBA, that opportunity was during the pandemic, when she had the time to prepare for the next stage of her career and personal development. Tanique Philogene Notre Dame Read more

Published: March 7, 2024

Real Humans of Goldman Sachs: Ken Jackson, Rice Business MBA ’23, Private Wealth Advisor

Army veteran Ken Jackson went from piloting Black Hawks to private wealth management at Goldman Sachs–the bridge being the Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business MBA program. In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, see how Jackson’s MBA put him in the entrepreneurial mindset, his secret weapon that has allowed him to thrive confidently in the wealth management landscape. Ken Jackson, Rice Business MBA ’23, Private Wealth Advisor at Goldman Sachs Age: 33 Hometown: Peachtree City, GA Undergraduate Institution and Major: United States Military Read more

Published: March 6, 2024

Real Humans of Kearney: Caroline Queen, Duke Fuqua MBA ’21, Manager

In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, former Olympian Caroline Queen shares how her unconventional career path led her to Duke Fuqua for her MBA and on to consulting at Kearney. While the “Team Fuqua” culture forged the foundation of her b-school experience, the skills honed in the program and the interview prep ensured she could take the next step in her career. Learn more about Caroline’s journey below. Caroline Queen, Duke Fuqua MBA ’21, Manager at Kearney Age: 32 Hometown: Darnestown, MD Undergraduate Institution and Major: Davidson Read more

Published: March 4, 2024

Real Humans of Google: George Muchira, Rochester Simon MBA ’23, Financial Analyst

In this installment of our Real Humans: Alumni series, recent MBA graduate George Muchira shares his journey from the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School to becoming a financial analyst at Google. Rochester Simon’s culture of diversity and community drew George to the business school, and the critical thinking-based curriculum prepared him for an industry change from finance to tech. Read on for his story. George Muchira, Rochester Simon MBA ’23, Financial Analyst at Google Age: 33 Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya Undergraduate Institution and Major: Jomo Kenyatta Read more

Published: February 29, 2024

Real Humans of Bain & Co.: Drew Ness, Texas McCombs MBA ’22, Consultant

Translating military skills and experience into the corporate world is difficult, but the core curriculum and leadership development opportunities at Texas McCombs helped Drew Ness realize his full potential as a consultant at Bain after a decade in Army Intelligence. In this installment of our Real Humans: Alumni series, Ness tells his story of falling in love with Austin, Texas, finding himself and his family at home in the McCombs community, and channeling his military instincts into success in the MBA program and beyond. Drew Ness, Texas McCombs MBA ’22, Consultant at Bain & Company Read more

Published: February 28, 2024

Real Humans of Microsoft: Orry Young, Emory Goizueta MBA ’22, Industry Marketing Manager

In this installment of Real Humans: Alumni, we have Orry Young, a veteran whose MBA experience helped him in the transition from the military to the tech industry at Microsoft. Emory Goizueta‘s small class size and instructor-to-student ratio were the driving force behind his choice of school, and the professors and leadership program underscored his success. Keep reading to learn how the program helped him hone his military skills for the business world. Orry Young, Emory Goizueta MBA ’22, Industry Marketing Manager at Microsoft Age: 32 Hometown: Read more

Published: February 26, 2024

Real Humans of Allianz: Anant Gupta, IESE MBA ’22, Senior Consultant

In this installment of our Real Humans: Alumni series, meet Anant Gupta, whose desire for new challenges took him from banking in India to IESE in Spain and then management consulting in Germany. IESE hit all the marks in Gupta’s search for his “dream school:” the case-based curriculum, opportunities in the program to earn experience, and its prime European location. Read his story and find out how the MBA program’s structure and diversity helped him transform from a banker to a management consultant at Allianz. Anant Gupta, IESE MBA ’22, Senior Consultant at Read more

Published: February 21, 2024

Real Humans of Citi: Diana Pacer, Chicago Booth MBA ’23, Investment Banking Associate

We kick off our Real Humans: Alumni series, which invites MBA graduates to discuss their paths to post-MBA employment, with Diana Pacer, Chicago Booth MBA Class of 2023. Having settled in Chicago with her family and experiencing the data-based, intellectual approach to teaching at the University of Chicago, Pacer knew it was where she wanted to be to achieve her career goal of working in investment banking. Read on to learn how the Booth network, students, and clubs prepared her for recruitment into the finance industry and her role as an investment banking associate Read more

Published: July 25, 2023

Real Humans of Citi: Elizabeth Jimenez, Dartmouth Tuck MBA’19, Senior Vice President, Strategic Risk

In this installment of our Real Humans: Alumni series, we meet Elizabeth Jimenez, who is a first-generation high-school, college, and master’s graduate in her family. Her decision to attend Dartmouth Tuck‘s MBA program was fueled by her desire for a more challenging and meritorious career path and the positive experience she had visiting with Tuck students. Read on to find out how Tuck gave Jimenez the tools necessary for her new career in strategy and risk. Elizabeth Jimenez, Dartmouth Tuck MBA’19, Senior Vice President, Strategic Risk at Citi Age: 33 Hometown: Read more

Published: July 3, 2023

Real Humans of BCG: Bren Marschner, Emory Goizueta MBA ’20, Project Leader

In this Real Humans: Alumni, Bren Marschner, Emory Goizueta MBA ’20, shares his story of pivoting to a consulting career and landing a position at his target firm, BCG. Read on to see how Emory Goizueta‘s curriculum, community, and consulting mastery guided him to a new career. Bren Marschner, Emory Goizueta MBA ’20, Project Leader at Boston Consulting Group Age: 30 Hometown: Decatur, AL Undergraduate Institution and Major: Birmingham-Southern College Graduate Business School, Graduation Year and Concentration (if applicable): Goizueta Business School, 2020 Pre-MBA Work Experience Read more

MBA Applywire

November 20, 2024 9:42pm ET

Applying: Babson / Olin, , Carnegie Mellon / Tepper, Emory / Goizueta, Rice / Jones, Rochester / Simon, SMU Cox, UCI Merage, Washington U. / Olin

Intake Year: 2025

Pre-MBA Career: Technology - Entrepreneurship

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Technology, Entrepreneurship

GRE: 333

GPA: 2.56

Years of Work Experience: 5

Location: Lagos

Notes:

I just got rejected for WashU Olin and I have an interview invitation with Questrom. GPA continues to bother me but I addressed it in my supporting essays.

November 19, 2024 12:51pm ET

Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Cornell / Johnson, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, INSEAD, Michigan / Ross, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, U. Chicago Booth, UPenn / Wharton, Yale SOM

Intake Year: 2025

Pre-MBA Career: Tech in government

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Entrepreneurship Companies: Bain , McKinsey

GRE: 319

GPA: 2.9

Years of Work Experience: 7

Notes:

I got cancer when I was undergrad that's why my undergrad GPA is low. After MBA I want to work in consulting then make a social impact in Africa through entrepreneurship

November 19, 2024 12:06pm ET

Applying: Duke / Fuqua, Harvard Business School, Michigan / Ross, Northwestern / Kellogg, Stanford GSB, U. Chicago Booth, U. Washington / Foster, UNC Kenan-Flagler, UT Austin / McCombs, UVA / Darden

Pre-MBA Career: Wealth Management and Military

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Asset Management, inc. HF, Other Companies: Bain , BCG , Deloitte , McKinsey , Goldman Sachs , JP Morgan Asset Management , State Street , Vanguard

GPA: 3.80

Years of Work Experience: 7

Location: San Diego

Post MBA Location: Chicago, Seattle, Minneapolis, Charlotte

Notes:

UG Degree: BBA Financial Markets at an Accredited Institution.

Civilian Work History: 3 years as Wealth Advisor under an RIA in Minneapolis and Denver. Total AUM of ~$350-400M, served as a salaried advisor in a primary and secondary capacity. Holistic services to include investment management, estate planning, retirement planning, insurance planning, tax planning, etc.

Military History: 4 years as a supply/logistics officer heading efforts for air/ground mobility, defense contracting, supply and procurement, and fiscal budget management while located at various bases within CONUS and multiple forward deployed locations.

Professional Certifications: Obtained Certified Financial Planner designation (2022) and Series 65 (2019).

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?

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

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MBA LiveWire

November 23, 2024 7:37am ET

Accepted to NYU Stern

Round: Round 1

Received via portal on November 21, 2024

GPA: 6.42

GMAT: 760

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Technology

Application Location: India

November 23, 2024 12:41am ET

Accepted to SMU Cox

Round: Round 1

Received via email November 22, 2024

GPA: 3.6

GRE: 331

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Marketing

Application Location: Delta, Nigeria

November 22, 2024 11:09pm ET

Accepted to NYU Stern

Round: Round 1

Received via portal November 22, 2024

GPA: 3.65

Program Type: One Year Program

Target Career: Technology

Application Location: NY

Note:

Submitted on 9/1, interview invite on 10/8, interviewed on 10/30. No phone call but portal updated on 11/22 around 1pm est. No scholarship..

November 22, 2024 8:42pm ET

Accepted to SMU Cox

Round: Round 1

Received via phone November 22, 2024

GPA: 3.9

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Consulting

Application Location: Mississippi

November 22, 2024 8:34pm ET

Rejected at SMU Cox

Round: Round 1

Received via portal on November 21, 2024

GPA: 3.89/4

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Consulting

Application Location: Asia

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