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Real Humans - Alumni

Published: March 22, 2021
Real Humans of Tesla: Jia Huang, Cornell Johnson MBA ‘20, Business Operations & Finance Associate
Tesla, Inc. was founded in 2003 by a group of engineers looking to prove that electric vehicles could be better, quicker and more fun that their gas-powered counterparts. The company strives to rid the world of fossil-fuel vehicles to work towards achieving a zero-emission future. Tesla’s steadfast mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy is what attracted Jia Huang, Cornell MBA ‘20, to the company.  His business degree from the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell provided him with the perfect combination of communication and business strategy classes to help 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 14, 2020
Real Humans of BCG: Reid Velo, NYU Stern ’19, Consultant
Consulting can be a dynamic career, meeting new clients in new places and solving new business problems every week.  Boston Consulting Group (BCG)—one of the Big Three of the top consulting firms known as MBB—has 90 offices in 50 countries, and therefore no shortage of opportunities to pursue a diverse and lively profession.  In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Reid Velo, NYU Stern MBA ’19 and consultant at BCG, offers his perspective on the industry, the value of an MBA, the power of New York City and more. Reid Velo, 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 30, 2020
Real Humans of Amazon: Ygal Haenel, INSEAD ’19, Senior Financial Analyst
Amazon identifies 14 leadership principles underlying their operations, problem-solving approaches and team ideations. Some examples include ownership, frugality, learn and be curious, think big, and dive deep.  “Hire and develop the best” is another principle that Ygal Haenel, INSEAD MBA ’19 and senior financial analyst at Amazon, recognized during their recruiting process–as well as after, when he settled into his role and had time to engage with his colleagues.  In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, see how the INSEAD MBA program prepared Haenel for a fulfilling career at Amazon and provided 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 25, 2020
Real Humans of McKinsey: Allison Howard, Northwestern Kellogg ’19, Associate
While an MBA can enhance your current career path, it can also support a switch to an entirely new one. In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, we hear from Allison Howard, an MBA graduate of Northwestern Kellogg and current associate at McKinsey.  Pre-MBA, she had a fulfilling career in entertainment, but wanted to pivot.  The leading consulting firm, McKinsey, is known for providing flexibility and support to its associates–they can choose assignments and are encouraged to pursue projects that meet their interests and skill-based needs.  Read on for Howard’s story about 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 22, 2020
Real Humans of Deloitte: Abhinoor Dhull, Wharton ’19, Senior Consultant
William Welch Deloitte opened what would become Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (better known as just Deloitte) in 1845 in a small office in London. Thirty-five years later, the company expanded overseas to New York, eventually landing on Wall Street, then adding branches in Chicago and Buenos Aires. Now, Deloitte operates in over 150 countries.  Our featured alumna also wants to found her own business someday, and knew she needed to develop her consulting chops at Deloitte.  Read on for insights and advice from Abhhinoor Dhull, Wharton MBA ’19 Read more
Published: March 19, 2020
Real Humans of BCG: Brierley Penn, LBS ’19, Consultant
In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, we jump back into the consulting sector to leading consulting firm, Boston Consulting Group (BCG).  Our featured alumna, Brierley Penn, graduated from London Business School in 2019 and rejoined BCG after graduation.  While many applicants may expect to commit two full years to a program, LBS offers their full-time MBA program in three lengths: 15, 18 and 21 months.  The 15-month option still allows time for an internship and exploration, as shown by 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 15, 2020
Real Humans of McKinsey: Jun Guang Da Qu, Stanford GSB ’19, Associate
Most MBAs get their feet wet in consulting interning as summer associates between their first and second school years.  Post-MBA, at McKinsey, graduates usually spend between two and three years at the associate level before evaluation for a promotion to engagement manager. The next step, in three to five years, is associate principal.  Finally, qualified candidates can become a principal or partner.  In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Jun Guang Da Qu, a Stanford GSB alumnus and associate at McKinsey, takes us back to the beginning of such a journey, as he 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 10, 2020
Real Humans of McKinsey: Nathan Stevens, Michigan Ross ’19, Associate
What business problem have you been trying to solve the longest? Whose buy-in did you need? Which obstacles could you simply not overcome, no matter how many different angles you approached them from?  In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Nathan Stevens, a Michigan Ross MBA ’19 and associate at McKinsey, offers a powerful story about the impact of graduate management education. Beyond an MBA, if you love to solve global business and social problems, McKinsey is the place to be.  The firm has fostered thousands of projects for foundations and nonprofits Read more
Published: March 9, 2020
Real Humans of BCG: Madeleine Macks, Wharton ’18, Consultant
Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has been lauded by MBA alumni in this series for its community and culture.  Our featured alumna, Madeleine Macks, Wharton MBA ’18 and consultant at BCG, echoed those sentiments and added the value of the scope of projects there.  Indeed, BCG cites expertise in 20 industries—from automotive and education, to insurance and the public sector, and everything in between.  Wharton is also a solid training ground for consulting, and a quarter of the most recent class 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 4, 2020
Real Humans of Deloitte: Vinithra Raveendran, Cornell Johnson ’19, Senior Consultant
Consulting is consistently one of the most popular industry choices for MBA graduates. It’s a lucrative lifestyle, and the work is dynamic, engaging and analytical.  Consultants need a full suite of management skills to thrive in the industry—and global firms to provide a landscape of projects to execute. Deloitte is one such global firm that provides myriad opportunities for MBA students and graduates interested in the field.  While headquartered in London, England, Deloitte has hundreds of offices around the world.  Vinithra Raveendran, Cornell Johnson MBA ’19 and senior consultant at Deloitte, chose Read more

MBA Applywire

9
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.
11
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
10
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).
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
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MBA LiveWire

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
November 22, 2024 8:33pm ET
Accepted to Georgia Tech / Scheller
Round: Round 1
Received via email November 22, 2024
GPA: 3.76
GRE: 329
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Technology
Application Location: Pakistan
Note:

Accepted with Full GRA
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