Niina Al-Hassan, Kellogg MBA/MMM Class of 2020
Age: 25
Hometown: Pullman, WA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Brown University, business economics
Pre-MBA Work Experience: JP Morgan, corporate FX derivatives, 2014-2016; Novus Partners, data analytics for hedge funds and institutional investors, 2016-2018
Why business school? Why now? Before leaving my first job, I knew that I ultimately wanted to transition into a product-focused role within tech. My most recent job at Novus was a stepping stone toward that end goal, but I knew I needed an extra push to really make the transition over.
Although it has only been a few months, my experiences so far have confirmed that going back to school was the right decision. The last few years of work have taught me a lot, but here at Kellogg I get to learn directly from the years of industry experience across dozens of companies my classmates bring with them.
Why Kellogg? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? Applying to Kellogg was an easy decision for me. I wanted something out of my time in school that was slightly different than the traditional MBA experience. The combination of design thinking coursework through the MMM program was a perfect fit for me.
Culture was another aspect of the application process that was particularly important to me, and Kellogg is well known for fostering a community of collaboration and forward-thinking leaders.
After visiting during the Women’s Preview day and hearing from current students and Dean Sally Blount, I knew that Kellogg was where I wanted to be.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2020? I grew up in a small town in Eastern Washington (think one high school with a graduating class of 125), went to a smaller undergrad university in terms of class size, and was most recently at a company of about 65 people.
All of these experiences have encouraged me to make a conscious effort to get to know who each of my peers are outside of the office or classroom. It’s definitely something I’m excited to continue doing at Kellogg given the diverse background of my class.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I am a big concert geek and love going to live shows and discovering new artists!
Post-MBA career interests? Tech and entrepreneurship
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? I reached out to my recommenders four months in advance of the deadline. I’m sure they appreciated having the large lead time, and it definitely helped decrease my stress knowing their part was out of the way!
–One thing you would change or do differently? I would have given myself more mental breaks during the GMAT process. Coming home after work and studying for three hours every night can be really tiring! Give yourself a personal day every once in a while, to rest and recharge.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? The time in between hitting the submit button and getting the decision! Given Kellogg’s interview process, the only feedback you get on your application throughout the waiting period is when final decisions come out. It was very stressful! But once I got the phone call, it was a like a giant weight was lifted off my shoulders.
What is your initial impression of Kellogg’s students/culture/community? Kellogg has been just about everything I was expecting coming into the program. My experiences with my MMM class have been great, and every person brings something interesting to the table that I can learn more about. All of us have come to Evanston with the genuine intention to get the most out of our time here and it shows—from the time put into group projects and coursework to the various social events we’ve planned to get to know each other better.
One thing you have learned about Kellogg that has surprised you? The resources and offerings provided through the Kellogg Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative (KIEI) are second to none, and I’m excited to take some of the department’s courses.
Before coming to school, I’d never thought of myself as an entrepreneur, but the KIEI summer sessions they’ve held have changed my perspective on it. I think the most important insight they’ve provided to me so far is that you don’t have to bring a big startup idea to school in order to follow an entrepreneurial career path.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year? Exploring the number of companies that seek out Kellogg students. It’s a bit daunting to put together a target list, but I know the resources I have through the career management center—as well as second-year students sharing their internship experiences—will help me during the process.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year? KWEST and the annual Kellogg Ski Trip! Both events seem like great opportunities to continue getting to know who my classmates are outside of an academic setting.
