Bridget Greaney, Georgetown McDonough MBA Class of 2022
Age: 27
Hometown: Bethesda, MD
Undergraduate Institution and Major: New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, Major: Film and Television (BFA); Minor: Business of Entertainment, Media and Technology
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 5 years, Media & Entertainment Industry
Why business school? Why now?
Entrepreneurship has always been a large interest of mine. In working on newly launched television shows and theatrical productions, the entrepreneurial mindset has been woven through much of my professional career. I knew that I wanted to build a strong business foundation to inform future entrepreneurial ventures. Pursuing my MBA aligned directly with that goal. I think a lot of life is about timing, and after 5 years in the professional world, it seemed like the right moment to make this pivot.
Why Georgetown McDonough? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Throughout my admissions process with the McDonough School of Business, I gained an overwhelming sense of the program’s community. From Admissions to alum, to current students, everyone took the time to get to know prospective students on an individual level. Because the class sizes at McDonough are fairly small, I started to recognize the same people through admissions panels, prospective student events, and email correspondence. Before I accepted my offer, I already felt like part of the community.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2022?
A majority of my pre-MBA work was on the creative side of media and entertainment where having a strong understanding of team dynamics and collaboration is crucial. Since teamwork is a large part of an MBA education, I have been able to utilize those collaborative skills across all subjects.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
During undergrad, I was an intern at Saturday Night Live the same season as the SNL 40th Anniversary Special. Such a great experience!
Post-MBA career interests?
I am interested in consulting, venture capital, and entrepreneurship. My goal is to find a post-MBA path where I can bring innovative ideas to fruition through teamwork and problem-solving.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would absolutely sit in on a business class at the university. I did this toward the end of 2019 with McDonough School of Business, and the experience gave me the opportunity to picture myself as a student in the program. Even though visiting campus may not be an option in the near future, I highly suggest finding an opportunity to chat with current students, even if it is for a quick coffee over Zoom. You’ll be spending two years in your MBA program, so meeting others at the school can be helpful in determining which environment is best for you.
–One thing you would change or do differently?
I would attend more prospective student events toward the beginning of the application process. I learned so much at these events, and wish I had given myself more opportunities to attend sessions prior to submitting my applications.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
My pre-MBA experiences in television and theater were often project-based, so I found it challenging to format my resume into a standard business layout. I had friends and family from various industries provide feedback on my resume so that I could understand where I needed to clarify, edit, and reformat.
What is your initial impression of Georgetown McDonough’s students/culture/community?
The supportive community at McDonough School of Business is amazing! The program has done a great job creating connectivity in a virtual environment – a testament to the importance Georgetown places on community.
One thing you have learned about Georgetown McDonough that has surprised you?
Having worked in media and entertainment, I thought that my professional experience would be an outlier. I was happily surprised to find that my class has an extremely wide range of pre-MBA industries – everything from art to finance to engineering and beyond.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
It was difficult to grasp how we were going to learn, collaborate, and meet new people in a virtual environment. It’s been about a month now and – aside from a bit of Zoom fatigue – the virtual classrooms are great! The professors have taken different approaches to the virtual setting, creating engaging learning environments that play to the unique nature of Zoom classrooms.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’ve been looking forward to participating in engaging classroom discussions with peers from all over the world. My class brings so much to every lesson; sharing relevant work stories, explaining varying cultural perspectives, and asking phenomenal questions.
