Julia Schuller, Vanderbilt Owen MBA Class of 2024
Age: 27
Hometown: Pine Grove, PA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Penn State, Corporate Communications
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 5 years; Pharma, CPG & Agency Marketing
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I wanted to find a way to merge my passion and skills; I’m surprised at how quickly I was able to do this at Owen! Also, I hoped to further improve upon data-driven decision-making and public speaking.
In regards to timing, this was my third time applying to graduate programs but my first time applying to business school. The first two times didn’t work out, and I’m really glad they didn’t. I’m a big believer in everything happening for a reason, and I’m happy to have found myself at Owen.
Why did you choose Vanderbilt Owen? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose Owen because of the community. The students I met on my first visit were so welcoming and humble. Southern hospitality is a real thing!
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Vanderbilt Owen MBA Class of 2024?
I’m passionate about creating inclusive and psychologically safe environments for learning and asking questions (thanks for the inspiration, professor Vogus!).
In business school, students come from many different backgrounds and are experts in some areas while struggling in others. I’ve found it important to share my strengths and weaknesses intentionally so that fellow students feel safe sharing theirs as well. Doing so creates an inclusive space where students can learn from the strengths of their classmates regardless of their backgrounds.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I’ve been featured on Buzzfeed for a viral TikTok video on the topic of women’s health.
Post-MBA career interests:
My original plan in attending business school was to focus on brand management, although I am jointly pursuing entrepreneurship in femtech. I’m currently designing an app that is a digital contraceptive for women who want to avoid pregnancy without the side effects. To do so, I’ve partnered with a team of doctors, reproductive physiologists and fertility coaches and leaned on my experience in brand and marketing at Merck, P&G and The Hershey Company. Regardless of where I land after b-school, I’m very grateful for opportunities to grow in business and marketing, especially in the women’s health space.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would seek a mentor who graduated from b-school and is passionate about paying it forward. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the influence of my mentor, Manuel Sanchez (Darden ’20).
–What is one thing you would change or do differently? 
I wouldn’t stress as much over choosing a school. I’d trust my gut and save some time!
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Ideally, I would have written less essays. I love writing, but it was time-consuming and high-pressure. Focusing on my passion and having multiple mentors review my essays helped me overcome the challenge.
What is your initial impression of the Vanderbilt Owen students/culture/community?
Owen students work and play hard. I am blown away by the talent and expertise across concentrations and industries.
What is one thing you have learned about Vanderbilt Owen that has surprised you?
The Dean’s relationship with students – he’s very personable and willing to chat with us on a casual basis, which is rare.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I’m coming from a communications and marketing background, so the quant courses have been a new challenge for me. I’ve learned so much from my classmates, and I’m really grateful for the students who have patiently walked me through finance problem sets when I needed extra support (thank you, Omar, Carlos, Vishal and Rob). I’m also grateful that the professors at Owen truly care about their students’ learning and success.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’m invigorated by the support that the Owen community has given regarding my entrepreneurship path. While the app I’m developing is an ambitious dream, students and faculty have happily dreamed alongside me.
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your personal application or admissions process in any way? If so, how?
I turned down a full scholarship at the University of Hawaii in 2020 due to the pandemic and having health problems. At the time, I was absolutely crushed; however, now I realize that Owen is a much better fit for my future career. I’m so grateful that things turned out the way they did.
