Mine Loyan, Wharton MBA Class of 2025
Mine Loyan, Wharton MBA Class of 2025Age: 29
Hometown: Bursa, Türkiye
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Finance and Analytic Consulting (Goizueta Business School) & German Studies at Emory University
Pre-MBA Work Experience (role, company, years): Capital Markets Associate at Citigroup for 4.5 years (New York); Capital Strategy Associate at PayPal for 2 years (New York / Hybrid)
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Prior to making the decision to attend business school, a pattern I noticed in my personal and professional life was the fact that most of my mentors and managers that I looked up to had an MBA degree. They not only had their unique way of managing people but were also very deliberate in their leadership style when it came to motivating people, organizing teams, and managing conflicts. Expectedly, organizations recognized and rewarded their leadership, and they were tapped for promotions and leadership positions ahead of their peers.
I am aware that an MBA is not the sole reason behind their success. However, I learned firsthand in my career how a good manager, an inclusive leader, or a self-aware team member can make a positive impact on people’s experiences within an organization. An MBA degree provides students with the time and resources to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses and provides a low-stakes environment to have meaningful stretch experiences. So, I see these 2 years as an investment in my future self.
The timing decision was a bit more strategic for me. I had been at Citi for 4 years when I started thinking about applying to an MBA program, but then Covid happened. So, I decided to transition into fintech at PayPal to broaden my professional experience for another 2 years and postponed the MBA plan until the world went back to normal.
Why did you choose Wharton? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
As I was going through my target schools, I was pretty set on expanding my finance knowledge and network, but also had a notion that I might want to explore public policy. So, I was very interested in MBA programs that were strong in both fields and would allow me to explore them in depth.
I already knew that Wharton had a world-class program when it came to Finance, in terms of professors, alumni network, clubs, and all the other fantastic learning opportunities. Having said that, it was also important for me to think about the interdisciplinary offerings. Beyond the Finance program, I found out that Wharton had a terrific Business Economics and Public Policy major. The fact that Wharton is part of a broader UPenn ecosystem and allows students to expand their network and knowledge base beyond the already extensive offerings at the business school really excited me during the application process.
Another aspect of Wharton that I admired from the start was the diversity within the program, not only the student body they carefully selected (50% women and 31% international for the Class of 2025) but also the diversity of the professors and leadership of the school.
Finally, I must mention that Dean Erika James, prior to Wharton, was the dean of Goizueta when I was a student there. She was the one who handed me my diploma in 2016 (photo attached). I jokingly say that I followed her to Wharton, but in all seriousness, I believe that she was an amazing leader for Goizueta, and she is an amazing leader for Wharton. I am looking forward to receiving my MBA diploma from an institution she leads in 2 years and recreating the graduation photo!
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2025?
I would say I bring diversity to the table, not only through my gender or nationality but also through the variety of life experiences I’ve had. All my life I have had difficulty explaining my upbringing and how I ended up where I am in life. I like to think that some of my classmates can relate to the culture shock I experienced when I moved from Turkey to Atlanta, and some can relate to my love for southern BBQ. Some, like me, are the only women to go to college (let alone graduate school!) in their family, and some, again like me, had amazing woman mentors supporting them throughout their careers. Some probably know what it feels like to be raised by protective (in my case Muslim) parents, and some went to boarding school like I did at the age of 13. Being a walking contradiction allows me to relate to so many of my classmates who do not look, talk, or act the way I do.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I started doing Pilates after I broke my leg due to a skiing accident. Now I am a certified mat Pilates instructor.
Post-MBA career interests:
Investment management is a field that I am very much interested in. In the long term, I hope to use my expertise in the financial space to make an impact through financial policy or regulations.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would without a doubt invest in an admission consultant – a huge shout out to my admission consultant Katharine Lewis. Writing a genuine and authentic admission essay takes self-awareness and introspection, which requires concentration, effort, and time. Having someone experienced in this process and excited about your future by your side is a great way to have structure and motivation.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would not put too much pressure on myself for GMAT. For GMAT, I was dead set on being done on my first try and put a lot of pressure on myself. I ended up scoring well on my first try but had no fuel left in me to try another time, despite knowing I probably could have scored higher without the added pressure.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I have revised my admission essays numerous times and was feeling very good about the material I was able to cover in each essay. However, towards the end of the application process, the reality of it all sank in. I remember feeling this sudden doubt about the topics I chose, wondering if my essay really reflected what these MBA programs were looking for. The best way to get through that doubt and sudden urge to rewrite everything from scratch was to take a day or two away from the essays and share my thoughts with my consultant or friends who have gone through the MBA application process successfully before. It is not good to seek external validation frequently, but in this case, I needed the validation to get me through the self-doubting phase and finalize my essays.
What is your initial impression of the Wharton students/culture/community?
The support system that Wharton provides for all students is phenomenal. The professors, TAs, leadership fellows, student life fellows, academic advisors, career advisors, student life advisors, alumni, and many more people are supporting each student through this transition back to school and rooting for your success at and beyond Wharton. Wharton organizes events and team activities so that first years can get to know each other and create an inclusive and fun-loving community.
What is one thing you have learned about Wharton that has surprised you?
The first class we take for pre-term at Wharton is a crash course on leadership and team building. After taking this course, I could clearly see why Wharton conducts a TBD (team-based discussion) for admission interviews. Admissions emphasize that the TBD is not a competition but a collaboration and that they want to see how applicants perform as leaders and team members.
I think as an applicant, it is easy to be cynical of that statement and doubt your own performance. But to my surprise, I had an incredibly fun and collaborative TBD interview. Amazingly, I ran into two of my teammates from the TBD during the admitted students’ weekend. So, in my experience, it is fair to say that Wharton values collaboration from the start and brings together a class that will learn together and learn from each other. Note: One of my teammates from the TBD is now my classmate and is one of the people I like to spend time with the most.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
One thing that is going to require time to figure out and may lead to anxiety from time to time is finding the right balance between academics, job search, extracurriculars, traveling, and personal life. It’s a lot to navigate.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Making lasting friendships.
I have met some of my best friends at the least expected times and places in my life, and I expect nothing less from Wharton. During the admitted students’ weekend, I met two girls with whom I kept in touch. We were so eager to convince other prospective students at our dinner table to go to Wharton that we bonded naturally. Now they are my classmates, and they are the friends I turn to when I need a fun night or a chill get-together. And this is just the beginning!
