From the West Coast to the Northeast and back again, Marisa Li, Yale School of Management MBA ’24, followed her heart to her MBA program and a post-MBA role at Amazon. In this Real Humans: Alumni, Marisa talks about the impact of stepping outside her comfort zone, what she discovered during her Amazon internship and Yale MBA, and more.
Marisa Li, Yale SOM MBA ’24, Senior Program Manager at Amazon
Age: 27
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of California, Berkeley; Economics and Psychology
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Associate (Strategy and M&A Integration), Goldman Sachs, 4 years, Financial Services
Post-MBA Work Experience: Senior Program Manager, Amazon, 10 months (started June 2024), Technology
Why did you choose to attend business school?
Before business school, I worked at Goldman Sachs on internal strategy initiatives to transform processes and technology platforms. My role gave me a front-row seat to how a large, complex organization improves efficiency and the user experience while managing regulatory expectations. Over time, I became increasingly interested in applying those skills in the fast-paced, agile tech sector. I considered pivoting directly into tech, but after conversations with my mentor, a VP at Goldman and an MBA grad himself, I started to see the long-term value of the degree. Talking with others who accomplished similar transitions only reinforced that. I also reached the final round of interviews with a tech company, where I received feedback that while I was a strong candidate, they preferred someone with more direct industry experience. It made me reflect on whether I wanted to spend several years gradually pivoting into tech, or invest two years into an MBA to build the skills and network to accelerate the journey. I chose the latter, and the rest is history.
Why Yale SOM? What factors figured most prominently into your decision?
It all came down to the people. SOM’s collaborative, supportive culture stood out from day one, with everyone eager to help one another succeed. I saw this later on when classmates freely shared interview prep materials, ran mock interviews for each other, and created a sense of “we’re in this together” during internship recruiting. It was real. I was a bit hesitant about being on the East Coast when I ultimately wanted to end up on the West Coast. After talking to an alum who had made the same transition (from finance to tech, from East to West), I felt reassured that I could do the same. In the end, SOM felt right. I kept coming back to it in every conversation, and even my mentor pointed out that I visibly lit up when I talked about the school. That told me everything I needed to know.
What about your MBA experience prepared you for your current career?
Switching industries required me to clearly articulate my journey and goals. At SOM, I took several marketing classes (even though I was not recruiting for marketing roles!) that taught me how to turn insights into a compelling narrative. That storytelling skill helped in interviews and continues to be valuable at Amazon, where I often synthesize complex data and influence cross-functional teams. My time as Co-President of the Data Analytics Club also strengthened my ability to translate data into clear, actionable strategies, aligning well with Amazon’s culture that emphasizes decision-making through well-written documents. The MBA also increased my confidence in my ability to learn quickly and adapt. I did not enter with a strong finance background (my undergrad in economics was mostly policy-focused), but I was later invited to TA for a finance course. It taught me that with enough curiosity and effort, I could thrive in areas outside my comfort zone. That mindset of being resourceful and open to learning has been more important than any one technical skill.
What was your internship during business school? How did that inform your post-MBA career choice?
I interned at Amazon Lab126, the R&D division behind devices like Echo speakers and Kindle readers, as a Senior Program Manager. I created a strategy for a new device, including market sizing, feature prioritization, and competitive positioning, and contributed to process improvements for internal workflows. It was exciting to work on projects that could benefit the lives of millions of consumers around the world. My experience confirmed two things: I wanted to stay in tech, and I wanted to be at a company that offered meaningful, high-impact work early on. Although my internship team did not have headcount for a full-time role, my manager advocated for me and kept an eye out for opportunities. I ended up getting a return offer for another Amazon team, which I accepted. My past internship manager and I still keep in touch. He has been a fantastic mentor throughout my Amazon journey.
Why did you choose your current company? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to work?
I knew from my internship that Amazon was a place where I would be challenged, supported, and given room to grow. In my first six months full-time, I launched a new forecasting model for the delivery network that saved over $17 million in annualized costs. At Amazon, you are trusted with big problems early, and I found that incredible for quickly building meaningful experience post-MBA. I also love the variety. If you’re curious, there are endless opportunities to learn and explore new areas, whether it be in retail, cloud, devices, or something else. On top of that, returning to the West Coast brought me closer to family, making Seattle a perfect fit.
Advice to current MBA students:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of the job search?
Lean into the SOM network. The second-years and alumni were incredibly helpful. Their advice helped me walk into my internship well-prepared and ultimately land a return offer. Now in Seattle, I have found an amazing group of SOM alumni who have become friends, mentors, and lunch buddies.
–One thing you would change or do differently as part of the job search?
Explore a wider range of roles. Receiving my Amazon internship offer early in the fall was a relief, but it gave me less time to explore other paths. Tech is full of options, including corporate development and product marketing, and I wish I had taken more time to understand them. I am happy with the choice I made, but I love hearing about what my classmates are doing in other parts of the industry.
–Were there any surprises regarding your current employer’s recruiting process?
Your interviewers may not be from your future team, and the team you join may be completely unrelated to your past industry experience. Amazon hires broadly for internships, and team matching happens later. It was a good reminder that if you bring strong foundational skills, companies like Amazon trust you to succeed, regardless of the specific team.
–What piece of advice do you wish you had been given during your MBA?
Take a few classes just for fun! One of my favorites was Entrepreneurship in the Art Market. We heard from guest speakers like Jeff Koons, the world’s highest-paid living artist, and discussed creative processes alongside students from the Yale School of Art. I have always enjoyed museums, but this class gave me a whole new appreciation for art. It’s easy to get tunnel vision with career goals, but stepping outside that can be both refreshing and inspiring.
