Prajju Mantha, Carnegie Mellon Tepper MBA Class of 2027
Age: 26
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, CA; Major: Political Science, minor in Commerce
Pre-MBA Work Experience: 4.5 years tech industry – Inbound Success Coach & Sales Operations Specialist, HubSpot / Senior Sales Operations Analyst, Dell Technologies
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Coming from a social sciences background, but working in analytical roles within tech, I’ve always been curious about human behavior and psychology, and their practical applications to the real world. This led me to develop an interest in product/marketing, and business school felt like the perfect opportunity to bridge the gaps in my knowledge between theory and practice. I felt that the Tepper School could help me further develop both granular skills (sharpening analytical problem-solving skills, understanding “how” to execute on certain tasks) and broader skills (working with people, understanding the “why” behind market dynamics). As such, business school made sense for me personally to undertake so I could grow not only as an employee in the future, but also as a person.
Why did you choose Carnegie Mellon Tepper? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I applied to 10 schools during R1 and spent a lot of time preparing, as I wanted to make sure I could evaluate any potential options carefully and thoroughly. However, once I got my results back, the Tepper School almost immediately made the most sense for me. CMU has an incredible and well-deserved reputation within the tech industry. I also felt that coming from a non-engineering background, but attending a program, which attracts a lot of analytical thinkers and people with quant-heavy backgrounds, would help broaden my own perspectives on problem-solving as well.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2027?
I’ve played the viola for 12 years, which is not a commonly known instrument. Since it’s a mid-range instrument between the violin and the cello, it blends the sounds of the other instruments, and violists often need to be cognizant of how to bridge the gaps between different instruments. I believe this musical background has shaped who I am as a person. I really enjoy connecting with different people and bridging our differences to find common ground. I’ve sought out similar positions that align with this nature in other areas of my life as well, such as working in supportive operations roles and helping alumni groups connect with current students at my undergraduate university. I genuinely enjoy all of these experiences, and I believe I can bring this passion for connection to the Class of 2027 as well.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I love to paint; I can happily do it for hours and spend any amount of money in an art store!
Post-MBA career interests:
Product marketing/management within tech or financial services
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Talk to as many current students as possible across schools I was considering- gathering peoples’ personal experiences helped me to understand if I could see myself truly attending a school. Oftentimes these conversations provided insights that were difficult to quantify, such as general day-to-day life in a program, and helped me visualize what it’d really be like to be a part of the program.
I would also absolutely attend Welcome Weekend for any programs you are seriously considering. Tepper’s Welcome Weekend was an amazing experience; I met a lot of people who ended up becoming my classmates as well, and that weekend helped to build foundations for some really great friendships. It also gives you a chance to understand more about the school and experience some parts of your daily life as a student (going to a mock class, interacting with career services, typical socializing locations, etc) to make an informed decision about what works best for you and your unique goals.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I had the mentality that I would only share the results of my MBA journey with people close to me at the very end. In hindsight, I wish I shared more about the process while I was in the middle of navigating it as well, because it would’ve helped me face the ups and downs a bit more. I was incredibly lucky as people in my life were very supportive and kind once I told them, so it reinforced for me that it’s important to be transparent and open with your loved ones at all stages of a life transition.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Taking the GRE was not my favorite part of the application process, and I took it 3 times to make sure I felt like I gave myself the best shot at success. What really helped was trying to frame the process of taking and studying for the exam as a way to practice getting back into “school mode”, and view it as an opportunity, rather than a hurdle I had to overcome to get into business school.
What is your initial impression of the Carnegie Mellon Tepper students/culture/community?
This was an impression left on me by Welcome Weekend, and I am happy to report that my opinion didn’t change about this! Current students are generally very grounded and down-to-earth, and people come from a variety of backgrounds. Our initial 3 weeks of socialization/acclimation to the Tepper School’s Base Camp, helped bring people together a lot; I learned so much about many other students and their backgrounds, and we were all able to spend time together before classes started. I felt like that really helped set a strong precedent for our program, especially once school/recruiting pressures began to pick up after Base Camp.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
B&T Club, Marketing Club, CMU All University Orchestra
What is one thing you have learned about Carnegie Mellon Tepper that has surprised you?
There are resources available for any area or field you’re interested to learn more about, both in the context of a potential career as well as for personal learning. For example, you can take advantage of entrepreneurship-focused sessions through the Schwartz Center or learn about asset management and stock trends with the finance-focused clubs. There are tons of opportunities to expand your knowledge beyond just classes, and it’s been inspiring to see how much is available to us all right from the beginning of our program.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’m really looking forward to developing stronger relationships with my classmates through shared experiences together! The Tepper School offers a great mix of opportunities, both social and professional in the form of case competitions, professional development etc., to get to know one another. You can spend time with your classmates in a variety of different situations and contexts. Due to this I feel like even just two months in, I’ve developed bonds with some people that feel equivalent to knowing someone for many more months. I’m already very grateful for this aspect of the program and can’t wait to see how this will continue to unfold over time.
