Kyra Gerber, Vanderbilt Owen MBA Class of 2027
Age: 28
Hometown: Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Elon University; BFA in Musical Theatre, BSBA in Finance
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Better Mortgage (Associate Home Advisor, 2021-2022), Bank of America (Wealth Management Banking Specialist, 2022-2025)
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Prior to the pandemic, I was a professional actor living in NYC. I had gotten a double major in Finance at Elon (which I never thought I’d need), so after the Broadway shutdown in 2020, I used that knowledge to pivot career paths. I realized that I wanted to remain in the field, but when it came time to look for further opportunities, I found I was missing the technical skills that would provide upward mobility in my career. After speaking to mentors, I realized getting an MBA would be the best step in propelling my career.
Why did you choose Vanderbilt Owen? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
From the first moment I visited Owen, it felt like home. I noticed that everyone knew each other, which was a testament to the benefit of a small class size. When I sat in on Leading Teams and Organizations, taught by Prof. Tim Vogus, I was so impressed at how genuinely supportive the classmates were of each other. The class itself seemed interesting and challenging and was relevant to lots of different career paths. I also loved Nashville and felt like it would be a great place to spend at least the next two years!
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2027?
I bring a very different mindset to problem-solving based on my former career. I’ve learned a lot from my peers who have purely logistical backgrounds; they’ve taught me to always keep the technical issue in mind. I tend to come at things from a more people-centric viewpoint, so I hope that I’ve contributed some new ideas to their techniques, as well.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I went to culinary school in Ireland!
Post-MBA career interests:
Internal Strategy, Management Consulting
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Writing down work situations as they happened! I knew I’d need relevant examples for behavioral interviews and having a list of those when I first started practicing interview questions was incredibly helpful.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I absolutely would not have taken the GMAT, lol. In all seriousness, make sure you know what exam would show you off best – I am strongest with my verbal skills, and maybe would have taken the GRE if I hadn’t felt like the GMAT was “what everyone else was doing.”
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Even as someone very extroverted, networking events are exhausting! I found out a little too late that it’s okay to have some alone time between conversations. Find something that helps you recharge the battery – for me it was a quick page on my Kindle, for some of my friends it was a step outside!
What is your initial impression of the Vanderbilt Owen students/culture/community?
Everyone is so kind. When I came to visit, students talked about the “competitive, not cutthroat” atmosphere, and that really is the case. I feel comfortable speaking up in class and making mistakes in front of my peers. People come from all different backgrounds and it’s great to learn from so many different perspectives.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I’m a member of the Owen Strategy & Consulting Club, Women’s Business Association, Jewish Business Association, Culinary Society, and Cork and Barrel.
What is one thing you have learned about Vanderbilt Owen that has surprised you?
One thing that has surprised me is how supportive and engaged the second-year students are with our success. I figured after intern summer, the second years might be focused on their own classes and enjoying their last year of school, but they have been such amazing mentors and sources of knowledge to all of us!!
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’m most excited about creating new connections and friendships, and exploring all that Nashville has to offer (including lots of hot chicken)!
