Joely Manning, Washington Foster’s MBA Class of 2027
Age: 29
Hometown: Olympia, Washington
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Recreation Management, Central Washington University
Pre-MBA Work Experience: United States Army, Logistics Officer, 7 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I made the decision to attend business school because I have spent my career in a profession that is quite different than your standard corporate job, and I see business school as a jumpstart to catch up on some of the general business experiences I missed out on. Why now? After 7 years in the Army, I was coming to a natural end to my assignment and decided it was time to close the door on that experience and start the journey towards the next chapter in the corporate world.
Why did you choose University of Washington Foster? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose Foster for several reasons. Being a Veteran, I really value the academic experience and community that Foster offers. I want to learn about the concepts I didn’t necessarily utilize in the military like finance, marketing, or accounting, and the small class size at Foster has helped build those skills in a low-risk environment with a community that is easy to lean on and get help from. My goal is to work in Seattle and the campus’ proximity to the companies in the greater Seattle area is unbeatable, we have access to some big names, and even new and emerging business’ as well.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2027?
I have unique experiences coming from the military, I have spent majority of my career serving in varying leadership roles ranging from 50-100 direct reports, and that taught me a lot about personal relationships and the importance empathetic leadership and I believe that will help me contribute as a team member to my cohort and leverage leadership skills to bring small teams together as well.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I earned my privates’ pilots license when I was 19 (crazy!), and I have jumped out of an airplane over 50 times!
Post-MBA career interests:
My post-MBA career interests are in operations, logistics, and supply chain roles in a consumer-packaged goods company, retail, or aerospace industry.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Coffee chats! Do coffee chats with anyone and everyone, don’t just focus on your affinity group (mine was Veterans), talk to a wide variety of students to really get to know the program from many perspectives.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Give myself more grace! Understand that this process is two-way, and that you have something to offer these MBA programs too. Don’t let any hiccups or gaps in your resume make you second guess your creditability for getting into these programs, prepare yourself and show your authentic self and it will all work out.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
GRE/GMAT experience! No one likes this part, but the best-case scenario is that you start studying EARLY! Give yourself ample time to learn the concepts and master the tests and don’t burn yourself out on this first hurdle. Find a routine, or test prep program that works for your learning style and stick to it.
What is your initial impression of the Foster students/culture/community?
My initial impression is that Foster truly practices what they preach. From the first day of orientation everyone has been so open, kind, and supportive of one another and genuinely want to have a good time! Within our first weeks of school our cohort has spent all our weekends together doing various activities in the Seattle area!
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I am planning to join the Foster Veterans Association, and the Women in Business. A huge part of my MBA application journey relied on clubs like the Foster Veterans Association & Women in Business, members of these organizations were actively engaged in my application process and helped me out in whatever way they could, so I am excited for an opportunity to do the same for future cohorts.
What is one thing you have learned about Foster that has surprised you?
One thing I’ve learned about Foster that has surprised me is the impact of the small class size, I figured this would be helpful in the classroom, but it really goes beyond that! The professors, administrators, and even the dean get to know who you are on a first name basis, and it really helps to grow your sense of community and belonging within the program.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am excited for many things! First, to learn! It has been a long time since I have been in a classroom, and I am eager to learn about all things business and to see how that makes the world tick. I’m equally excited to make new friends and grow my community within Seattle.
