Max Sennett, Kelley MSM Class of 2026
Age: 22
Hometown: Winchester, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Sussex, Economics and International Relations
Pre-MSM Work Experience: Student Athlete and President at Sussex University, Brighton, United Kingdom; Summer Internship at American Air Filter in Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I studied Economics as an Undergraduate, which gave me a good foundation in theory, although I recognised that I lacked the business toolkit of strategy, leadership and operations, which goes hand in hand with economics. The decision to enter business school was to bridge the gap before I ended up down an over specialised path. I aim to layer the business skills I have learnt throughout this program, combined with my undergraduate knowledge, to mould my career. Furthermore, I had the privilege of serving as President and Quarterback of my Undergrad University American Football team. This experience outlined to me my passion for managing. The task of running a sports team whilst also playing forced me to grow quickly as a leader, aiming to balance my leadership both on and off the field. More importantly, it gave me a vast amount of experience in a short amount of time. It taught me lessons when I failed and made me want to pursue business school so I could learn more about how to merge what I had learned from this experience with leadership in the business world.
Why did you choose Indiana Kelley? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I was searching for a business school in the Midwest Region of the US and applied to a couple of schools, ultimately deciding on Kelley for three reasons. The MSM curriculum suited my ideal career path, focusing on leadership, strategy and how to work in the world of global business. Secondly, the culture of collaboration and teamwork, rather than a very individualistic approach, the balance of the two was very appealing to me. Finally, the practical opportunities through real-life case projects and consulting assignments allowed me to immediately apply what I had learned as opposed to a solely theoretical approach. Overall, the balance of both hands-on practice, academic rigour and an ecosystem designed to support is what made me choose Kelley.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the class?
As an international student, my biggest differentiator is bringing a unique perspective and having strong adaptability in the class. Coming from England, I bring a different culture and differing business approaches. On the other hand, since being here, I have learnt a tremendous amount about American business practices, learning the norms, networking and different business functions. I often find myself challenging assumptions and asking questions about ways of doing things that others may take for granted, not because I believe them to be wrong but because the way I was taught was different. This pushes both myself and my classmates to consider alternatives. I like to bring global perspectives to the classroom that I have learnt from others around the world to outline that there isn’t always one solution to a problem.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
Following a football team in Great Britain involves a tremendous amount of loyalty. I support a football (soccer) team, Bristol Rovers, who play 3 tiers below the Premier League. This has been my club since birth because my dad supported them and my grandad before him. On the 7th May 2022, I was lucky enough to watch Rovers get promoted after they won 7-0 on the final match of the season, which is something I will never forget.
Post-MSM career interests:
After the MSM program, I am aiming to pursue a career focusing on Business development and strategy within a multinational firm. The focus on working across borders has been my primary goal from the beginning and how I plan to differentiate myself in a world moving towards globalisation and integrated supply chains. Specifically, I aim to work for a firm that is focused on expanding from Europe to the USA or vice versa.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Speaking to students who pursued the MSM program before me was perfect in providing an insight into the program that the faculty could not. The conversations I had outlined to me what the program was like from a student’s perspective and truly gave me an insight into life at Kelley. In addition to this, they were extremely helpful in answering any questions/concerns I had about approaching the program specifically as someone who did not have an undergraduate background in business.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Talk more and don’t play down achievements. It doesn’t feel right to me to talk about myself, maybe it’s culture, I’m not sure, but the idea of talking about myself and my achievements felt arrogant to me. I was told by a member of faculty that the only thing that would get in the way of me being successful, was me and only me. If I did not speak about why I deserved to be in the program for example, then I would never get in. The truth is, no one knows what you have done and why you deserve to be there, unless you tell them. This applies to both job interviews and program interviews and is something I have learnt to do throughout my time here, but if I had learnt it earlier, it would’ve been easier.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
One part I found particularly difficult was the adjustment period. Moving to a new country where you don’t know anyone is particularly challenging and the ordinary things you use to get through challenging times (family, friends, comfort food) aren’t there. I knew this before coming of course, but nothing can prepare you for the feeling of everyone you know at home going to sleep while you’re still awake, and then it feels like your life stops after 6 pm. What helped me was two things. Firstly, I was told before I came that if something scares you but excites you at the same time, then you go and do it, because it will be worth it. Secondly, I knew I wasn’t going to pack my bags and leave and I knew I had to make the adjustment. As forceful as it sounds, that is what helped me accept that this wasn’t going to be the same as life at home. It was going to be different, and I was going to have to accept that fact and create new patterns and find new things to keep me occupied. Overall, the group that you have on the MSM course are your friends from the start and you find new comforts.
What is your initial impression of the Indiana Kelley students/culture/community?
From the first day I arrived here, I noticed that the students are exceedingly engaged and focused on collaboration. Of course, there is competition as there always is, but it’s in a manner that drives everyone to push themselves to perform to the best of their abilities. The culture is curious, not grounded and there is still humour combined with the focus of learning. There is a strong sense of community and the ability to lean on your peers when needed and challenge without fear.
What is one thing you have learned about Indiana Kelley that has surprised you?
When I arrived, I never expected how invested the faculty and staff were in your personal success. They know everyone by name and will drop everything to help me. This caught me off guard. I expected to be in a situation that I was used to, where I had to focus on myself and that my future after education was up to me and only what I did. This was most certainly not the case; the faculty go above and beyond to ensure you are successful and that was a very interesting phenomenon to me. The reality is they understand how you can be successful, they have done it themselves and coached others, so they know more and they are prepared to share that knowledge to ensure you are successful.
