Lucy M Brice, Yale SOM’s MBA Class of 2027
Hometown: Morristown, NJ
Undergraduate Institution and Major: B.S. in Finance from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ)
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Before Yale SOM, I spent six years at J.P. Morgan Chase in Financial Services, where I advanced from Intern to Vice President of Business Operations & Strategy. My tenure spanned multiple lines of business, including Asset & Wealth Management, Global Philanthropy, and Digital Consumer Products, focusing on operational strategy, process implementation and improvement, and data-driven decision-making.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Throughout my time at JPMC, my managers and I held monthly career development sessions where they encouraged me to reflect on what I wanted next, ranging from the types of projects I hoped to take on and the skills I wanted to develop, to the roles and titles I aspired to pursue.
Reaching the milestone of Vice President, I found myself at a meaningful crossroads: I could continue deepening my expertise in Business Operations & Strategy and begin progressing toward Executive Director, or I could take a step back to explore new opportunities that would broaden my perspective before reaching that next level of leadership. Given that I consider myself still early in my career and have interests in addition to financial services, I chose not to commit fully to the Executive Director path just yet.
I’m deeply grateful that J.P. Morgan Chase provided me with a strong foundation in finance and operations which are skills I’ll carry into future roles. But pursuing the MBA feels like the ideal next step to evolve from a tactical contributor into a strategic leader. I’m excited to be building the leadership capabilities and critical thinking skills needed to pivot into an operator and/or investor role.
Why did you choose Yale SOM? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Growing up in a household where service was instilled in me, I was drawn to Yale SOM for its mission-driven culture, global mindset, and deep emphasis on leading for both business and society. Affordability was also an important consideration. I felt a sense of pride knowing Yale is a member of The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management (CGSM), which reflects my values around equity. I prioritized Consortium schools because of their commitment to access and leadership development, and the potential for fellowship made Yale not just the right academic fit but also an accessible one.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2027?
I touched on this in my Yale SOM admission essay, but I believe my most valuable contributions to the Class of 2027 are my resilience, discipline, and adaptability which I’ve built through an unconventional journey, training for beauty pageants.
As the daughter of immigrants, I learned early to create opportunity from limited resources. Pageantry became my arena for growth: fundraising to compete, balancing jobs and community service, and preparing with the rigor of an athlete. Losing a major competition after years of effort taught me that true success lies not in titles but in consistency, preparation, and perseverance.
Those lessons now shape how I approach challenges (i.e., staying encouraged amid uncertainty and push through setbacks). I hope to spread that same mindset among my peers.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I’m an avid recreational ice skater so it’s nice that we have a rink on campus. I find that gliding on the ice clears my mind and keeps me grounded. Skating has been a way I reset when life gets hectic.
Post-MBA career interests:
I’m interested in exploring post-MBA opportunities in operating and investing within the beauty industry. My goal is to help scale emerging beauty brands into legacy organizations. This passion stems from my experience as a Black pageant competitor, when I struggled to find products for my skin tone and hair texture when the industry highly lacked diversity. That experience motivated me to advocate for greater inclusivity and mentor young Black girls in pageantry, reinforcing my commitment to driving representation in beauty.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Participating in an MBA prep program! I was in the 2025 MLT MBA Prep cohort, and I’m deeply grateful for their seminars, resources, and the regular pep talks from my assigned coach. The program kept me accountable and ensured I stayed on track with my application deadlines. During my application process, life threw me a few curveballs, but being part of the cohort meant I always had support to help me refocus and pace myself.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would go back and give myself grace. I was striving for perfection when putting together my application, but in reality, most of the applications are asking about the things I’ve already done. So, I could have spent more time being prouder of the career and personal accomplishments I was getting a chance to reflect on, rather than obsessing over wordsmithing.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would’ve skipped the GMAT if I could but looking back, I’m glad I stuck it out! What helped me most was writing little encouraging notes to myself as I worked through practice problems. They were things like “great job recalling the topic” or “nice pacing.” I also created a fixed study schedule and worked with a tutor I felt comfortable asking to slow down and re-explain concepts. That combination helped me stay motivated and I was able to go into the test feeling very confident.
What is your initial impression of the Yale SOM students/culture/community?
For me, “& Society” mean caring about people in addition to profit and so far in my experience the emphasis on “& Society” doesn’t just apply to the curriculum but it’s also shows up in how intentionally SOM reminds us, as students to make sure we are also balancing wellness. A simple thing that I’ve noticed is that clubs and SOM meetings will often have some type of refreshment (various based on meeting times) but this has gone a long way with me because when my schedule can get hectic, I appreciate knowing I don’t have to run myself raggedy trying to squeeze in a meal between engagements, rather late events often starts with dinner which allows me to be fully present during the event then go home to reset (instead of making dinner at 11 PM flustered).
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I currently serve as Assistant Vice President of Marketing for the Black Business Alliance (BBA), where I’m helping develop our brand strategy to strengthen visibility across the Yale community. This spring, I’ll also support their annual Yale Black Venture Summit. In addition, I’m part of TSAI City’s Launchpad program to develop an entrepreneurial venture, a member of the Investing in Innovation (i3) venture capital training cohort, and I was selected as a 2027 Nonprofit Board Fellow which will kick off next semester.
What is one thing you have learned about Yale SOM that has surprised you?
I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how interconnected Yale SOM is with the broader Yale ecosystem. The ease of tapping into resources and meeting unique people across the university has exceeded my expectations.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’ve already made so many great memories, and next up on my calendar is the annual Harvard-Yale Tailgate and Game. There are tons of events across campus during the week leading up to it, so it’ll be exciting to take part as a proud Bulldog.
