Some new members of the Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business MBA Class of 2028 are here for the latest edition of our Real Humans: MBA Students series. The five new students share what brought them to Pittsburgh, what they hope to accomplish, and how they plan to contribute to the Tepper experience. Read on for their stories.
To start, Anirudh Chirala, a native of Visakhapatnam, India, spent seven years as a senior scientist in pharmaceutical research and development at Merck before taking on a leadership role in his family’s automotive business. His experience leading drug discovery teams sparked an interest in the strategic decisions that shape scientific innovation, inspiring him to pursue an MBA to bridge the gap between research and business. Drawn to Tepper’s analytical approach, intimate class size, and welcoming community, Chirala hopes to transition into investment banking with a focus on pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Next, Cindy (Qing) Wu joins Tepper from Japan’s construction industry, where she has led digital transformation and supply chain optimization initiatives at Obayashi Corporation. With an academic background in architecture and environmental studies, Wu has firsthand experience tackling inefficiencies in construction operations and hopes to develop a data-driven platform connecting contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers. Tepper’s strengths in operations management, entrepreneurship, and leadership development offer the foundation she needs to bring that vision to life.
Then, Joel Macklin, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of the United States Military Academy, comes to Tepper after seven years of service in the U.S. Army. Having developed extensive leadership and team management experience in the military, Macklin is pursuing an MBA to strengthen his quantitative skills and transition into consulting or technology. Tepper’s small cohort and collaborative culture appealed to his desire to build genuine relationships, while its location offers an opportunity to give back to the hometown community that helped shape him. From Chicago, Madison Harvey arrives at Tepper with a background in financial economics from Fisk University and professional experience as an anti-money laundering analyst in the casino and hospitality industry. Ready to challenge herself both personally and professionally, Harvey chose business school to pursue a transition into investment banking. Tepper’s supportive community, engaged alumni network, and Graduate Finance Association made it an ideal place to develop her technical skills and prepare for recruiting. Beyond her immediate career ambitions, Harvey hopes to use her financial expertise to expand financial literacy and wealth-building opportunities in Black and Brown communities, eventually establishing a nonprofit and scholarship fund.
Rounding out the group is Samantha H. Lucas, a performing artist, singer, voice coach, and entrepreneur whose career has unfolded at the intersection of creativity and business. A graduate of Baldwin Wallace University with a degree in music theater performance, Lucas has spent more than five years building her own voice coaching business while performing professionally and releasing original music. Rather than leaving her creative roots behind, she pursued an MBA to complement them with stronger skills in strategy, technology, and organizational leadership. Carnegie Mellon’s combination of analytical rigor, technological innovation, and a renowned performing arts ecosystem made Tepper a natural fit.
Click through the following pages to learn more about their journeys, their early impressions of Tepper, and the advice they have for future MBA applicants.
