Samantha H. Lucas, Carnegie Mellon Tepper MBA Class of 2028
Age: 28
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA & NYC
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Baldwin Wallace University, Bachelors of Music in Music Theater Performance, Honors
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Founder and Voice Coach, SHL Voice & Coaching Studio, Arts/Education, 5+ years; Performing Artist/Singer Entertainment, 5+Years, additional experience with Blackstone and the United Nations
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
My career has always lived at the intersection of creativity, performance, and entrepreneurship. After earning my degree in music theater, I built a voice coaching business, performed professionally, recorded and released original compositions, and worked with artists at different stages of their careers. Those experiences taught me how much I enjoy building things, working with people, and solving problems–but they also made me want a deeper understanding of strategy, technology, and how organizations grow.
I have chosen to pursue an MBA because I wanted to add a strong business foundation to my creative background rather than leave that background behind. I saw business school as an opportunity to broaden my perspective, strengthen my analytical and strategic toolkit, and learn alongside people from industries very different from my own.
Why did you choose Carnegie Mellon Tepper? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
The Tepper School stood out to me because of its unique combination of business, technology, and analytical thinking. Coming from a creative background, I wanted to challenge myself in an environment that would push me to think differently while still valuing innovation and entrepreneurship.
I was also drawn to Carnegie Mellon’s broader creative and technology ecosystem. As someone with a background in music theater and a career as a performer and voice coach, it was meaningful to me that I could pursue my MBA at a university with such a strong legacy in the performing arts while simultaneously being surrounded by world-class work in technology and AI. That combination felt uniquely aligned with the kind of career I hope to build at the intersection of business, technology, and the arts.
Ultimately, the Tepper School and Carnegie Mellon felt like the place where I could bring together the different parts of my background rather than choosing between them.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2028?
I bring a perspective that is probably a little different from the typical business school background. I’ve spent much of my career as a performer, teacher, and entrepreneur, so I tend to think about business through both a creative and analytical lens.
Building my own business also taught me the importance of taking ownership, adapting quickly, and understanding people. I hope to bring that entrepreneurial and creative perspective to my classmates while learning from people whose experiences are very different from my own.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I have released my own original compositions and performed professionally, so there is a decent chance I am one of the few people in my MBA cohort who can go from discussing a case in class to belting out a song onstage.
Post-MBA career interests:
Upon completion of my MBA I hope to work in strategy and management consulting, particularly where technology, media, and organizational transformation work together. I’m excited by the opportunity to work across industries, tackle complex business problems, and develop a broad perspective about how organizations grow and adapt.
Longer term, I hope to use that experience to build businesses at the intersection of business, technology, and the arts.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would absolutely spend time getting clear on my personal story and north star before trying to perfect my application. My background doesn’t fit neatly into one traditional career path, and learning how to articulate the connection between my experiences helped me become much more confident in sharing my story.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would start the process earlier and give myself more time to step back from the application itself. It’s easy to become focused on scores, rankings, and checking boxes. I would have spent more time thinking about what I actually wanted from the next chapter of my career and which schools were genuinely the best fit for that vision.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The waiting! Once applications are submitted, so much of the process is outside your control. What helped me was continuing to focus on the things I could control – my work, my relationships, continuing to talk to other MBA graduates or current students, and preparing for whatever opportunity came next.
What is your initial impression of the Carnegie Mellon Tepper students/culture/community?
My first impression is that Tepper students are incredibly collaborative and genuinely curious. Everyone seems to bring a different perspective, but there is a shared willingness to help one another.
I’ve also been struck by how interdisciplinary the community feels. You can have a conversation about a business problem and quickly find yourself talking about AI, robotics, design, science, or entrepreneurship. That kind of intellectual diversity is exactly what I was hoping for. I am also so grateful to have such international diversity within the class. It’s so wonderful to learn from people who come from all different cultures and backgrounds.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I’ve joined the Consulting Club, Pro Bono Consulting Club, and Tepper Women in Business. I’m excited to develop my consulting toolkit, work with organizations on real-world business challenges, and connect with other women pursuing leadership roles across industries.
What is one thing you have learned about Carnegie Mellon Tepper that has surprised you?
I expected the Tepper School to be highly analytical, but in addition, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how much personality and creativity there is within the community. There are people coming from technology, finance, healthcare, marketing, and many other backgrounds. It made me realize that being analytical and being creative aren’t opposites–they can actually make each other stronger.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’m most excited to be surrounded by people who challenge the way I think. After spending several years building my own business and working independently, I’m excited to be part of a team again–to learn from my classmates, take on difficult problems, and discover what I can do when I combine my creative background with everything I’m learning at Tepper.
I’m also excited to explore consulting and strategy more deeply and discover where my combination of creative and analytical skills can have the greatest impact.
