Kristen Min, Johns Hopkins Carey MBA Class of 2028
Age: 26
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea and Connecticut
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Haverford College, Major in Biology with a Biochemistry Concentration
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Research Technician, Healthcare and Life Sciences, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3 years. I conducted research on the genetic and epigenetic regulation underlying blood disorders, while also managing vendor relationships, procurement, and day-to-day lab operations.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
After spending three years in biomedical research, I realized that while I loved being close to science, I was increasingly curious about the decisions that determine whether promising innovations ever reach patients and how they are funded, commercialized, and scaled. I wanted to understand not only how breakthroughs happen in the lab, but also how capital and strategy can help translate them into real-world impact.
MBA felt like the right next step to complement my scientific background with a strong foundation in finance and strategy while exploring where I could have the greatest impact across healthcare and investing. The timing also felt natural. After three years of research, I had enough professional experience to understand what energized me while still being at a point where I could intentionally broaden my career. I saw the MBA as an opportunity to challenge myself beyond a field I already knew well, learn alongside people with very different experiences, and ultimately build a career that bridges science, business, and investing.
Why did you choose Johns Hopkins Carey? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Johns Hopkins’ global brand, particularly its strength in healthcare and biopharma, was a major factor in my decision. Given my background in biomedical research, I was drawn to Carey’s connection to the healthcare ecosystem. Ultimately, I hope to build a career in international life sciences investing connecting the US and East Asia, and I saw Carey as a strong platform for that goal.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2028?
I’m often the person who asks, “What if we looked at this differently?” My background in science taught me to question assumptions, test hypotheses, and turn complex or abstract ideas into something I can understand and explain. Growing up between the US and East Asia taught me to appreciate perspectives different from my own. At Carey, I hope to bring that curiosity and openness to conversations, teams, and the broader community.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
My hidden talent is I can open and close any bottle cap with my left hand alone. I mastered the technique after three hours of practice with two different cap sizes.Â
Post-MBA career interests:
Cross-border healthcare and biopharma finance and investing across the US and East Asia.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Commit fully to the process and surround yourself with people who will push you. I kept writing, editing, and rewriting, but I also relied on people who challenged me and told me things I did not always want to hear. I would absolutely do it again because the process not only strengthened my application but helped me better understand what I wanted from business school.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Start the process earlier, especially the process of figuring out why you want an MBA and what you hope to get out of it. Be honest with yourself about your immediate and long-term goals. I did not fully hone in on these questions until last fall, and I wish I had given myself more time to explore them.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would have skipped trying to make my story fit neatly into one narrative. My path has changed quite a bit, and I initially felt pressure to make everything seem perfectly linear. What helped was realizing that the most meaningful stories are often about how your thinking evolved.
What is your initial impression of the JH Carey students/culture/community?
My first impression was that Carey students are unusually willing to say, “I don’t know. Let’s figure it out.” There is a genuine sense of curiosity and openness that makes it easy to ask questions, explore new ideas, and learn from people with very different experiences.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I am excited to join VentureNest, where I hope to gain hands-on exposure to the startup ecosystem and connect with founders, investors, and other students interested in entrepreneurship. Coming from a biomedical research background, I am especially interested in learning how early-stage ideas are evaluated, funded, and developed into scalable businesses. I am looking forward to stepping outside my previous experience and exploring entrepreneurship and venture investing from a more practical perspective.
What is one thing you have learned about JH Carey that has surprised you?
I knew Johns Hopkins had a strong reputation in healthcare, but I have been surprised by how entrepreneurial Carey is and how accessible the broader Hopkins ecosystem feels. The opportunities to connect with people across medicine, science, public health, and business and to explore startups and new ideas make Carey feel much bigger than an MBA program alone.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am most excited to become a beginner again. After spending time deeply immersed in one scientific field, I am looking forward to being surrounded by things I don’t know such as new industries, new perspectives, and new ways of thinking, and embracing the opportunity to learn from the people around me.
