Sam Newton, Georgia Terry MBA Class of 2028
Age: 31
Hometown: Atlanta
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Clemson University – Mechanical Engineering
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Automation Engineering/Technical Sales, Industrial Automation, 7 years, last company was Carolina Handling – Raymond
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I enjoyed what I was doing in my previous role but felt limited in my impact so I wanted to grow my knowledge and skills in business/finance. I saw firsthand in my role how powerful finance could be for making business decisions and how it unlocked revenue streams in our internal department.
Why did you choose UGA Terry? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I was looking for a strong program that was both close to family in the southeast and had a strong banking/strategy graduate and undergraduate alumni network.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2028?
I grew up moving around the US quite a bit due to my dad’s job (attended 10 schools and had 4 high schools), and that consistently exposed me to many regions and different types of people from a very early age. I believe this trained me to be extremely socially flexible and brought me a differentiated perspective on communication from many angles. I hope that in a small way, some of these perspectives can positively impact my cohort.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I had a small stint as a radio DJ for a Clemson University rap radio station.
Post-MBA career interests:
I’m motivated to build strong expertise in banking and transaction advisory. I’m fascinated by the impact that expertise in financial modeling and accounting can bring to a client/business when paired with a trusted advisership approach. The intersection of technical expertise and strong client relations is where I ultimately want to build a career towards.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Visit campus and talk with current MBA students to get their perspective on the program, culture, and people.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Have coffee chats with current or recently graduated MBA students earlier, to better home in on what field or discipline I’d be interested in. The MBA program is often a great place to find this information out, but personally having a head start on this would have allowed me to know where to focus my interview prep studies in the summer before the program starts in Fall.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I think I would have spent slightly less time on YouTube channels that talk about ways to tailor your MBA interview prep to certain kinds of schools. I found that this is important, but probably not worth the time I ended up spending because each school is different and programs do a great job of giving you the info you need to prepare without needing to rely much on outside sources of interview prep.
What is your initial impression of the UGA Terry students/culture/community?
A relaxed and focused group that does a great job of balancing their own efforts to create opportunities for their prospective careers with happily advising and showing support for others alongside them.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
Still looking at a few opportunities and will have a better idea in the coming weeks.
What is one thing you have learned about UGA Terry that has surprised you?
The abundance of support from the MBA Career Center. They are always open to finding ways to support your journey and give guidance.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Continuing to build friendships and enjoying diving into finance/strategy learning materials and classes!
