Jenny Fu, Northwestern Kellogg’s MMM Class of 2028
Age: 32
Hometown: New York, NY
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Binghamton University – B.S. in Management, B.A. in Chinese Studies
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Senior Consultant @ EY (Financial Services Office), 4 years; Senior Strategy Manager @ Sunstone Credit (Solar Financing for SMB), 4 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Business school had been on my radar since undergrad, but the timing never felt quite right until now. When I mapped out my career next steps last year, I realized I needed a more robust toolkit and network to build a solid foundation for my long-term aspirations. After experiencing consulting at EY and navigating an early-stage startup at Sunstone Credit, pursuing an MBA now allows me to dive into the MBA experience with true intentionality and focus. Most of all, I wanted a dedicated two-year timespan to fully immerse myself in a supportive, incubative environment where I could learn, build meaningful connections, and experiment with new ideas.
Why did you choose Kellogg? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
After visiting several programs, I was drawn to Kellogg’s defining collaborative and enthusiastic culture. The deciding factor was the dual degree MMM program, where I could pursue an MBA from Kellogg and a MS in Design Innovation from Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering. The MMM teaches distinct problem-solving methods that are rooted in user-centricity, design, and experiential learning opportunities to solve business problems.
MMM’s blend of design-thinking and business acumen directly supports my ultimate post-MBA career goals: I plan to leverage my corporate and entrepreneurial background to join an incubation team, building new ideas for multinational organizations operating in complex, cross-border environments.
Beyond academics, the community has been incredible. Starting early in the summer with our tight-knit, 57-student cohort (FaMMM!) allowed us to navigate the initial academic hurdles together and forge a truly unique bond.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2028?
Across my academic and professional careers, I have consistently served in roles that build culture and bridge people together, and I aspire to carry this commitment forward at Kellogg where student-led programming is highly promoted. Over the summer, I organized yoga classes, karaoke nights, and a sushi Small Group Dinner (SGD) with other students and Joint Ventures (Kellogg’s term for significant others). I look forward to continuing to foster a sense of community and belonging through collaboration, creativity, and shared purpose.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
My friends and I built a cocktail speakeasy and karaoke lounge called Rewind NYC last year. We wanted to create an immersive third space in our neighborhood (Long Island City) where we could reimagine familiar Asian flavors through cocktails, food, and music.
Post-MBA career interests:
Digital/Innovation Team @ Consulting Firms
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I highly recommend visiting all your target schools before applying, whether for a Women’s Day or a prospective student event, so you can tour the facilities and sit in on a class. Each school’s culture is different, and visiting in person really helped me narrow down my list. Additionally, I attended the admitted student weekends for every offer I received, including Day At Kellogg (DAK). This connected me with current students and prospective classmates, giving me a much better sense of where I truly belonged for the next two years. If you’re unable to attend in-person programming, connecting virtually with admissions and current students is also very helpful to learn about Kellogg’s culture.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would have taken my GMAT earlier and explored taking the GRE as an alternative sooner. I studied for the GMAT for a few months before pivoting to the GRE. In hindsight, I should have taken practice exams for both right away to see which format suited me better.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Coordinating the letters of recommendation was definitely the most daunting part. I wanted to find the perfect advocates but hated the idea of adding a massive task to their workload. What helped to sail smoothly through it was providing my recommenders with a clear outline, highlighting specific projects and collaborative accomplishments from our work together. Giving my recommenders this pre-packaged context made the process significantly easier for everyone.
What is your initial impression of the Kellogg students/culture/community?
Kellogg’s low ego, high impact culture truly leans into authenticity and vulnerability. I’ve never met such an enthusiastic, accomplished group of individuals who are so supportive and consistently willing to go above and beyond for their classmates. Additionally, the social scene offers a great balance of large events and intimate small-group dinners, making it easy for everyone to mingle and build meaningful connections regardless of their social style.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
For my professional development, I’m planning to join the Kellogg Consulting Club and the Innovation & Design Association (IDEA), which combines my career interests. To maintain my mental sanity, I’m planning to join The Good Life, where we explore ways to build a fulfilling, meaningful life while also being a high performer in the business world. I’m super busy so I want to carve out space for myself to introspect and internalize all the moving pieces. I would also love to create spaces for my fellow classmates to decompress by facilitating sound healing and meditation sessions.
What is one thing you have learned about Kellogg that has surprised you?
Kellogg has a pre-orientation tradition called Kellogg Worldwide Exploration Student Trips (KWEST), where incoming students embark on group trips before classes begin. I didn’t realize how important it was to start off Kellogg with a KWEST (my trip to Kenya was incredible!), but almost our entire social calendar during the first quarter is based on inter-KWEST mixers. If you have the means and time, please do it! I met some of my best friends through this short but deeply meaningful trip. The trips offer different levels of nightlife, adventure, and culture, so you naturally connect with people who share your lifestyle and interests.
Additionally, starting the school year with KWEST and a two-week leadership class alongside my section (Hammerheads!) pushed me out of my usual social routines. Past academic experiences usually kicked off with student clubs, which can sometimes limit connecting solely over shared backgrounds or existing interests. Starting the year this way has helped me form meaningful bonds with classmates I might never have crossed paths with otherwise.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am incredibly excited about the global learning opportunities at Kellogg. From informal student-led treks to formal experiences like Global Initiatives in Management (GIM) and exchange programs, I can’t wait to explore the world with my classmates. There’s an Antarctica trek I’m already looking forward to joining in my second year!
