Courtney Ineson, Vanderbilt MBA Class of 2028
Age: 29
Hometown: Somers, New York
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Wake Forest University, Communications & Media Studies
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Human Capital Consulting Manager @ Deloitte, Government and Public Services (7 years)
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
After 7 years in consulting, I felt like I was an inflection point in my career where I’m taking on bigger leadership roles and specializing more in my function. I have loved my time at Deloitte but also recognize and appreciate the value of higher education and diversified experiences, and to this point I’ve worked mostly in the public sector only. I wanted to be intentional about trying something new, taking myself out of the environment that I knew (given that I’d been at Deloitte since undergrad), to navigate a new challenge and develop higher level leadership skills with intention and clear purpose. I know that the combination of our coursework, our experiential learning opportunities in new sectors (via internship or other avenues), and the professional network exposure that I’ll gain at Vanderbilt Business will pay dividends in the long run of my career. Plus, personally – I know I’ll never look back and regret 2 years spent learning and meeting new people in an exciting new city. It’s been such a fun adventure already.
Why did you choose Vanderbilt Business? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
The Vanderbilt Business Community is attractive to me for a lot of reasons. First and foremost, I really appreciate the collaborative culture. It feels like everyone here wants to help others succeed alongside themselves, and that’s the type of environment I’ve always thrived in personally and professionally as well. Second, the smaller class size creates an immediate sense of community and friendships right at the start of school that I think it hard to replicate. Lastly, Vanderbilt’s culture and attitude toward continuous exploration, curiosity, growth, and innovation align well with my personal values and professional approach. I’m proud to be a part of an organization that is always growing, expanding, and seeking to be better than it was yesterday.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2028?
Professionally, because I came from a full 7 years in consulting, I do feel confident in my ability to jump into new team settings and new projects quickly and adapt in team settings. In consulting, I’ve held so many different roles, across client sectors and delivery functions, and I believe that’s afforded me a level of agility and comfort with ambiguity that’s helpful when operating in new teams. I also am very aware personally of the type of work that energizes me vs. drains me. Personally, I’ve always been relationship-oriented and hope to bring that same energy to my Vanderbilt Business cohort and leave with some strong friendships.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
When I was a kid, I played the handbells (like what Winston jokes about in New Girl, yep) – and I went all the way to Korea to play in the international handbell symposium. Very dorky, very fun.
Post-MBA career interests:
Post-MBA career interests: Short-term I will likely return to consulting to continue to grow as a leader, applying all I’ve learned here at Vanderbilt Business with new clients and challenges. Long-term, I may continue in consulting – but am also incredibly interested in pivoting to lead customer experience strategy and design at a smaller organization where I can have real end to end ownership and truly impact the direction of an organization long-term.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Take intentional time prior to starting your applications to get really clear on (1) why an MBA feels right to you at this point in time, and (2) what your unique strengths are that you’re able to contribute. You’ll need to be able to articulate these things well, and that comes much easier when your answer feels authentic, honest, and confident.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I applied to a lot of programs at once, and I think I spread a bit too thin. Focus your time intentionally on the places you’re most excited about.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I did complete GRE testing in the same year that I applied, and that was a LOT. I studied in the mornings and kept in mind that this was a short-term hustle for a huge long-term reward, but it was still arguably my least favorite part of the process.
What is your initial impression of the Vanderbilt Business students/culture/community?
My initial impression is that this is a uniquely tight-knit group. The professors really know the students. The cohort gets close quickly. The advisors really care about your goals. I think there can be a perception about an MBA that it’s a bit like a factory, and while we still have to hit our required classes and recruiting pipelines just like the other MBA programs – there is this intangible cultural aspect that’s hard to describe but easy to feel, where you’re really part of a new community rather than just a big institution.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I’m a part of our Women’s Business Association (WBA) which comes with paired mentorship, a lot of fun bonding events, well-being activities, study groups, and more. It’s been wonderful to have a space to connect with other women in the program, and it gives us access to so many additional resources to succeed and feel our best as students, professionals, and people during our 2 years here.
What is one thing you have learned about Vanderbilt Business that has surprised you?
Honestly, how fast-paced the MOD system is. For those who don’t know, Vanderbilt Business operates on “Mods” rather than semesters. There are 4 Mods per academic year and classes only last 7-8 weeks. It gives us the opportunity to take a lot of classes and explore interests while we’re here, but the pace is also a lot faster than I’d expected.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Being in an environment where I’m learning in an academic setting is awesome. I am a self-proclaimed nerd, and I love school – so after 7 years in the workforce, being back in a classroom and having the opportunity to learn again with such talented professors and classmates is something I’m very grateful for.
