Joseph Benken, Vanderbilt MBA Class of 2028
Age: 27
Hometown: Lilburn, GA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Georgia, International Business & Business Management (Go Dawgs!)
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Senior Product Owner/ Program Manager at Cox Communications for 4.5 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I decided to go to business school because I was working in an industry that was rapidly shrinking and I felt a strong desire to shift into opportunities that would help advance my career. My fiancé and I also wanted to move from Atlanta and find a vibrant city with the potential to settle down in, and Nashville was by far the best city to do that! We love how young the city feels, yet how community-focused it is.
Why did you choose Vanderbilt Business? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose Vanderbilt because I felt the small class size in a T15 university was an experience I couldn’t replicate anywhere else. I knew the alumni network of wherever I chose was incredibly important to my overall outcomes, and I felt the Vanderbilt Business Alumni network would be the most well connected and willing to respond to me as a student (even in the first 2 weeks of classes, I have found this to be remarkably accurate!) Because it’s such a small, tight knit community, I’ve gotten to know my classmates really well & have found Vanderbilt Business alum very willing to meet with me.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2028?
I have business background, but my future goals look very different than a typical MBA candidate, which I think brings a different mindset along with it. I intend to consult for churches in 5-10 years, which I think helps ground me on the importance of building community with one another as opposed to just being laser-focused on salary-based outcomes. In a cohort of ~145, I think this mindset can permeate throughout my entire class and help us form relationships we will always cherish and hold onto.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I was a boxing instructor in college! I taught self-defense courses, cardio-boxing, and small group classes for 3 years- I hope to continue teaching while in Nashville!
Post-MBA career interests:
Solving strategic problems for non-profit entities, specifically in a religious environment.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Meet with multiple current students throughout your application process. You learn so much about a program through hearing from those inside of it, so by getting to know current students, you can get a good idea of what you look for inside a future MBA program.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would practice the video portion of the application more before attempting the real version. Obviously, you don’t know the questions they will ask you, but recording yourself with random questions and getting the timing down ahead of time would have calmed my nerves a lot more going into it.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would’ve skipped the test prep period and applied for the test waiver earlier, specifically prior to spending 250 hours (and a lot of money) preparing for the GRE. Financial aid and merit-based scholarships look different for everyone, but getting a remarkably high score on the GRE/ GMAT isn’t the only factor in potentially receiving substantial financial aid, which I wish I knew ahead of time. Take standardized practice tests, see how you do, and if you struggle with it apply for the waiver. The worst thing they tell you is no, at which point you know you need to go study for the test of your choice- but at least you know the importance of it then!
What is your initial impression of the Vanderbilt Business students/culture/community?
It’s a tight-knit family! I’m two weeks in and know over half my class by name & many of those I’m already building lifelong relationships with. Vanderbilt Business prides itself on being “collaborative, not cutthroat” and I’ve felt the people of the program embrace that deeply.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I’m a Development and Alumni relations fellow, & and a member of Vanderbilt Business Strategy & Consulting, the Human and Organizational Performance club, Christian Business Association, and Cork & Barrel (the wine/ beer club). I also hope to work with our admissions team in the future!
What is one thing you have learned about Vanderbilt Business that has surprised you?
I’ve been surprised at how open professors, 2nd years, and alumni have been to meeting with me and hearing my story. In a few short weeks, I’ve gotten time with multiple faculty members (many of which I don’t even have a class with), countless second years, and numerous alumni- many of which are excited to even come to campus to meet! It’s been incredibly clear that the Vanderbilt Business name has opened every door I’ve tried to enter, and people in this community look forward to helping me grow in my career and personally!
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
You can probably guess if you’ve gotten this far into my bio, but I’m excited to get to know my fellow classmates, the 2nd years, and the Vanderbilt Business alumni more than anything else. I was once told that business school is a “soft-skill degree”, meaning the relationships you make are a major part of the value provided. I can’t wait to keep building those relationships and pouring into my Vanderbilt Business community over the next two years!
