RJ Francis, Vanderbilt MBA Class of 2028
Age: 27
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Wake Forest University, Politics & International Affairs
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Field Artillery Officer, U.S. Army, 5 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I decided to attend business school because I needed a way to bridge the gap between the military and the civilian world. The Army gave me real leadership experience early in my career, but it didn’t give me the core business skills most of my civilian peers take for granted, like finance, accounting, and strategy.
Why did you choose Vanderbilt Business? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose Vanderbilt Business primarily because of my interest in healthcare. Nashville is one of the biggest healthcare hubs in the country, with everything from major hospital systems to health tech startups. Vanderbilt Business is a great school located in the exact city where the industry I care about is centered. It also happens to be close to Fort Campbell, where I spent the majority of my career in the military.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2028?
I think I bring perspective, having spent the majority of my life in Canada and Europe, and then moving to the United States to go to college and join the military, despite having never lived in the United States beforehand.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that wasn’t included on your application:
I grew up across three countries, Canada, France, and England.
Post-MBA career interests:
Healthcare. I’m most interested in healthcare strategy and general management, as well as health technology and entrepreneurship.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would absolutely attend as many online information sessions as possible. They were incredibly informative, and the admissions staff were generous with their time in answering questions.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would have started the application process sooner. I spent the majority of my time preparing for standardized tests and not nearly enough on the application itself.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could, and what helped you get through it?
I would have skipped the GRE. It took up more of my time than any other part of the process. What helped was keeping it in perspective.
What is your initial impression of the Vanderbilt Business students/culture/community?
Everyone is very driven and competitive, but also incredibly welcoming and friendly. It feels like we’re all on the same team. People want to do well in school and land great jobs, and they also want their classmates to do well. That balance has made the transition into the program much easier than I expected.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I’m hoping to join the Vanderbilt Business Healthcare Association and the Vanderbilt Business Armed Forces Club. The Healthcare Association lines up directly with my career goals and is a great way to connect with Nashville’s healthcare community. The Armed Forces Club is a natural fit given my background.
What is one thing you have learned about Vanderbilt Business that has surprised you?
I’m surprised by how tight-knit the community feels as a whole. I expected that within my own section, but it extends across the entire school.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’m excited to meet new people and explore Nashville.
