Faye Phillips, a Brooklyn native and Yale School of Management MBA Class of 2023 graduate, brought her background in public education to business school with a desire to explore the private sector and gain fluency in the language of business. After six years as a program manager with the NYC Department of Education, she pursued her MBA to build new skills, challenge herself, and connect with others who shared a passion for impact.
Drawn to Yale SOM’s mission of educating leaders for business and society, Phillips appreciated the school’s values-driven community and its small-city setting in New Haven. During her time at SOM, she interned at Google in HR Operations and returned post-MBA as a Program Manager in People Operations, inspired by the company’s leadership in the HR space and culture of internal mobility. Her experience at Yale equipped her with strong problem-solving capabilities and interpersonal leadership skills that continue to guide her in tech today. Read on for her story and advice in this Real Humans: Alumni.
Faye Phillips, Yale SOM MBA ’23, Program Manager at Google
Age: 34
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Wesleyan University Majors: American Politics, French Studies
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Program Manager, Teacher Preparation – NYC Department of Education. Years = 6, Industry = Government, Education
Post-MBA Work Experience: Program Manager, People Operations at Google (since July 2023) Industry = tech
Why did you choose to attend business school?
As my education had been in liberal arts and my professional experience had been predominantly in public education, I knew there was a lot more about how the world works that I was yet to discover. I was eager to explore all things “business,” build the business skill set and test out the private sector.
Why Yale SOM? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
First, I was attracted to the dual mission of Yale SOM – developing leaders for business and society. My “society” background is important to me, and I wanted to attend a school that would a) value my experience, b) attract students who share my values, all while c) pushing me beyond my comfort zone. Second, New Haven also appealed to me. I knew I wanted a small city where most students would not have an existing network, which provides a forcing function to build community. Finally, I knew I wanted to return to NYC after graduation, so I thought staying on the East Coast would make sense.
What about your MBA experience prepared you for your current career?
I am now fluent in a language of business that I was not before, and I believe I received great training in ambiguous problem-solving. From a leadership perspective, I am constantly reminded of learnings from a course called “Interpersonal Dynamics” and am so grateful for that experience.
What was your internship during business school? How did that inform your post-MBA career choice?
My internship was in HR Operations at Google. I was fascinated by the company and by the stage of development of its HR function and was eager to go back and learn more.
Why did you choose your current company? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to work?
I chose to work at Google because I saw them as leaders and innovators in the “People” space. I was also excited by the company’s dynamism and internal mobility culture, which would allow me to continue exploring well beyond my first role.
Advice to current MBA students:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of the job search?
Talk to as many classmates and alums as possible to learn about what career possibilities are out there.
–One thing you would change or do differently as part of the job search?
I would structure my search as trying to change either industry OR function, but not both. While both is possible, it’s easier to do one or the other. Once I framed my search this way, it allowed me to speak to what I was looking for more clearly.
–Were there any surprises regarding your current employer’s recruiting process?
I didn’t realize applying would simply be a resume drop. It felt anonymous until I was invited to interview. Converting from intern to full-time required building a coalition of Googlers who would support my candidacy.
–What piece of advice do you wish you had been given during your MBA?
I received this advice late in my second year and wished that I had implemented it sooner: host a dinner party once a month with people you don’t know well yet. Sometimes, all you need is one shared experience to spark a friendship, lay the groundwork for a professional connection, or learn something new.
