In this Real Humans: MBA Students, a handful of new MBA candidates at Arizona State University W. P. Carey School of Business share their stories and insights into the program and admissions.
From Nairobi to Tempe, Christine Mwai arrived on campus with more than seven years across East African retail and e-commerce, now aiming to scale global strategy at the intersection of supply chain, marketing, and AI. Fellow career shifter Robyn Thome brought 17 years across the Air Force, Guard, and federal service; she chose Carey for its intentional, high-touch culture and is exploring leadership development and strategy roles. Then, Naval officer turned humanitarian and Peace Corps volunteer Keith Eckert adds crisis-tested teamwork—and ultramarathon grit—as he targets strategy/operations consulting with a sustainability lens. We also meet architect-turned-business builder Fadi Alattar, who contributes a truly global perspective (Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, U.S.) and a mission to fuse sustainable design with real estate development. Pediatric dentist, operations manager, and edtech co-founder Shailee Shelke rounds out the group with healthcare expertise as well as Motorola Scholar and Forté Fellow support as she pursues general management, finance, or operations in impact-oriented sectors.
Across their stories run common threads: start early, talk to students and alumni, trust the process—and choose a community that pairs analytic rigor with genuine access, executive mentorship, and a Phoenix-scale platform for doing work that matters. Click through the following pages for more.
