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Posts by Christina Griffith

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Christina Griffith is a writer and editor based in Philadelphia. She specializes in covering education, science, and criminal justice, and has extensive experience in research and interviews, magazine content, and web content writing.
Published: April 16, 2026
Real Humans of Microsoft: Dave Gold, NYU Stern MBA ’23, Senior Business Development Manager
For his pre-MBA career, Dave Gold boasted a solid sales background, but wanted to develop his skills further and possibly land his “dream job.” His path to Microsoft entailed the NYU Stern MBA program. In this installment of our Real Humans: Alumni series, Dave sheds light on how Stern’s illustrious alumni network and emphasis on IQ+EQ prepared him for development management. Dave Gold, NYU Stern MBA ’23, Senior Business Development Manager at Microsoft Age: 32 Hometown: Manhasset, New York Undergraduate Institution and Major: Colgate, Geography  Read more
Published: April 15, 2026
Real Humans of Barclays: Kyle Zarosky, Rice Business MBA ’25, Investment Banking Associate
In this Real Humans: Alumni, we meet Kyle Zarosky, who chose Rice Business as his next step after serving in the United States Marine Corps. After consulting with other recently separated veterans, he understood that an MBA would enable him to pivot into and succeed in the civilian world. Here he shares his valuable insights into pursuing a career in business as a veteran. Kyle Zarosky, Rice Business MBA ’25, Investment Banking Associate at Barclays Age: 30 Hometown: Houston, Texas Undergraduate Institution and Major: Southwestern University, B.S. Read more
Published: April 13, 2026
Real Humans of Merck: John Dick, Tepper MBA ’24, MBA Finance Rotational Program Member
In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, we meet John Dick, a graduate of the Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business Online Hybrid MBA Class of 2024. He opted for the Online Hybrid MBA program for its flexible format, which allowed him to take advantage of in-person networking while still working full-time. His journey took him from a controls engineer in the transportation industry to a finance rotational team at Merck. Keep reading for his take on how the Tepper program prepared him for a new function in a new industry, and how he found Read more
Published: April 9, 2026
Real Humans of JPMorgan Chase: Kip Mountjoy, Rochester Simon MBA ’23, Financial Analysis
Like many around the world, Kip Mountjoy found himself furloughed in the spring of 2020. As he networked and searched for new opportunities, he saw that many of the positions he was most interested in required an MBA. His program research drew him to the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School‘s analytical focus, strong return on investment, and location. In this Real Humans: Alumni, read about Mountjoy’s journey to a new career in finance at JPMorgan Chase. Kip Mountjoy, Rochester Simon MBA ’23, Financial Analysis at JPMorgan Chase Age: 36 Read more
Published: April 8, 2026
Real Humans of BCG: A.J. Roy, Yale SOM MBA/MFA ’24, Management Consultant
In this edition of our Real Humans: Alumni series, we meet A.J. Roy, a recent MBA graduate from the Yale School of Management (SOM). The advice Roy received that convinced him to pursue graduate school came from a good friend, who told him it’s “where you go when you want to be the best version of yourself for the thing you care about.” For Roy, the joint MBA/MFA degree with the David Geffen School of Drama was the reason he only looked to Yale, as building deep arts leadership experience at a world-class drama school while studying in Read more
Published: April 6, 2026
Real Humans of Tesla: Lakshya Agrawal, Wharton MBA ’23, Finance & Business Operations Manager
Lakshya Agrawal originally pursued engineering, but took a position in consulting to explore multiple industries and functions in an effort to find a career path. He learned from his mentors how valuable business school would be in strengthening and expanding his skills and providing new opportunities. In this Real Humans: Alumni, Agrawal explains how the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania’s culture of team-based learning, the meaningful connections he made there, and other opportunities enabled him to pursue his passion for the automotive industry at Tesla.  Lakshya Agrawal, Wharton MBA ’23, Finance Read more
Published: April 2, 2026
Real Humans of Amazon: Adaobi Okeke, Vanderbilt Owen MBA ’24, Senior Vendor Manager
Adaobi Okeke did not stumble into or discover the MBA along her journey–it was a deliberate step along her professional path. But, amidst her set intentions, she maintained her curiosity, which she credits as a necessity for good decision-making. In this Real Humans: Alumni, Okeke shares how Vanderbilt Owen‘s attentiveness and individual engagement in recruiting cemented her choice of business school, and how the MBA program equipped her with the skills necessary to succeed at Amazon.  Adaobi Okeke, Vanderbilt Owen MBA ’24, Senior Vendor Manager at Amazon Age: 31 years Read more
Published: April 1, 2026
Real Humans of Kearney: Mercedes Sevilla Monrós, IESE MBA ’25, Associate
Mercedes Sevilla Monrós wanted to pursue an MBA to gain a broader, more strategic perspective. She chose IESE after experiencing the genuine, human quality the school displayed during the admissions process. “At IESE, the most important value of a company is the person,” she explains. In this Real Humans: Alumni, Sevilla Monrós tells the story of her transformative journey through the MBA program and to a career at Kearney. Mercedes Sevilla Monrós, IESE MBA ’25, Associate at Kearney Age: 29 Hometown: Valencia, Spain Undergraduate Institution and Read more
Published: March 31, 2026
Real Humans of Entrepreneurship: Samuel Stein, Texas McCombs MBA ’25, Founder at Cold Cycle Coffee
Samuel Stein, Founder of Cold Cycle Coffee, always loved making things. But to learn the language of business – finance, marketing, and accounting – he would need to pursue an MBA. Texas McCombs granted Stein the tool to work with banks, venture capitalists, and lenders and enabled him to make his ideas a reality. In this Real Humans: Alumni, Stein shares his story of entrepreneurship, risk, and success. Samuel Stein, Texas McCombs MBA ’25, Founder at Cold Cycle Coffee Age: 35 Hometown: Austin, TX Undergraduate Institution and Major: Rice University, Read more
Published: March 30, 2026
Real Humans of the London Business School One-Year MBA Class of 2026
The London Business School One-Year MBA Class of 2026 brings together a truly global cohort of experienced professionals united by a desire to accelerate their careers while broadening their perspectives. In this Real Humans: MBA Students, we meet six new members of the One-Year MBA Class of 2026. From Mumbai, Eshan Desai arrives with a strong foundation in equity research at J.P. Morgan, looking to deepen his international exposure and continue in finance, while San Read more
Published: March 30, 2026
Top In-Person MBA Events to Check Out in April 2026
An essential part of the process when you apply for an MBA is events. On or off campus, formal or informal, in-person MBA admission events are opportunities for applicants to connect with current students and alumni, sit in on classes, meet the admissions team, and take campus tours. Most schools are in their final round for fall 2026 intake, and in anticipation of admits making decisions on where to go, in-person event opportunities are increasing for prospective students. See below for what’s happening in April. Why attend MBA events? More than just Read more
Published: March 30, 2026
Real Humans of Microsoft: Cristina Lozada, Dartmouth Tuck MBA ’25, Product Marketing Manager
Cristina Lozada loved her job at Belcorp, but aspired to learn more about the intersection of business and technology, and transition into the tech industry. Lozada chose Dartmouth Tuck for her MBA after meeting alumni who genuinely loved their experience, and seeing the school’s success rate in job placement. In this Real Humans: Alumni, Lozada explains how both personal reasons and professional goals led her to the MBA program at Tuck and, after an incredible internship experience, a career at Microsoft. Cristina Lozada, Dartmouth Tuck MBA ’25, Product Marketing Manager at Microsoft Read more
Published: March 26, 2026
Real Humans of Amazon: Katie Hoole, Emory Goizueta MBA ’23, Senior Program Manager
In this Real Humans: Alumni, we hear from Katie Hoole, a recent Emory Goizueta graduate and educator who pursued an MBA to satisfy her interest in being pushed intellectually in new and different ways. Attracted to the uniquely and intentionally collaborative culture at Goizueta and the focus on building principled leaders, Hoole learned a robust new skillset and agility in professional settings in the program, helping her meet the current moment of effectively and ethically leveraging AI. Read her story here. Katie Hoole, Emory Goizueta MBA ’23, Senior Program Manager, Amazon Age: 34 Read more
Published: March 25, 2026
Real Humans of BCG: Fabrizio Guadagnolo, IMD MBA ’22, Consultant
A successful business lawyer, Fabrizio Guadagnolo found himself fascinated by the strategic challenges, problem solving, and creative use of numbers that his clients experienced. In this Real Humans: Alumni, we follow his journey to a career path more consistent with his passions and values. Guadagnolo tells us how the IMD MBA program’s strong focus on leadership development (and location in his desired target country, Switzerland) helped him pivot to the consulting industry. Fabrizio Guadagnolo, IMD MBA ’22, Consultant at Boston Consulting Group Age: 33 Hometown: Born in Lamezia Read more
Published: March 24, 2026
Real Humans of Amazon: Javier Rodriguez Del Campo, HBS MBA ’24, Senior Product Manager
Javier Rodriguez Del Campo took a leap moving to Boston with no network and entering Harvard Business School to earn an MBA alongside highly driven peers. But the environment built his confidence, and made him more comfortable operating in ambiguity. In this Real Humans: Alumni, Del Campo explains why he pursued an MBA to increase his market value and open him up to wider roles in more industries worldwide, and how HBS prepared him for his role at Amazon.  Javier Rodriguez Del Campo, HBS MBA ’24 Senior Product Manager at Amazon Age: Read more
Published: March 23, 2026
Real Humans of Bain & Co.: Hailey Perry, Cambridge Judge MBA ’24, Consultant
This Real Humans: Alumni features Hailey Perry, a graduate of the Cambridge Judge MBA Class of 2024 and Bain consultant who pursued an MBA in order to study management and leadership theories, learn from a diverse set of peers, and practice these skills in a ‘safe to fail’ environment. As a sponsored student, Judge’s one-year program ensured she wouldn’t lose her career momentum as she built her professional skillset alongside a diverse cohort. Read her story here.  Hailey Perry, Cambridge Judge MBA ’24, Consultant at Bain & Company Age: 30 Hometown: Read more
Published: March 19, 2026
Real Humans of BCG: Sarah Mrabet, Indiana Kelley MBA ’25, Consultant
“Have a plan but expect life to edit it,” advises Sarah Mrabet, a graduate of the Indiana Kelley MBA Class of 2025. While working as an engineer in oil & gas and tech, she wanted to move “beyond execution” and engage with problems from a strategic, enterprise-wide perspective. Kelley’s affordability and scholarship support were a practical advantage; coupled with an extensive network of successful alumni and engagement with AI tools in classes, Mrabet developed the skills she needed to identify where to win and how to win for organizations. Read how she navigated Read more
Published: March 18, 2026
Real Humans of Meta: Vyshak Kannan Iyengar, LBS MBA ’25, Product Marketing Manager
In this Real Humans: Alumni, we meet Vyshak Kannan Iyengar, a sports and social impact founder who wanted to not only pivot into management, but to reshape his ideas about risk, leadership, and impact. London Business School offered everything he was looking for in a program: structured exposure to global industry, a peer group that would challenge how he thought, and the credibility and confidence to pursue new exciting opportunities. Keep reading to learn how LBS prepared him for management at Meta. Vyshak Kannan Iyengar, LBS MBA ’25, Product Marketing Manager at Read more
Published: March 16, 2026
Real Humans of PepsiCo: Jonathan Kotek, Northwestern Kellogg MBA ’25, Associate Manager
In this installment of our Real Humans: Alumni series, we meet Jonathan Kotek, who entered an MBA program to pivot away from consulting. He chose Northwestern Kellogg not just for its long track record of successful professional outcomes, academic rigor, and network strength, but for its culture. Keep reading to learn how Kotek’s time at Kellogg developed his skills at breaking down complex business problems and thinking with an executive lens in preparation for his transition to strategy and development management at one of the world’s largest companies, PepsiCo. Jonathan Kotek, Northwestern Kellogg MBA ’25, Read more
Published: March 12, 2026
Real Humans of Amazon: Richard Fernandez, Notre Dame Mendoza MBA ’19, Senior Product Manager
For Richard Fernandez, being at the intersection of strategy, customer behavior, and technology was where he wanted to be. He had already built a small business and earned a law degree, so earning an MBA was less about changing direction and more about refining it. In this Real Humans: Alumni, Fernandez shares how Notre Dame Mendoza pushed him outside his comfort zone and prepared him for roles that could impact millions of customers. Richard Fernandez, Notre Dame Mendoza MBA ’19, Senior Product Manager at Amazon Age: 38 Hometown: Read more
Published: March 11, 2026
Real Humans of Microsoft: Brittani Grabell, Chicago Booth MBA ’22, Product Marketing Manager
Brittany Grabell wanted to position herself for a career in big tech. The MBA program at Chicago Booth demonstrated the values, community, and academic approach that aligned with what she was seeking. In this Real Humans: Alumni, Brittani shares how the leadership and analytical skills she gleaned from Booth prepared her for the innovative, collaborative culture at Microsoft. Brittani Grabell, Chicago Booth MBA’22, Product Marketing Manager at Microsoft Age: 34 Hometown: Chicago, IL Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign / Communications Read more
Published: March 9, 2026
Real Humans of Netflix: Ryson Porter, Duke Fuqua ’23, Treasury Analyst
Looking at his career trajectory in financial services, Ryson Porter wanted to recast his future with more excitement — and the Duke Fuqua MBA empowered him to do so. Pairing his finance experience with a passion for the media/entertainment industry led him to Netflix. Follow Ryson on his coast-to-coast journey from a Fuqua MBA to Netflix in this installment of our Real Humans: Alumni series. Ryson Porter, Duke Fuqua ’23, Treasury Analyst at Netflix Age: 32 Hometown: Winchester, MA Undergraduate Institution and Major: Read more
Published: March 5, 2026
Real Humans of Google: Barbara Rion, Berkeley Haas MBA ’25, Policy Specialist
In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, we meet Barbara Rion, a Berkeley Haas MBA Class of 2025 graduate who successfully navigated the transition from government service to the private sector. The coursework at Haas promised to build her skills in emerging business areas like AI and sustainability, and offered cutting-edge tech experience not available at many other schools. Read on to learn more about her experience.  Barbara Rion, Berkeley Haas MBA ’25, Policy Specialist, Trust & Safety at Google Age: 33 Hometown: Sterling, VA Read more
Published: March 4, 2026
Real Humans of Deloitte: Mike Paczkowski, Cornell Johnson MBA ’25, Senior Consultant
In this edition of our Real Humans: Alumni series, we meet Mike Paczkowski, who pursued the MBA program at Cornell Johnson looking to sharpen his leadership approach and expand his technical toolkit. The tight-knit, supportive culture and the consulting immersion were essential in preparing him for his future consulting career at Deloitte. Read his story below to learn more about how his experience at Johnson granted him greater perspective and success. Mike Paczkowski, Cornell Johnson MBA ’25, Senior Consultant at Deloitte Age: 31 Hometown: Concord, MA Read more
Published: March 2, 2026
Real Humans of BCG: Allie Waxman, NYU Stern MBA ’23, Project Leader
Allie Waxman’s diverse interests brought her from entertainment to tech, until she found herself curious about the strategic decisions that were impacting the companies she was working for. In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Allie talks about how NYU’s Stern School of Business prepared her for problem solving for clients and attaining success at BCG. Allie Waxman, NYU Stern MBA ’23, Project Leader at BCG Age: 31  Hometown: Rochester, New York Undergraduate Institution and Major: NYU Tisch School of the Arts – Acting Graduate Business Read more

MBA Livewire

April 16, 2026 3:48pm ET
Waitlisted at NYU Stern
Round: Round 3
Received via portal April 16, 2026
Standardized Test: Executive Assessment (EA)
GPA: First (UK)
EA: 164
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career: Other Industries
Application Location: UK
Note:

Waitlisted post interview. Gutted. I have offers from INSEAD and LBS but Stern was my first choice.
Juno Member: Not yet
April 16, 2026 2:59pm ET
Interview Invite to London Business School
Round: Round 3
Received via email April 16, 2026
Standardized Test: GMAT
GPA: 4.0
GMAT: 625
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career: Consulting, Bain, BCG, McKinsey
Application Location: Uzbekistan
Juno Member: Not yet
April 16, 2026 12:22pm ET
Applied to Stanford GSB
Round: Round 3
Received via n/a
Standardized Test: I haven't taken any of the standardized tests yet.
GPA: 3.4
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career: Other Industries
Target Career: Other
Application Location: New York, NY
Juno Member: Not yet
April 16, 2026 11:46am ET
Accepted to SDA Bocconi
Round: Round 4
Received via email on April 14, 2026
Standardized Test: GRE
GRE: 324
Program Type: One Year Program
Application Location: Chile
Juno Member: Not yet
April 15, 2026 6:31pm ET
Interview Invite to UCLA Anderson
Round: Round 3
Received via email April 15, 2026
Standardized Test: GMAT
GPA: 3.74
GMAT: 615
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career: Healthcare, Technology
Application Location: Bay Area, California
Juno Member: Not yet
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