Christina Griffith
Real Humans of McKinsey: Olivia Qi Zhang, Georgetown McDonough MBA ’22, Consultant
In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, we meet Olivia Qi Zhang, who had the unique experience of being a foreign correspondent on business and politics before deciding she was more interested in the former than the latter. At Georgetown McDonough, she found the global mindset and perspectives she was looking for to cultivate her future career in consulting at McKinsey & Co. Olivia Qi Zhang, Georgetown McDonough MBA ’22, Consultant at McKinsey Age: 32 Hometown: Shanxi, China Undergraduate Institution and Major: Culture Industry Business Management, Zhejiang University of Media, China Graduate Business School, Graduation Year and Concentration (if applicable): Georgetown McDonough School of Business,... Read more »
Is the Pay Gap Closing? Forté Foundation Study Shows Stagnation
The Forté Foundation, a nonprofit organization guiding women into business leadership through access to business education, released its most recent study on the MBA gender pay and promotion gap, barriers to women in leadership, and disparity in work-life issues. The report highlights the progress made — and candidly confronts the daunting mission ahead. Key Findings of the Latest Forté Foundation Research “The gender pay gap has narrowed since 2016 and 2018, but has not budged during the pandemic despite calls for pay equity and transparency,” says Forté CEO Elissa Sangster. While women, men, and underrepresented minorities all see an initial... Read more »
Real Humans of Google: Jermyn Davis, UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA ’20, Strategic Initiatives Manager
Culture is vital to making connections and finding success: how do we fit in? Does our team share aspirations and energy? Does our organization foster an environment for innovation? In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Jermyn Davis tells us how the culture at UNC Kenan-Flagler prepared him for the tech world and Google. Jermyn Davis, UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA ’20 Strategic Initiatives Manager at Google Age: 35 Hometown: Denver, Colorado Undergraduate Institution and Major: Wake Forest University, Chinese and Political Science Graduate Business School, Graduation Year and Concentration (if applicable): UNC Kenan-Flagler (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), 2020, General... Read more »
Real Humans of Morgan Stanley: Eric Tinnell, Carnegie Mellon Tepper MBA ’23, Investment Banking Associate
Changing careers can be considered rebranding oneself. Our Real Humans: Alumni featured today, Eric Tinnell, did just that. Find out how he walked into Carnegie Mellon Tepper as a wealth manager and walks out this spring with his MBA and a coveted position as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley. Eric Tinnell, Carnegie Mellon Tepper MBA ’23, Investment Banking Associate at Morgan Stanley Age: 32 Hometown: Ephrata, WA Undergraduate Institution: Central Washington University Major: Finance Graduate Business School, Graduation Year and Concentration (if applicable): Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business, Class of 2023, Concentrations: Finance, Entrepreneurship Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry):... Read more »
Real Humans of McKinsey: Justin Rufen-Blanchette, Michigan Ross MBA ’22, Associate, Digital Strategy
Justin Rufen-Blanchette had plenty of reasons to pursue an MBA: his family values, the success of siblings who had already earned the degree, seeing the acquisition of a startup in real-time, and discovering his knowledge gaps. But, it was his desire to be at the busy intersection of strategy and investment in sports, media, and technology that led him to choose Michigan Ross. In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Rufen-Blanchette shares how Ross prepared him for the exciting and rapidly changing world of consulting at McKinsey. Justin Rufen-Blanchette, Michigan Ross MBA ’22, Associate, Digital Strategy at McKinsey & Company Age:... Read more »
Real Humans of Google: Sebastian Hooker, NYU Stern Tech MBA ’19, Senior Customer Engineer
In this edition of Real Humans Alumni, we hear from a graduate of the one-year Tech MBA program at NYU Stern, Sebastian Hooker. Read on to see how Stern Solutions and other aspects of the MBA program prepared him to work at Google. Sebastian Hooker, NYU Stern Tech MBA ’19, Senior Customer Engineer at Google Age: 30 Hometown: Park City, Utah Undergraduate Institution and Major: Westminster College, Marketing Graduate Business School, Graduation Year and Concentration (if applicable): NYU Stern Andre Koo Technology and Entrepreneurship MBA, Class of 2019 Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 4 Years, E-commerce for CPG company Post-MBA Work... Read more »
Kellogg Digs Deeper with Unique Biomedical Marketing Course
The biomedical industry in the U.S. is expected to experience steady growth for the foreseeable future due to advancements in medical technology and increased healthcare spending. Amidst fast-paced innovation, industry challenges, such as complex regulations, evolving science, ethical concerns, and the competition, arise for business professionals. Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management helps students approach these challenges with a dedicated course, “Biomedical Marketing,” that fully and specifically focuses on biotech, pharmaceutical, and medical device company issues. The course is taught by award-winning marketing expert and Associate Chair of the Marketing Department, Professor Tim Calkins. “The goal of the course is... Read more »
Real Humans of Accenture: Cathy Chen, Chicago Booth MBA ’20, Strategy Manager
A top-tier MBA program can prepare you for any role in any facet of business, from operations to marketing to investments. In today’s Real Humans: Alumni feature, we meet Cathy Chen, who credits the breadth of her classes at Chicago Booth — and especially her fellow Boothies — with preparing her for a career in strategy management at an elite consulting firm, Accenture. Cathy Chen, Chicago Booth MBA ’20, Strategy Manager at Accenture Age: 30 Hometown: Potomac, MD Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Chicago, Economics Graduate Business School, Graduation Year and Concentration (if applicable): University of Chicago, Booth School... Read more »
Real Humans of BCG: Pamela Flores Monico, LBS ’22, Consultant
At London Business School, MBAs gain a global education, access to prized internships, and are eagerly recruited by elite consulting firms like BCG. In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Pamela Flores Monico describes how LBS prepared her to join BCG and launch a career in consulting. Pamela Flores Monico, London Business School MBA ’22, Consultant at Boston Consulting Group Age: 29 Hometown: Buenos Aires, Argentina (born in El Salvador) Undergraduate Institution and Major: Universidad Catolica Argentina, Business Administration major Graduate Business School, Graduation Year and Concentration (if applicable): London Business School, MBA 2022 Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): Pharmaceuticals,... Read more »
Real Humans of Google: Rachelle Olden, Duke Fuqua ’18, Sr. Product Marketing Manager
Top-tier business schools have the resources that aspiring business leaders need to achieve their career goals, and Duke Fuqua also had the community Rachelle Olden was looking for to be her authentic self and build her career in a meaningful way. In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Olden explains how her experience at Fuqua enabled her to rise to the top at Google and advocate for increasing Black representation in tech. Rachelle Olden, Duke Fuqua MBA ’18, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Google Age: 30’s Hometown: Brooklyn, NY and Columbia, SC Undergraduate Institution and Major: College of Charleston, Corporate... Read more »
Chicago Booth and Nonprofit Chicago Scholars Join Forces in First-Ever Partnership
In a groundbreaking initiative to foster greater diversity and inclusivity in graduate education and business leadership, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business announced a new partnership with Chicago Scholars to establish a dedicated pipeline for students into graduate programs. The collaboration promises enhanced access and support for low-income and first-generation college attendees while reinvesting their talents in Chicagoland’s businesses and organizations. Chicago Booth and Chicago Scholars already have a working relationship, as the school is one of Chicago Scholars’ institutional partners. Chicago Scholars is a leadership development organization that supports first-generation college-bound students in Chicago high schools through... Read more »
Real Humans of Pfizer: Alexa Ceballos, Emory Goizueta MBA ’20, Senior Manager, US Marketing
There are so many facets to the healthcare industry — direct patient care, R&D, hospital management, sales, marketing, and more — that there are almost unlimited opportunities. In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, we meet Alexa Ceballos, now a Senior Manager at Pfizer, who wanted to move from sales to a more strategic role in the healthcare business. Read on to find out how Emory Goizueta became her school of choice, owing to its location and strong marketing cohort, and how even today, Ceballos uses her coursework in her day-to-day. Alexa Ceballos, Emory Goizueta MBA ’20, Senior Manager, Inflammation... Read more »
New Dean Announced for Cornell Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management
Cornell University’s Samuel Curtis Johnson College of Business has announced its new Anne and Elmer Lindseth Dean of the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management. Emerson Professor of Manufacturing Management and Program Director for Johnson’s MS in Business Analytics Vishal Gaur will succeed Dean Mark Nelson as of July 1, 2023. Nelson, who has been a Cornell faculty member for 33 years, will return full-time to his position as professor of accounting. The school spent nearly a year on the global search for Nelson’s replacement, and Gaur’s qualifications are impressive. He received his BTech in Computer Science and Engineering... Read more »
Real Humans of Bain: Seth Hoesman, Stanford GSB ’21, Consultant
In his quest to move to consulting on the business side of engineering, Seth Hoesman knew he needed to learn from real-world situations. The experiential learning process at Stanford GSB, together with the school’s culture, emphasis on soft skills, and location, was exactly what he needed to succeed. In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Hoesman shares how Stanford GSB guided his path to a new career at Bain. Seth Hoesman, Stanford GSB MBA ’21, Consultant at Bain & Company Age: 29 Hometown: Ellicott City, MD Undergraduate Institution and Major: Goucher College – Mathematics, Computer Science, and Economics Graduate Business... Read more »
Real Humans of Accenture: Khoa Pham, Washington Foster MBA ’21, Technology Strategy Manager
Changing industries is difficult, but worthwhile if it puts you where you want to be in your professional career. For Khoa Pham, moving from engineering to consulting offered more flexibility, and Accenture’s handling of and adaptation to Covid sealed his desire to work for the elite firm. In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Pham explains how a Washington Foster MBA prepared him for his new career in consulting. Khoa Pham, Washington Foster MBA ’21, Technology Strategy Manager at Accenture Age: 34 Hometown: Saigon, Vietnam Undergraduate Institution and Major: Clemson University, 2010, Mechanical Engineering; Georgia Institute of Technology, 2013, MS in... Read more »
Real Humans of Bain & Co.: Priyasha Chaturvedi, Cornell Johnson MBA ’20, Manager
An MBA provides opportunities to lead, work in teams on competitions and projects, and connect with a tight-knit community. In this Real Humans: Alumni, Priyasha Chaturvedi discusses her life changing MBA experience at Cornell Johnson and how such opportunities and the supportive environment propelled her to success at Bain & Co. Priyasha Chaturvedi, Cornell Johnson MBA ’20, Manager at Bain & Company Age: 30 Hometown: Shrewsbury, MA Undergraduate Institution and Major: Boston College, Economics Graduate Business School, Graduation Year and Concentration (if applicable): Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, SC Johnson College of Business, Class of 2020 Pre-MBA Work... Read more »
Real Humans of Apple: Piu Ghosh, Indiana Kelley ’20, Program Manager
There is a perceived divide between engineers and business operations. Piu Ghosh is here to tell us you can excel at both. In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Ghosh describes how the Indiana Kelley MBA program enabled her transition from building refineries to delivering innovation at the intersection of technology and business in the world’s leading tech company, Apple. Piu Ghosh, Indiana Kelley MBA ’20, CapEx Program Manager at Apple Age: 33 yrs Hometown: Kolkata, India Undergraduate Institution and Major: Jadavpur University, India, Instrumentation and Electronics Engineering Graduate Business School, Graduation Year and Concentration (if applicable): Kelley School of... Read more »
Real Humans of Accenture: Cadu Mendes de Almeida, INSEAD MBA ’22J, Venture Building Manager
In this Real Humans: Alumni, we meet Cadu Mendes de Almeida, who evaluated his life during the pandemic and decided he wanted to enter the business world. At INSEAD, he found the global opportunities and love for the institution he was looking for. Cadu Mendes de Almeida, INSEAD MBA ’22J, Venture Building Manager Age: 32 Hometown: Rio de Janeiro (currently living/working in São Paulo) Undergraduate Institution and Major: PUC-Rio (Law) Graduate Business School, Graduation Year and Concentration (if applicable): INSEAD (MBA 22J) Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 3 years in Tech (startups): Product Marketing Lead at Kovi (São Paulo, 2020-2021); Senior Creative... Read more »
Real Humans of Amazon: Tenny Schwartz, Carnegie Mellon Tepper ’21, Finance Manager
How do you leverage an engineering skillset into a new career in finance? For Tenny Schwartz, the answer was Carnegie Mellon Tepper‘s MBA program. Find out how his business school experience changed the way he approached and solved problems in this edition of Real Humans: Alumni. Tenny Schwartz, Carnegie Mellon Tepper MBA ’21, Finance Manager at Amazon Age: 30 Hometown: Chennai, India Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Central Florida, Mechanical Engineering Graduate Business School, Graduation Year and Concentration (if applicable): Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business, 2021, Finance, Sustainability Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 4 years, Power/Energy Post-MBA Work Experience... Read more »
Real Humans of Pfizer: Megha Motgi, Wharton MBA ’21, Senior Manager
In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Megha Motgi explains the vital role The Wharton School played in shifting her career within healthcare. Read on for her insights into Wharton’s prestigious Health Care Management program and what recruitment was like with Pfizer. Megha Motgi, Wharton MBA ’21, Senior Manager at Pfizer Age: 31 Hometown: Dallas, TX Undergraduate Institution and Major: Georgetown University (School of Foreign Service), Science, Technology, and International Affairs Graduate Business School, Graduation Year and Concentration (if applicable): The Wharton School, 2021, Health Care Management Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): A little less than 5 years, healthcare services (revenue cycle management... Read more »
