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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 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
Published: February 26, 2026
Real Humans of Bain & Co.: Sameera Bhamidipati, Rice Business MBA ’24, Consultant
Sameera Bhamidipati was looking to have a more direct professional impact in her career in biotechnology research. She pursued an MBA to transition to a business role where she could make a more significant impact much faster. She chose Rice Business for its small class size, tight-knit community, and extensive network. In this installment of our Real Humans: Alumni series, read her story to learn how she achieved a successful career transition and landed at Bain & Company. Sameera Bhamidipati, Rice Business MBA ’24, Consultant at Bain & Company Age: 31 Read more
Published: February 26, 2026
Top In-Person MBA Events to Check Out in March 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. Rounds 3 & 4 deadlines for many schools are fast approaching, and with that, in-person event opportunities are increasing for prospective students. Read on for what to expect in March. Why attend MBA events? More than just another step in the process you want to check off your list, this is where Read more
Published: February 25, 2026
Real Humans of Amazon: Felipe Lenz, HBS MBA ’25, Senior Product Manager
In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, we take a non-traditional journey to the Harvard Business School MBA with Felipe Lenz, a prodigy who entered college at just 16 years old. Felipe was leading an engineering team at Amazon when he decided he wanted to move beyond engineering and eventually into operations. Read his story below for insights on how HBS taught him the skills he would require. Felipe Lenz, HBS MBA ’25, Senior Product Manager at Amazon Age: 32  Hometown: Brasília, Brazil  Undergraduate Institution and Major: Read more
Published: February 23, 2026
Real Humans of Morgan Stanley: Elliot Gross, CMU Tepper MBA ’25, Investment Banking Associate
This year’s Real Humans: Alumni series, which invites MBA graduates to discuss their paths to post-MBA employment, kicks off with Elliot Gross, Carnegie Mellon Tepper MBA Class of 2025. Gross was looking to pivot to investment banking when he chose the MBA path, and selected Tepper for its strong alumni connections to the finance industry and small program size that facilitates networking and mentorship. Read his story below to learn how his Tepper MBA prepared him for investment banking at Morgan Stanley. Elliot Gross, CMU Tepper MBA ’25, Investment Banking Associate at Morgan Stanley Read more
Published: February 11, 2026
Real Humans of the Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business MBA Class of 2027
The Real Humans of the Notre Dame Mendoza MBA Class of 2027 showcase the program’s signature blend of values-driven leadership, close-knit community, and career momentum. The cohort includes career-changers like John Epley, who leveraged early ownership in pharmaceutical sales and a student-athlete’s competitive edge to make a deliberate pivot into finance. Margo Miller brings experience in sports marketing and partnerships at Publicis Media, using the MBA to move closer to the decisions that shape brands. With a deep analytics toolkit built across defense manufacturing and market research, Jameson Foran moved to Mendoza Read more
Published: February 9, 2026
Real Humans of the Harvard Business School MBA Class of 2027
In this edition of our Real Humans: MBA Students series, we get to know some new members of the Harvard Business School MBA Class of 2027. This year’s class includes leaders shaped by corporate talent strategy, global consulting, professional sports, consumer brand building, and social-impact investing across emerging markets—all united by a desire to deepen their leadership capacity and broaden their impact. To start, Haleigh Stark brings experience from human resources (HR), having worked in talent management and elevated HR’s role in driving organizational change. Then, Marc Berbari, whose career spans consulting engagements across Read more
Published: February 4, 2026
Real Humans of the Notre Dame Mendoza MSM Class of 2026
In this edition of our series, Real Humans, we meet some new members of the Class of 2026 in Notre Dame Mendoza’s MS in Management (MSM) program. Molly Faul, a recent Furman University graduate with a background in communication studies, was drawn to business school after an aviation internship revealed the kind of confident, strategic leader she aspired to become. She chose Notre Dame Mendoza for its values-driven community, powerful alumni network, and broad MSM curriculum spanning consulting, analytics, finance, marketing, and emerging areas like AI. Joining her is Emerson Lyons, who arrives at Read more

MBA Livewire

May 22, 2026 10:45pm ET
Waitlisted at USC / Marshall
Round: Round 3
Received via email May 22, 2026
Standardized Test: I haven't taken any of the standardized tests yet.
Note:

i think it's rich to wailist someone at the lasts round and have them wait until 7/15/26 for a decision when all the major schools have released their decisions and people are actively enrolling.
Juno Member: Not yet
May 22, 2026 6:52pm ET
Accepted to Cornell / Johnson
Round: Round 3
Received via phone May 22, 2026
Standardized Test: GRE
GPA: 3.85
GRE: 329
Program Type: Deferred Enrollment
Post MBA Career: Technology
Application Location: Los Angeles
Juno Member: Not yet
May 22, 2026 2:22pm ET
Accepted to Dartmouth / Tuck
Round: Round 2
Received via phone on March 19, 2026
Standardized Test: GRE
GPA: 3,12
GRE: 317
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career: Energy, Finance, Real Estate
Target Career: Entrepreneurship
Application Location: Colombia, Bogota
Juno Member: Yes
May 22, 2026 2:14pm ET
Accepted to HEC Paris
Round: Round 3
Received via phone May 22, 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: Yes
May 22, 2026 11:33am ET
Accepted to Cornell / Johnson
Round: Round 3
Received via phone on May 21, 2026
Standardized Test: GRE
GPA: 3.91
GRE: 327
Program Type: Deferred Enrollment
Post MBA Career: Technology
Application Location: SF
Juno Member: Not yet
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