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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: June 16, 2025
Real Humans of Accenture: Dan Nolan, Duke Fuqua MBA ’22, Senior Strategy Consultant
Dan Nolan, Duke Fuqua MBA ’22 and Senior Strategy Consultant at Accenture, brings a unique journey from the broadcast booth to boardroom strategy. Originally from Winchester, VA, Dan pursued his undergraduate degree in Public Policy at Duke and later returned to his alma mater for an MBA, concentrating in Marketing, Market Analysis, and Strategy. With a background in sports media, Dan made a strategic pivot into consulting, driven by a growing interest in the business side of media and a desire for long-term career flexibility. At Fuqua, he leaned into Duke’s collaborative spirit, expanded his quantitative and time management Read more
Published: June 16, 2025
Admissions Director Q&A: Brent Nagamine of University of Washington Foster School of Business
We welcome back Brent Nagamine, Director of Admissions at the University of Washington Foster School of Business for this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A. Brent oversees marketing, recruitment, selection, and scholarships for the Full-Time, Evening, and Global MBA programs. He has been working in the higher education sphere since 2013 when he graduated from the University of Washington. He started his career working in undergraduate admissions and eventually pursued his M.S.Ed from the University of Pennsylvania. After joining the Foster MBA admissions team in 2019, he was also drawn to pursue his own Read more
Published: June 11, 2025
Admissions Director Q&A: Charlotte Russell-Green of Cambridge Judge
In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A, we head to the UK with Charlotte Russell-Green, Head of MBA Recruitment and Admissions  at Cambridge Judge Business School. After training in Drama and Theatre at Goldsmiths in London, Charlotte transitioned into marketing after graduation and has now worked in the MBA market for over 10 years. She started her MBA career at QS, managing the marketing for the World MBA Tour events in North America and has worked in marketing, recruitment and admissions at Cambridge ever since. Her passions at work include Read more
Published: June 11, 2025
Real Humans of Ecolab: Juan Francisco Delgado, HEC Paris MBA ’23, Strategic Marketing
After nearly a decade in marketing and sales at a major telecom company, Juan Francisco Delgado turned to the HEC Paris MBA to sharpen his strategic skills and transition into a more globally focused role. Originally from Lima, Peru, Juan sought a business education that combined leadership development, multicultural collaboration, and real-world impact. HEC Paris delivered on all fronts—offering an environment rich in diversity, academic rigor, and global perspective. During the program, a surprising internship in India helped Juan reaffirm his passion for strategic marketing, ultimately leading him to a role at Ecolab in Paris. Now working in strategic Read more
Published: June 9, 2025
Admissions Director Q&A: Stephanie Kluth of ESMT Berlin
Looking ahead to the next admissions season of 2025-2026, we are excited to kick off our Admissions Director Q&A series today. In this edition, Stephanie Kluth, the Director of Admissions for Degree Programs at ESMT Berlin, is back to shed light on the MBA program. Stephanie holds over 20 years of experience in higher education and academic administration. Since joining ESMT in 2005, she has contributed to the development and internationalization of the school’s MBA and Master’s programs. Prior to joining ESMT Berlin, she worked at the Aspen Institute Berlin Read more
Published: June 9, 2025
Real Humans of Uber: Akanksha Gupta, Fisher MBA ’23, Senior Program Manager
For Akanksha Gupta, the MBA journey at The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business was a catalyst for transformation—from engineering in the oil and gas sector to strategic operations at a fast-moving tech company. After nearly eight years at Samsung Heavy Industries, Akanksha enrolled at Fisher to sharpen her analytical skills, expand her leadership toolkit, and pivot into a new industry. Her internship at Uber Freight proved to be a turning point, reinforcing her passion for data-driven decision-making and operational strategy. Today, she serves as a Senior Program Manager at Uber Freight, where she continues to apply the Read more
Published: June 4, 2025
Real Humans of Google: Emerald Deku, Washington Olin MBA ’23, Strategic Financial Analyst
Emerald Deku, WashU Olin MBA ’23, wants you to know that “the MBA is the perfect playground for bold experimentation.” In this Real Humans: Alumni, Emerald walks us through said playground, digging into the standout strengths of her MBA experience that prepared her for an internship and full-time role at Google. Her grounded enthusiasm is contagious and sheds light on why the WashU Olin MBA is a sound launchpad for whatever your plans may be. Emerald Deku, Washington Olin MBA ’23, Strategic Financial Analyst at Google Age: 33 Hometown: Read more
Published: June 2, 2025
Real Humans of Entrepreneurship: Dan Cataldi, Wharton MBA ’23, Founder and CEO at Groov
In this Real Humans: Alumni, we join Dan Cataldi on his entrepreneurial path from Wharton to Founder and CEO of Groov, a company that makes precision-crafted insoles for an optimal footwear experience. While his app can create a perfect map, life isn’t always laid out that way–and Dan shares the unconventional journey of uncovering and then going “all-in” on pursuing his true passion. Read on for his story. Dan Cataldi, Wharton MBA ’23, Founder and CEO of Groov Age: 32 Hometown: Great Neck, NY Undergraduate Institution Read more
Published: May 29, 2025
Real Humans of Google: Anica Nangia, Berkeley Haas MBA ’24, Product Manager
Anica Nangia set out for her MBA with the mission to build community, something she longed for amid the work-from-home fallout of Covid. She found this community at the Haas School of Business–as well as in the diverse city of Berkeley itself. The strategies and insights she gained during her MBA also contributed to the foundation for her success at Google. Read on for more about her story in this Real Humans: Alumni. Anica Nangia, Berkeley Haas MBA ’24, Product Manager at Google Age: 28 Hometown: Los Altos, CA Read more
Published: May 29, 2025
Top In-Person MBA Events to Check Out in June 2025
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 offer applicants the opportunity to connect with current students and alumni, sit in on classes, meet the admissions team, and take campus tours. So, we’ve rounded up the top in-person MBA events for the month of June to help you plan on attending those that are going to help you most along your MBA journey. Get your calendars ready! Why Attend MBA Events? More than just another step in the process you want to check Read more
Published: May 28, 2025
Real Humans of American Express: Sumedha Kamra, IESE MBA ’24, Senior Manager
From corporate law to enterprise strategy, Sumedha Kamra, IESE MBA ’24, had a transformative journey. In this Real Humans: Alumni, Sumedha shares her insights from taking a huge leap, how the IESE MBA supported her growth, and more about her road to American Express. Sumedha Kamra, IESE MBA ’24, Senior Manager at American Express Age: 28 Hometown: Bangalore, India Undergraduate Institution and Major: Jindal Global Law School, Dual Degree in Arts and Law Graduate Business School, Graduation Year and Concentration: IESE Business School, Class Read more
Published: May 27, 2025
Join Top Business Schools Present in Paris — June 4th, 2025
Drop everything now and head to Paris. On Wednesday, June 4th, 10 of the world’s top-ranked business schools will gather in Paris, France, to host Top Business Schools Present in Paris. Attendees can learn about their MBA programs and the student experience during and after business school, as well as network with admissions representatives.  The schools participating in the event are: Chicago Booth Columbia Business School Dartmouth Tuck Harvard Business School MIT Sloan Read more
Published: May 26, 2025
Real Humans of Entrepreneurship: Will Abel, UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA ’22, Co-Founder & CEO, Grantease
Will Abel, UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA ’22, dug through various interests–medicine, finance, healthcare–until he finally arrived at the core: entrepreneurship. In this Real Humans: Alumni, Will recounts his stepping stones, how an MBA from UNC smoothed out some rough edges, and some lessons from his journey to launching his own company. Will Abel, UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA ’22, Co-Founder & CEO of Grantease Age: 26 Hometown: Philadelphia Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Michigan, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Pre-MBA Work Experience: Pharmacology Research, University of Michigan Post-MBA Work Experience: Finance Partner, GSK, 2 years, Read more
Published: May 22, 2025
Real Humans of McKinsey: David Jaurrieta, Rice Business MBA ’24, Associate
In this Real Humans: Alumni, David Jaurrieta, Rice Business MBA ’24, shares his journey to becoming an associate at McKinsey & Co. He talks about the value of community, shines a light on the importance of commitment and more. Read on for his story. David Jaurrieta, Rice Business MBA ’24, Associate at McKinsey & Company Age: 28 Hometown: Chihuahua, Mexico Undergraduate Institution and Major: Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), B.S. in Industrial Engineering Graduate Business School, Graduation Year and Concentration: Rice Read more
Published: May 21, 2025
Real Humans of Morgan Stanley: Saran Diakite Kaba, Emory Goizueta MBA ’24, Investment Banking Associate
Saran Diakite Kaba spent three years as a field engineer in the oil & gas sector before pursuing her MBA at Emory Goizueta, with plans to level-up her strategy and analytical skills. Drawn to Goizueta’s emphasis on principled leadership, Saran earned an MBA that fueled her transition to investment banking at Morgan Stanley. In this Real Humans: Alumni, Saran shares her journey from Africa to Atlanta, engineering to investment banking, and all the lessons in between. Saran Diakite Kaba, Emory Goizueta MBA ’24, Investment Banking Associate at Morgan Stanley Age: 30 Hometowns: Read more
Published: May 19, 2025
Real Humans of Amazon: Marisa Li, Yale SOM MBA ’24, Senior Program Manager
From the West Coast to the Northeast and back again, Marisa Li, Yale School of Management MBA ’24, followed her heart to her MBA program and a post-MBA role at Amazon. In this Real Humans: Alumni, Marisa talks about the impact of stepping outside her comfort zone, what she discovered during her Amazon internship and Yale MBA, and more. Marisa Li, Yale SOM MBA ’24, Senior Program Manager at Amazon Age: 27 Hometown: San Francisco, California Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of California, Berkeley; Economics and Psychology Pre-MBA Work Experience: Read more
Published: May 15, 2025
Real Humans of Disney: Maria Tokarska, IMD MBA ’23, Product Manager
Originally from New York City, Maria Tokarska began her career in technology consulting for media and entertainment clients before deciding to pursue a formal business education in Europe. Drawn to IMD for its top ranking and international setting, she embraced the opportunity to broaden her leadership skills and cross-cultural awareness. Her MBA experience not only enhanced her ability to work with globally distributed teams, but also reaffirmed her desire to work for a purpose-driven brand with global impact. At Disney, she’s found that perfect intersection of scale, creativity, and cultural resonance. Read on for her story and Read more
Published: May 14, 2025
Real Humans of Invenergy LLC: Nikita Manral, Cornell Johnson MBA ’22, Senior Manager
Nikita Manral, Cornell Johnson MBA Class of 2022, transitioned from engineering in the oil and gas sector to a purpose-driven role in clean energy as a senior manager at Invenergy. Nikita pursued business school to pair her technical expertise with strategic insight and help shape the future of the energy transition. At Cornell Johnson, she was drawn to the close-knit community, strong sustainability focus, and cross-disciplinary resources across the university. Her MBA experience, enriched by immersion projects and the support of the Energy Club and CGSE, empowered her to pivot into commercial finance within the renewable energy Read more
Published: May 12, 2025
Real Humans of Aepnus Technology: Warren Ndlovu, The Wharton School MBA ’24, Chief of Staff
Join Warren Ndlovu on his ride through recruiting in this Real Humans: Alumni. With a niche interest in climate tech, Warren had to get creative to secure his “Plan A” dream job. All the while, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania provided the right foundation for his goals and more. Read on for his story. Warren Ndlovu, The Wharton School MBA ’24, Chief of Staff at Aepnus Technology Age: 33 Hometown: Bulawayo/Johannesburg Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Cape Town, Economics & Read more
Published: May 12, 2025
Real Humans of American Express: Jessie Zhao, Booth MBA ’24, Finance Manager
Curiosity and the Chicago Approach line the well-researched and well-thought-out path of today’s Real Humans: Alumni feature, Jessie Zhao, Chicago Booth MBA ’24 and current finance manager at American Express. Her curious nature, ability to discern the important details as well as build camaraderie are all reflected in her personal and professional paths. As a Chicago Booth alumni interviewer, she knows what it’s like to be on both sides, lending a richer perspective to her advice as well. Read on for how Jessie shaped her trajectory and sought out well-rounded opportunities. Jessie Zhao, Chicago Booth MBA ’24, Finance Read more
Published: May 8, 2025
Real Humans of EY-Parthenon: Rashmi Mutt, Duke Fuqua MBA ’23, Consultant
Rashmi Mutt’s journey was shaped by a global outlook and a drive to grow into a well-rounded business leader. With a background in employee engagement consulting, she pursued an MBA at Duke Fuqua to gain the technical skills and global exposure needed to advance her career. Drawn to Fuqua’s collaborative culture, leadership opportunities, and diverse community, Rashmi found an environment that supported her aspirations. Her internship at EY-Parthenon not only confirmed her interest in consulting, but also helped her build meaningful relationships and secure a full-time role. In this Real Humans: Alumni, Rashmi reflects on how Fuqua Read more
Published: May 7, 2025
Real Humans of Google: Deborah Dzialoschinsky, UCLA Anderson MBA ’23, Program Manager
Deborah Dzialoschinsky had a longtime dream of working at Google; with an MBA from UCLA Anderson, she was finally able to make this dream a reality. In this Real Humans: Alumni, Deborah shares what drew her to the leading MBA program, her advice for pursuing your career goals and more. Deborah Dzialoschinsky, UCLA Anderson MBA ’23, Program Manager at Google Age: 31 Hometown: São Paulo, Brasil Undergraduate Institution and Major: Insper, Business Administration Pre-MBA Work Experience: Commercial Intelligence Manager then Head of Lead Read more
Published: May 5, 2025
Real Humans of Entrepreneurship: Patrick El Hajj, HEC Paris MBA ’23, Founder, Anchora Transmission
In this Real Humans: Alumni, Patrick El Hajj, HEC Paris MBA ’23, shares how he transformed his consulting background and entrepreneurial instincts into a career as a search fund entrepreneur through Anchora Transmission. Born in Lebanon and now based in Paris, Patrick matriculated with a list of startup ideas and a desire to shift from corporate consulting at PwC to a more independent and fulfilling path. HEC Paris stood out for its strong entrepreneurial focus, powerful alumni network, and its reputation across France—where Patrick and his wife had decided to build Read more
Published: May 5, 2025
Real Humans of Applied Materials: Rufus Ayisi, Washington Olin MBA ’24, Senior Financial Analyst
In this Real Humans: Alumni, we meet Rufus Kwesi Kumi Ayisi, Washington University’s Olin Business School MBA ’24, who combined his background in engineering and finance to carve out a strategic role at the intersection of both disciplines—now serving as a Senior Financial Analyst at Applied Materials. Originally from Accra, Ghana, Rufus brought six years of pre-MBA experience in engineering and audit roles to WashU Olin, where he pursued an MBA in finance. Drawn by Olin’s experiential learning model, collaborative culture, and flexible curriculum, Rufus immersed himself in team-based projects and a global business Read more
Published: May 1, 2025
Real Humans of Bank of America: Anvesha Rai, OSU Fisher MBA ’24, Assistant VP Global Operations Program
Anvesha Rai, The Ohio State Fisher MBA ’24, transformed her business school experience into a platform for personal growth, professional diversification, and long-term impact. A Columbus native and Buckeye through and through, Anvesha returned to her alma mater through Fisher’s unique +2 Program, bringing two years of fashion and retail supply chain experience from Abercrombie & Fitch. At Fisher, she strategically pursued four MBA concentrations and immersed herself in real-world applications—from teaching assistantships to case competitions and operations internships. Today, she serves as an Assistant Vice President in Bank of America’s Global Operations Program, a role she Read more

MBA Livewire

December 4, 2025 10:26pm ET
Waitlisted at U. Chicago Booth
Round: Round 1
Received via portal on December 03, 2025
Standardized Test: GRE
GPA: 3.61
GRE: 333
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Consulting
Application Location: India, New Delhi
December 4, 2025 10:12pm ET
Accepted to U. Chicago Booth
Round: Round 1
Received via portal December 4, 2025
Standardized Test: GMAT
GMAT: 710
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Application Location: Canada
December 4, 2025 9:27pm ET
Rejected at Yale SOM
Round: Round 1
Received via email December 4, 2025
Standardized Test: GRE
GPA: 4.0/4.0
GRE: 327
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Finance
Application Location: Michigan, St. Clair
December 4, 2025 9:24pm ET
Accepted to U. Chicago Booth
Round: Round 1
Received via email December 4, 2025
Standardized Test: GRE
GPA: 4.0/4.0
GRE: 327
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Finance
Application Location: United States, St Clair
Note:

Full-ride scholarship. Beyond grateful.
December 4, 2025 9:08pm ET
Accepted to Yale SOM
Round: Round 1
Received via phone December 4, 2025
Standardized Test: GMAT
GMAT: 645
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Application Location: Canada
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