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Real Humans - Alumni

Published: April 1, 2020
Real Humans of Facebook: Jenina Soto, Wharton ’17, GMS Business Planning & Operations Associate
Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook along with a handful of fellow students and roommates while at Harvard College.  Our featured alumna today, Jenina Soto, also spent some time at Harvard (albeit, the Kennedy School of Government) before joining the social media and tech giant.  Before Harvard, Soto earned her MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.  Read on for her story about how a dual degree program prepared her for success at Facebook, her main takeaways from her graduate education and more about the recruiting process in this edition of Read more
Published: March 31, 2020
Real Humans of Google: Rakshit Dhalla, Michigan Ross ’19, Strategy and Operations Manager
We’ve heard from MBA graduates in such diverse positions at Google in our Real Humans: Alumni series.  Google.com is the most visited site in the world, but the company also offers hundreds of services. Rakshit Dhalla, Michigan Ross MBA ’19 and strategy operations manager, deals with supporting related offerings for small and medium businesses.  Read on for what stands out about the work culture at Google, which MBA courses helped him the most, and how he landed a job at his dream company. Rakshit Dhalla, Michigan Ross ’19, Strategy and Operations Read more
Published: March 30, 2020
Real Humans of Amazon: Ygal Haenel, INSEAD ’19, Senior Financial Analyst
Amazon identifies 14 leadership principles underlying their operations, problem-solving approaches and team ideations. Some examples include ownership, frugality, learn and be curious, think big, and dive deep.  “Hire and develop the best” is another principle that Ygal Haenel, INSEAD MBA ’19 and senior financial analyst at Amazon, recognized during their recruiting process–as well as after, when he settled into his role and had time to engage with his colleagues.  In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, see how the INSEAD MBA program prepared Haenel for a fulfilling career at Amazon and provided Read more
Published: March 29, 2020
Real Humans of Google: Sam Breslow, NYU Stern ’19, Technical Account Manager for Cloud Professional Services
Cloud computing has revolutionized the way we conduct business and much more.  The days of floppy and Zip disks are long gone—many have probably only seen them in memes, while some of us still remember needing that flimsy piece of plastic to play Oregon Trail in grade school.  The present and future of data storage and computing power now belong in the cloud—remote servers we can access over the Internet.  Ensuring access and related business services requires a mix of technical skills and management acumen—some skills that can only be honed through an MBA program.  In this edition of Read more
Published: March 25, 2020
Real Humans of McKinsey: Allison Howard, Northwestern Kellogg ’19, Associate
While an MBA can enhance your current career path, it can also support a switch to an entirely new one. In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, we hear from Allison Howard, an MBA graduate of Northwestern Kellogg and current associate at McKinsey.  Pre-MBA, she had a fulfilling career in entertainment, but wanted to pivot.  The leading consulting firm, McKinsey, is known for providing flexibility and support to its associates–they can choose assignments and are encouraged to pursue projects that meet their interests and skill-based needs.  Read on for Howard’s story about Read more
Published: March 24, 2020
Real Humans of Apple: Andrew Kwan, NYU Stern ’19, Supply Demand Planner
There are over one billion active Apple products in the world right now.  Extensive supply chain management enables this continued reach.  Being part of the supply chain teams can also require advanced management and analytical skills, like the ones Andrew Kwan honed during the MBA program at NYU Stern.  In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, hear from Kwan regarding why he pursued an MBA, what prepared him the most for Apple, and what about the work culture there appeals to him the most. Andrew Kwan, NYU Stern MBA ’19, Supply Read more
Published: March 23, 2020
Real Humans of Google: Andrew Dunckelman, HBS ’14, Head of Impact and Insights
Google is not just a dot-com that we visit for any and all information—it’s also a dot-org with philanthropic efforts and goals.  Google CEO Sundar Pichai has set a five-year goal of awarding $1 billion in grants supporting education, equity, and entrepreneurship.  When it comes to directing and measuring Google’s social impact, in comes staff like Andrew Dunckelman, Harvard Business School MBA ’14 and head of impact and insights at Google.  Together with his team, he leads Google.org’s impact measurement, learning, and thought leadership agenda.  In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Read more
Published: March 22, 2020
Real Humans of Deloitte: Abhinoor Dhull, Wharton ’19, Senior Consultant
William Welch Deloitte opened what would become Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (better known as just Deloitte) in 1845 in a small office in London. Thirty-five years later, the company expanded overseas to New York, eventually landing on Wall Street, then adding branches in Chicago and Buenos Aires. Now, Deloitte operates in over 150 countries.  Our featured alumna also wants to found her own business someday, and knew she needed to develop her consulting chops at Deloitte.  Read on for insights and advice from Abhhinoor Dhull, Wharton MBA ’19 Read more
Published: March 19, 2020
Real Humans of BCG: Brierley Penn, LBS ’19, Consultant
In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, we jump back into the consulting sector to leading consulting firm, Boston Consulting Group (BCG).  Our featured alumna, Brierley Penn, graduated from London Business School in 2019 and rejoined BCG after graduation.  While many applicants may expect to commit two full years to a program, LBS offers their full-time MBA program in three lengths: 15, 18 and 21 months.  The 15-month option still allows time for an internship and exploration, as shown by Read more
Published: March 18, 2020
Real Humans of Microsoft: Devna Shukla, NYU Stern ’19, Business Development Manager of Monetization
Current CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella, is credited with turning the culture of Microsoft around, to a “growth mindset.” The tech giant’s mission statement is now, “empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.” Similarly, business school is a pressure cooker for development.  From the classes and cohorts, to career services and skills, every aspect of an MBA program is designed to make you a better business leader.  Devna Shukla, NYU Stern MBA ’19 and business development manager at Microsoft, chose the New York City program and her post-MBA employer precisely because Read more
Published: March 17, 2020
Real Humans of Amazon: Varun Haralalka, Michigan Ross ’19, Sr. Instock Manager
Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Amazon has grown into the world’s largest retailer by annual revenue. In 2018, their sales accounted for 43 percent of all online sales, and the company marked a $1 trillion valuation in 2020. To reach such heights, employees at every level need to contribute innovative ideas, solid analytical skills and nimble management abilities.  Operationally, as part of supporting reaching global delivery destinations and ensuring Amazon’s continued success, instock managers oversee planning, analysis and optimization of inventory management systems and processes. Varun Haralalka, a Michigan Ross MBA ’19 and senior instock manager at Read more
Published: March 15, 2020
Real Humans of McKinsey: Jun Guang Da Qu, Stanford GSB ’19, Associate
Most MBAs get their feet wet in consulting interning as summer associates between their first and second school years.  Post-MBA, at McKinsey, graduates usually spend between two and three years at the associate level before evaluation for a promotion to engagement manager. The next step, in three to five years, is associate principal.  Finally, qualified candidates can become a principal or partner.  In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Jun Guang Da Qu, a Stanford GSB alumnus and associate at McKinsey, takes us back to the beginning of such a journey, as he Read more
Published: March 11, 2020
Real Humans of Google: Chris Eck, Duke Fuqua ’14, Senior Account Executive
Google is a top employer of MBAs, and we’ve already heard from graduates taking on roles in product management and engineering.  The tech giant also hires for any and all functions, from marketing to sales and strategy to operations.  In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Chris Eck, a Duke Fuqua MBA ’14 and senior account executive at Google, highlights what to expect in the recruiting process, what to make the most of in business school and how the curriculum carries over into the Read more
Published: March 10, 2020
Real Humans of McKinsey: Nathan Stevens, Michigan Ross ’19, Associate
What business problem have you been trying to solve the longest? Whose buy-in did you need? Which obstacles could you simply not overcome, no matter how many different angles you approached them from?  In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Nathan Stevens, a Michigan Ross MBA ’19 and associate at McKinsey, offers a powerful story about the impact of graduate management education. Beyond an MBA, if you love to solve global business and social problems, McKinsey is the place to be.  The firm has fostered thousands of projects for foundations and nonprofits Read more
Published: March 9, 2020
Real Humans of BCG: Madeleine Macks, Wharton ’18, Consultant
Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has been lauded by MBA alumni in this series for its community and culture.  Our featured alumna, Madeleine Macks, Wharton MBA ’18 and consultant at BCG, echoed those sentiments and added the value of the scope of projects there.  Indeed, BCG cites expertise in 20 industries—from automotive and education, to insurance and the public sector, and everything in between.  Wharton is also a solid training ground for consulting, and a quarter of the most recent class Read more
Published: March 8, 2020
Real Humans of Facebook: Bankole Makanju, HBS ’17, Product Manager
Like. Share. Post. Top Stories vs. Most Recent.  Tag Friends. Add to Your Story. No matter what you like to do most on Facebook, at least some part of the social media giant is likely integrated into your daily life.  And, while you peruse pictures of your family and friends, there are other people hard at work off-screen optimizing and delivering various products.  In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, we hear from a product manager at Facebook and graduate of Harvard Business School in 2017.  Read on for Bankole Makanju’s journey Read more
Published: March 4, 2020
Real Humans of Deloitte: Vinithra Raveendran, Cornell Johnson ’19, Senior Consultant
Consulting is consistently one of the most popular industry choices for MBA graduates. It’s a lucrative lifestyle, and the work is dynamic, engaging and analytical.  Consultants need a full suite of management skills to thrive in the industry—and global firms to provide a landscape of projects to execute. Deloitte is one such global firm that provides myriad opportunities for MBA students and graduates interested in the field.  While headquartered in London, England, Deloitte has hundreds of offices around the world.  Vinithra Raveendran, Cornell Johnson MBA ’19 and senior consultant at Deloitte, chose Read more
Published: March 3, 2020
Real Humans of Apple: Richie Huang, Northwestern Kellogg ’19, Operations Program Manager
Apple is the world’s largest tech company. They started with personal computers in the 1970s, then continuously evolved, developing consumer electronics—the iPod, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch and more—that are now ubiquitous. As of January 2018, the world’s population uses over 1.3 billion Apple products.  So, what skills does it take to thrive at the tech giant?  In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, we find out from Richie Huang, an alumnus of Northwestern Kellogg and operations program manager at Apple. Read on for his story about choosing Kellogg’s MMM program, which confers Read more
Published: March 2, 2020
Real Humans of Walmart: Griffin Dowdy, CBS ’18, Senior Manager of Strategy & Programs
Outside of the most popular fields of tech, consulting and finance, MBA graduates pursue careers in myriad different industries—retail, consumer goods, manufacturing, real estate and more. In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, we hear from a Columbia Business School MBA alum who chose to follow a path in retail. Griffin Dowdy, who graduated CBS in 2018, now works as a senior manager of strategy and programs at Walmart, the multinational retail corporation and world’s largest company by revenue.  Walmart offers several career tracks for MBA students, including finance, marketing, eCommerce, operations Read more
Published: March 1, 2020
Real Humans of Amazon: Tolu Alabi, Stanford GSB ’17, Senior Technical Product Manager
Amazon began as an online book retailer in 1994, but now has a branch in every business sector imaginable.  The professional opportunities at the organization are boundless, as Tolu Alabi, Stanford GSB MBA ’17 and Senior Technical Product Manager, knows well. In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Alabi recounts her journey of self-reflection and b-school student life to landing at the company.  Read on to learn more about Amazon’s culture, the valuable skills of graduate management education, and how the MBA community carries on after graduation and more. Tolu Alabi, Stanford Read more
Published: February 26, 2020
Real Humans of Bain: Rachel Neiger, LBS ’17, Case Team Leader
The MBA is a reliable vehicle for career switchers and, as seen in this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, it can also enhance one’s current career path.  Rachel Neiger, London Business School MBA ’17 and case team leader at Bain & Co., already knew she would be returning to the leading consulting firm when she started her business school search.  The culture of Bain is seen as supportive, investing in employees’ development and consistently ranking as a “Best Place to Work” by the likes of Fortune and Glassdoor, among others.  Read on to learn Read more
Published: February 25, 2020
Real Humans of Google: Juan Vasquez, Booth ’19, Android Partner Engineering Strategy and Operations
Most know Google through our computer or phone screens, typing requests next to the magnifying glass or simply saying “Hey Google!” to retrieve instant answers about whatever is on our mind.  But, what is it like to work for the tech giant?  Google employees, affectionately referred to as “Googlers,” collaborate on large, cross- functional and departmental projects. Employees are encouraged to spend time on big ideas and innovate at every level of the company, outside of their day-to-day tasks. Most may also know Chicago Booth as a finance powerhouse, but their post-MBA Read more
Published: February 24, 2020
Real Humans of BCG: Vinnie Sood, Wharton ’16, Project Leader
Curiosity, leadership and the ability to collaborate are just a few of the skills Boston Consulting Group (BCG) looks for when they hire consultants.  In terms of intellectual chops, BCG states that “superior academic credentials are a necessary—but not sufficient—requirement.”  Due to the variety and scope of their projects, BCG seeks both generalists and subject matter experts in its MBA hires.  The resulting mix of talent creates a caliber of colleagues that for Vinnie Sood, Wharton MBA ’16 and project leader at BCG, is a highlight of working at the elite firm.  In this edition of Read more
Published: February 23, 2020
Real Humans of Accenture: Mogbekeloluwa Koye-Ladele, INSEAD ’18, Strategy Consultant
Accenture is a leading professional services company, with operations in over 200 cities in 51 countries, and employing just over a half-million people.  The organization is comprised of five businesses: Accenture Strategy, Accenture Consulting, Accenture Digital, Accenture Technology and Accenture Operations. The INSEAD MBA alumnus profiled in this edition of Real Humans: Alumni joined the Accenture Strategy division, at the crossroads of consulting & tech with a dash of consumer goods.  Read on for Mogbekeloluwa’s story from Nigeria to Fontainebleau and beyond. Mogbekeloluwa Koye-Ladele, INSEAD ’18, Strategy Consultant Mogbekeloluwa Koye-Ladele, INSEAD Read more
Published: February 20, 2020
Real Humans of Microsoft: Jamell Culler, Michigan Ross ’19, Azure IoT Product Marketing Manager
Microsoft is woven into the fabric of business. You probably even have one of their products open on your computer right now—from Excel and PowerPoint to Word, likely even running on their Windows operating system.  Or maybe you’ve checked LinkedIn today—a company that Microsoft acquired in 2016. While several long standing building blocks of business can be attributed to Microsoft, the tech company continues to innovate and pursue new foundations for the future.  This potential for shaping the reach of new products and services is what drew Jamell Culler, Michigan Ross MBA ’19 and Azure IoT Read more

MBA Applywire

20
May 27, 2026 12:04pm ET
Applying: American / Kogod, Arizona State / W.P. Carey, Babson / Olin, Boston College / Carroll, Carnegie Mellon / Tepper, Cornell / Johnson, Duke / Fuqua, Georgetown / McDonough, Georgia / Terry, Georgia Tech / Scheller, Rice / Jones, Temple / Fox, U. Illinois Urbana, UC Irvine Merage, UNC Kenan-Flagler, UVA / Darden, Vanderbilt / Owen, Washington U / Olin, Willam & Mary / Mason, Wisconsin
Intake Year: 2027
Pre-MBA Career: Business Development, Operations and Leadership
Post MBA Career: Asset Management, Management Consulting, Evercore Partners, Credit Suisse, BNP Paribas, Bank of America Securities, Investment Banking, Fidelity, Credit Agricole, Blackrock, Bank of New York Mellon, Finance, Exxon Mobil, Constellation, Chevron Corp, Energy, KPMG, Kearney, EY Parthenon, Ernst & Young, Consulting
GPA: 3.26
Years of Work Experience: 11
Location: Nigeria
Post MBA Location: Atlanta
Notes:

I have worked for over 10 years in sales and business development and I am currently completing a PostGraduate Diploma in Banking and Finance and I need an a good MBA to enable me pivot into financial services.
13
May 27, 2026 4:47am ET
Applying: Columbia Business School, Cornell / Johnson, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, Indian School of Business, INSEAD, London Business School, Michigan / Ross, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, NYU Stern, Penn / Wharton, Yale SOM
Intake Year: 2027
Pre-MBA Career: Consulting
Post MBA Career: Consulting
GPA: 8.65
Years of Work Experience: 2
Location: India
Post MBA Location: Wherever I pursue my MBA
Notes:

Currently working in consulting with a major FMCG/alcobev client, mainly across analytics, supply, and business problem-solving work. Over time, I’ve realized I enjoy understanding why problems exist within organizations and how teams, systems, and decisions can work better together, which is what’s pushing me towards strategy consulting and an MBA.

A lot of my interest in business also comes from seeing how everyday products and operations work behind the scenes. Outside work, I co-founded and ran a digital literacy initiative (1yr 2mo) during COVID where we helped elderly individuals and women from underserved communities learn basic digital tools to stay connected and manage daily activities during lockdown.

I’m currently preparing for the GMAT and exploring schools such as LBS, Fuqua, Ross, Tuck, and a few reach schools depending on how the score progresses.
45
May 26, 2026 9:40am ET
Applying: Bath, Boston / Questrom, Chicago Booth, Columbia Business School, Florida / Warrington, George Washington, IE Business School, Illinois / Gies, Indian School of Business, Indiana / Kelley, INSEAD, Johns Hopkins / Carey, Lauder Institute, London Business School, Manchester / AMBS, Miami / Herbert, Michigan / Ross, Michigan State / Broad, Minnesota / Carlson, MIT Sloan, Nanyang, Northwestern / Kellogg, Notre Dame / Mendoza, NYU Stern, Oxford / Saïd, Penn / Wharton, Penn State / Smeal, Rice / Jones, Rochester / Simon, St. Gallen, Stanford GSB, Temple / Fox, Toronto / Rotman, U. Illinois Urbana, UC Davis GSM, UC Irvine Merage, UC San Diego / Rady, UCLA Anderson, UMD / Smith, USC / Marshall, UT Austin / McCombs, UT Dallas / Jindal, UVA / Darden, Willam & Mary / Mason, Wisconsin
Intake Year: 2027
Pre-MBA Career: BBA
Post MBA Career: Transportation, Consumer Goods
GPA: 3.8
Years of Work Experience: 6
5
May 26, 2026 9:22am ET
Applying: Chicago Booth, Harvard Business School, Northwestern / Kellogg, Penn / Wharton, UVA / Darden
Intake Year: 2027
Pre-MBA Career: Naval Aviation
Post MBA Career: Consulting, Manufacturing/Automotive/Aerospace
GMAT: 715
GPA: 3.76
Years of Work Experience: 7
Notes:

Veteran. Ivy League undergrad. Planning to pivot into consulting or LDP.
8
May 26, 2026 9:18am ET
Applying: Chicago Booth, Dartmouth / Tuck, Harvard Business School, Michigan / Ross, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, NYU Stern, Stanford GSB
Intake Year: 2027
Pre-MBA Career: I have worked with the top 5 insurance companies in India as a part of the general management rotational program as a product manager. This is after my mba from India(top ten institute with 92 percentile in CAT).
Post MBA Career: Venture Capital, Legend Capital, Kleiner Perkins, First Round Capital, Draper Fisher, Charles River, Bessemer Venture Partners, Battery Ventures, Andressen Horowitz, Accel Partners, Bain Capital, Private Equity, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Barclays, Bank of America Securities, Investment Banking, Finance, Lightspeed Venture Partners
GPA: 8.71
Years of Work Experience: 6
Location: India
Post MBA Location: USA
Notes:

I was in the top 5 of my class in mba from India and was a beta gamma sigma. This would be my second mba. I was also in the top 5 of my class in engineering. In my general management product management role I have worked with engineering team of 131 members building solutions for the insurance company (max New York life insurance). I want to shift from product management to investment banking or private equity.
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MBA LiveWire

May 28, 2026 7:12pm ET
Accepted from Waitlist to Columbia Business School
Round: Round 2
Received via email May 28, 2026
Standardized Test: Executive Assessment (EA)
GPA: 8.14/10
EA: 164
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Finance
Application Location: Argentina, Buenos Aires
Juno Member: Not yet
May 28, 2026 5:00pm ET
Rejected at Stanford GSB
Round: Round 3
Received via portal May 28, 2026
Standardized Test: GRE
GPA: 3.8
GRE: 315
Program Type: Deferred Enrollment
Application Location: Europe
Juno Member: Not yet
May 28, 2026 4:52pm ET
Accepted from Waitlist to Dartmouth / Tuck
Round: Round 2
Received via phone May 28, 2026
Standardized Test: GRE
GPA: 3.5
GRE: 310
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Juno Member: Not yet
May 28, 2026 12:46pm ET
Waitlisted at Stanford GSB
Round: Round 3
Received via portal May 28, 2026
Standardized Test: GRE
GPA: 3.76
GRE: 327
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career: Finance, Venture Capital
Application Location: SEA
Juno Member: Not yet
May 28, 2026 12:22pm ET
Waitlisted at Stanford GSB
Round: Round 3
Received via portal May 28, 2026
Standardized Test: GRE
GPA: 3.7
GRE: 322
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career: Other Industries
Juno Member: Not yet
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