Free Webinar: Action Learning – Projects that make a difference
Join Clear Admit CEO Eliot Ingram, Illinois/Gies Director of Admissions & Recruitment Jennifer Larson and Illinois/Gies Director of Action Learning to discuss the benefits of Action Learning during your MBA experience.
Thursday, March 29th , 2018
1:00 p.m. EST/ 12:00 p.m. CST
In this online information session, the panel will discuss how prepared students are for the job market via Action Learning experiences, how action/experiential learning can make a difference in your career and what skills you will gain through your action learning experiences:
Topics covered include:
- What Action Learning looks like at the Illinois MBA
- The Consulting Lab and its core components
- The Global Immersion Lab Experience
- Q&A with current students
*Can’t make it?
Don’t worry. Sign up anyway and you’ll get a recording sent to you after the webinar has completed.
Speakers
Andrew Allen- Director, Action Learning
Before joining the University of Illinois, Andrew worked for KPMG and Opportunity Fund in the San Francisco Bay Area and ran a startup in the higher education space. For the past 7 years, Andrew has worked in the area of experiential learning – or learning by doing – and has been involved in over 300 client-based projects at the University of Illinois and at several universities around the country.
Jennifer Larson- Director, Recruiting and Admissions
Jennifer Larson- Director, Recruiting and AdmissionsJenny leads the Illinois MBA recruiting and marketing team. Previously, and when she first joined the College of Business in 2014, Jenny served as a MBA career coach. She also has more than 15 years of sales and marketing experience in both the public and private sectors, serving as Assistant Athletic Director for Sales and Marketing with Illinois Athletics and the Assistant Director of Marketing for the University’s primary entertainment venue, Assembly Hall. She began her career working for Hyster Company/NACCO MHG. She is also an alum of the Illinois MBA.
MBA Applywire
Work Experience
• As of the time of application, five years in top-tier strategy consulting (client-face role), including 2 years at a Tier-2 global firm and 3 years at an MBB, consistently recognized as a top-performing consultant and awarded MBA sponsorship
• Broad exposure to international projects across diverse industries and strategic topics, with roles engaging mid- to senior-level client stakeholders
Social Impact & Volunteering
• Volunteer mentor at a non-profit dedicated to providing educational support and career guidance to low-income youth, contributing to social mobility initiatives
Academics
• B.Eng. in Civil Engineering from a top 3 Brazilian university with a GPA of 7.84/10.00
• GMAT Focus 665 (Q82, V85, DI82)
EA Score: Quant: 12 IR: 12 V: 10
I got a Master Degree in Finance with a 3.7 GPA.
CV:
Purchasing Manager (2025- Current) in a Mexican Leading plumbing company that manufactures 1,900 Skus with 1,200+ employees.
Innovation Engineer (2023 - 2025) in a Mexican Leading plumbing company that manufactures 1,900 Skus with 1,200+ employees.
Financial Analyst Sr. (2022 - 2023) in Strategic business services center.
Financial Analyst (2020 - 2022) in a Telecommunications infrastructure company, 150 employees
Short Term Goals: Right after my MBA, my goal is to work in the US, in a strategic corporate role, like a Global Procurement Manager, Operations Consultant, or a member of a Supply Chain Leadership Program in a global company. I want to manage large international supply chains, lead cross-border projects, and learn how top companies use new technologies to run their operations.
Long Term Goals: Ten years after my MBA, my goal is to be the Director of Development, Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the company where I work right now or Director of Product Development. In this position, I want to lead the company's high-level strategy, drive our global expansion, and make the executive decisions on where the company is heading. Additionally, depending on the company's timings and internal succession plans, my ultimate goal is to compete for the General Director (CEO) position to lead the entire enterprise.
Why MBA Now: Through my roles in innovation, finance, and procurement at a leading manufacturer, I’ve learned how operational decisions shape overall business performance. I’ve led the digital transformation integrating an AI-powered strategic sourcing platform in indirect purchases and building supply chain resilience against tariff changes. However, I want to increase my influence over high-level business direction and execution. Having optimized our foundational operations, this is the perfect window to pivot toward global leadership. I need to develop leadership experience in a world-class global organization to return and successfully lead the company as it reaches its mature, global scale.
Silver medallist/ 7 years finance experience in JP Morgan and American Express (US market) / Led $30B commercial portfolio, led multiple initiative leading to $100M profitability/ Running AI startup in Supply chain finance- backed by Entrepreneur First
I want to be on a COO track in the medical device industry. I want to focus my MBA on strategy within an operations framework, so I can be the best applicant for MBB consulting in the medical device industry.
MBA LiveWire
Applied June 17, interview invite July 2, interview July 14, accepted July 16