Tepper School of Business
Student Voices
Jaymin Patel Jana Cain Jason Lewis Kathryn Basch Tuesday Tibbs Christine McGarry Subu Narayanan Omer Riaz Swetha Bharadvaj Cyanne Demchak
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Hometown: New Castle, PA Undergrad: Youngstown State University, BA – Industrial & Systems Engineering Pre-MBA employment: General Mills, Logistics and Operations Planner Post-MBA employment: Booz & Company, Associate |
As every day passes and new opportunities present themselves to a better-prepared “me,” I am more and more convinced that a Tepper MBA was the right decision. I realize it’s not only what I was learning in B-school in general, but specifically at Tepper and at Carnegie Mellon that has made me more confident and helped me achieve success with really unique opportunities. I started out with a passion to make a difference in the world – to leave my mark, as they say. I had the opportunity to apply for a dual degree with the Heinz School of Public Policy. The faculty, administration and staff made the process a smooth one and supported me at every step. From my acceptance to a study trip to the Heinz School’s Australia campus, it has been an experience I never thought I would have. I have traveled around the world, visiting dozens of countries over five continents. Living in Australia for four months, I studied policy and utilized the knowledge gained from Tepper’s Entrepreneurship MBA Track by launching my own [successful!] dance company. I created a business plan, identified my target demographics, created marketing materials, pricing formats, and selected leaders to help me take the business off the ground. |
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Hometown: Salinas, CA |
I had pretty much done it all (or so I thought). Throughout my career, I worked for small companies and large companies, public companies and private companies, and a few nonprofits. I had changed functions and careers a time or two. In my spare time, I was a college equestrian coach and a tax preparer. Yet over the course of amassing these unique experiences, something was still missing. I was looking for the proverbial “icing on the cake.” Enter the Tepper School of Business. B-school was the next logical step for me, but there were so many schools to choose from. As I finalized my selection criteria, I realized I had a very tall order facing me. World renowned faculty. A large offering of electives from which to choose. Rigorous academics in a small class setting. I wanted all of this in an environment that would take me out of my comfort zone. My experience at the Tepper School has been extremely rewarding. While here, I have discovered new heights of my own capabilities. There is a pride I have now that I did not have a year ago. And with this pride has come a confidence that will carry me well beyond the walls of Posner Hall. I see now that my journey began long ago - It was day one here at Tepper where I was first exposed to an experience that is guiding me in the right direction. |
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Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA Pre-MBA employment: U.S. Army, MBA internship: Cowen & Company, LLC, Summer Associate, Healthcare Coverage Group |
Prior to business school, I served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army. I worked in the special operations community where I was deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan. As a Green Beret in Iraq, I led a small team of exceptionally talented colleagues. I had to lead and manage my men, as well as a unit of Iraqis. In a complex, and dynamic situation, we provided security and nurtured stability; built rapport and lasting relationships; and reconstructed an oppressed sector. After accomplishing my personal and professional mission, it was time for me to leave the Army and begin a new chapter in my life. Business school was the next logical step. To ensure my future success, it was critical for me to learn the fundamental and advanced aspects of accounting, finance and economics. Tepper’s approach to teaching and its reputation in these disciplines is unmatched. The small class size provided the intimate experience that I was used to. After I explored several international and domestic schools, I realized that I only needed to apply to one – Tepper. At Tepper, I serve as the president of our Graduate Finance Association. And by working with the school’s Career Opportunities Center, I earned an internship at a prestigious investment bank during the summer of 2009.
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Hometown: White Lake, MI |
With my engineering background, I was immediately drawn to Tepper's analytical approach. I am a career-switcher who is making an entry into marketing, and I was seeks a solid foundation to build business skills. I was not looking for "fluff" or repackaged ideas from old case solutions. Instead, I wanted real, cutting edge, fact-based learning. I needed to equip myself and decided to immerse myself at a school that would challenge me in ways that I had never been challenged. Here’s what I know: facts, smarts and execution will ultimately serve as the next frontier of marketing leadership. Once Mini 1 began, it did not take long for me to realize that my transition into marketing would happen fast. By Mini 4, I had acquired a marketing tool kit grounded in analytical decision-making. I now solve marketing problems using dynamic pricing, marketing optimization models, innovative product development, and creative customer retention strategies. Messy, complex problems that make “traditional” marketers throw up their hands in confusion are those where I begin to roll up my sleeves. Not only have I learned new skills, but I also took on a leadership role as the President of the Marketing Club. During an interview with P&G, I learned the value of both my leadership and quantitative skills. As the P&G recruiter shared a view that brand managers are analytical decision makers who possess a creative mindset, I smiled because I knew that Tepper had given me what this company was looking for. This summer, I worked on P&G's Olay brand, and I really enjoyed applying cutting-edge techniques to solve their marketing problems. |
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Hometown: Baltimore, MD Undergrad: Hampton University, BS –Business Administration Pre-MBA employment: PricewaterhouseCoopers, Audit Intern MBA internship: PNC, Corporate Banking Post-MBA employment: PNC, Analyst, Corporate Banking |
There is no denying that my first year at Tepper was challenging. I had just finished my undergraduate degree before arriving, so I was accustomed to the routine of studying. But, the Tepper School's mini-semester system became real to me when I realized that mid-terms would be three weeks after the first day of classes. At the end of the first year, it was hard for me to believe that I really knew so much given how quickly I had to take in so much information. I was nervous about whether I would remember all the information I learned as I headed into my summer internship in Corporate Banking. Boy, was I wrong! I never hesitated while discussing interest rates, the yield curve, swaps and bond ratings with the banking team. When I met the CFO at a networking event, I was comfortable chatting about the company's position in the market. I can truly say that the Tepper experience has polished me. It isn't just about being comfortable with the numbers and the classroom principles. I loved the networking and social aspects of interacting with the firm's senior leadership. All that information I learned at Tepper really did click! |
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Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa Undergrad: Carnegie Mellon University, BS – Business Administration pre-MBA employment: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Department of Contracts and Grants MBA internship: PricewaterhouseCoopers, Financial Services Post-MBA employment: PricewaterhouseCoopers, Associate, Financial Services Advisory |
Prior to my MBA, I also earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the Tepper School of Business. During my time in the undergraduate program, I interned for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Department of Contracts and Grants in a finance and accounting role. After my first year in the MBA program, I interned at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Financial Services Consulting out of New York City, and I accepted a full-time offer to return there after graduation. Throughout my MBA experience I studied a variety of disciplines, including Finance, Accounting, and Strategy, and I also completed the Global Enterprise Management track. These studies allowed me to gain tremendous hands-on experience, both in the classroom and all around Europe! Tepper provided a wealth of opportunities, not only for learning and integrating diverse disciplines, but for meeting and working with great colleagues and friends. My years in the 3/2 program were challenging but exceptionally rewarding, and they went by far too quickly! When I have the opportunity, I love to travel, read, and spend time with family and friends. |
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Hometown: Mumbai, India Undergrad: Mumbai University, Bachelor of Electrical Engineering Pre-MBA employment: Siemens, Ltd., Marketing Executive, Power Transmission and Distribution Divison MBA internship: Amazon.Com, Senior Financial Analyst - Operations Finance Post-MBA employment: McKinsey & Company, Associate |
I completed my engineering degree and had been at Siemens for three years. Suddenly, I realized: I needed more business skills to achieve what I ultimately wanted out of my career. I wanted to solve pressing client business problems. I wanted to get into management consulting. I knew I needed the skills that only B-school could give me. This is the path that led me to Tepper. Reflecting back on my time at Tepper, I found it was the ideal place for me to start out in a new country. Small classes, tight knit community, supportive faculty and stuff – immediately, I felt like I was a part of it all. I never felt lost. At Tepper, I took a lot of amazing classes - courses in business, finance, strategy. Not only do you learn what said industry is doing now or what it’s done in the past, but you are actually learning about what will come in the future – for which you will have the opportunity to be a change agent. It is the Futuristic approach to business. That’s the Tepper focus. Tepper was really an ideal place coming from another country, the best choice I could have made for B-school. I never felt like I was in a foreign country. Additionally, I have the skills to support a successful career in management consulting – or whatever else I might one day choose in the future. The best thing about choosing Tepper is the people. The life long friendships I have cultivated, the people who supported me and made me feel like I was at home, and the community which I will always be a part of. That’s what Tepper means to me. |
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Hometown: Lahore, Pakistan Undergrad: Ohio Wesleyan University, Bachelors in Economics & Computer Science MBA employment: Post-MBA employment: Benefitfocus.com Inc., Product Manager, HR InTouch (tm) |
Hi, my name is Omer Riaz, and I am a recent flex-time graduate from the Tepper MBA program. I have a background in software startups, and commercializing cutting-edge technologies. Five years ago, I moved to Pittsburgh to co-found a local CRM company. The next two years were an intense learning experience that gave me exposure to Sales, Marketing, Operations Management and Product Development. I was fortunate to be surrounded by outstanding business leaders. As the company expanded, I had the opportunity to work with a Tepper alum who revolutionized our processes, and made it possible for us to scale. At that point, I knew I wanted to pursue an MBA to acquire business skills that could deliver game-changing results, and I knew Tepper was the place to get them. |
