Andrew Sime ’25

I pursued an MBA to help me pivot out of active miliary duty into a civilian career. My wife and I also wanted to stay close to our extended families in Connecticut, because we welcomed our first child on August 28! While Yale SOM was the natural geographic choice, the school’s focus on creating leaders for business and society really resonated with the duality of my career aspirations.

I want a career that will let me continue giving back to the community, and I came to SOM hoping to build on the leadership skills I developed in the military. SOM’s integrated core curriculum introduced me to stakeholders and perspectives that I’d never considered. And the ability to study at other Yale schools is also incredibly enriching. I’ve taken classes at Yale Law School and at the Jackson School of Global Affairs with classmates from across the university. Everyone brings a unique story. The conversations are exciting and challenging, and the opportunities to get involved are endless.

The caliber of public- and private-sector leaders in and around Evans Hall on a daily basis greatly enhances the learning that goes on here. Yale has tremendous reach when it comes to bringing speakers to campus. I had the privilege of attending a dialogue on conflict in the Middle East hosted by SOM’s Chief Executive Leadership Institute and Professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld in 2023. Thought leaders, clergy, and diplomats—including ambassadors from Israel and the UAE—shared their insights on a possible road to peace in the region. The event exemplified Yale’s real-world leadership role.

I did my summer internship at McKinsey’s Connecticut office, and I’m excited to say I’ve accepted an offer to return to a full-time consulting position. It’s the right role at the right time. It allows me to keep my family in Connecticut and still work on solving some of the hardest problems confronting companies, industries, and governments around the world.

The entire SOM community contributed to my success. The supportive, noncompetitive environment here is what makes this school such a special place. Career Development Office advisors, Veterans Club leaders, the Consulting Club programming, and a bunch of second-year MBA mentors all helped me take this step. I’m now paying it forward, making time to help my classmates, because success for one of us is success for all of us.