Finance is such a competitive field, and I felt an MBA was necessary to elevate my career. From the first time I set foot in Evans Hall, I knew Yale was the only place I wanted to attend. I was so impressed by the professors and the students, and the culture. It’s an extremely special and supportive place, and I’m humbled and honored to be a part of it.
Managing Groups and Teams has been the most immediately applicable course for me so far. The class helped highlight the additional challenges we’re all facing with the increase in remote work this year—at school and on the job—and allowed us to create our own solutions. It’s illustrated how important it is to foster strong relationships and to include all our teammates in the process.
Our leadership development courses have also been very valuable. They’ve already taught me a lot about my strengths and weaknesses as a leader. My tendency is to jump in and lead, so one thing I’m working on is taking more of a backseat approach, to ensure everyone in my learning team has a voice. I’ve realized that my natural extroversion can overpower introverts, and it’s been especially important working in a remote environment to speak in turn, and to actively listen.
Like many of my classmates, I have a work schedule that doesn’t allow much time to study during the week. I manage my workload by being very organized with my time, and doing most of my schoolwork on weekends. (During the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been easier to manage social obligations, since we haven’t had the ability to do much socializing the past several months.)
But I have planned my wedding and moved since starting the program. You find a way to make it all work. Preparation and time management are key. I’m lucky to have a fantastic learning team at Yale SOM. We all help support one another when needed.
