Welcome back to the Humans of Tepper Podcast. This week hosts Mike and Rosa Maria are joined by Alp Erbug and Pablo Gomez, both first-year international MBA students in the technology space.     Pablo grew up in Mexico and came to the US for his undergraduate degree. He focused on finance before pivoting into analytics and technology during the pandemic. Alp was born in Turkey, and also came to the US for his undergrad to study engineering before moving into the tech space. Pablo and Alp were both involved with internships this summer through Tepper.    Pablo interned with Google, which was an amazing opportunity for him coming from a finance background. It was a fun company to work with, has a great collaborative atmosphere, and people from so many different backgrounds. Google has so many resources to familiarize yourself with the company and culture, and have groups specifically for international students to help them better navigate living and working in the US.   Pablo worked for Amazon in Seattle as a product manager. He had a great experience with the company, and learned of the opportunity through Tepper-led events. Networking plays such a big role in finding opportunities that are not just great, but good fits for what you’re looking for in an internship. Product Managers are problem solvers that identify issues and make connections that keep everything running smoothing.    Both Alp and Pablo are on the Technology Strategy and Product Management (TSPM) track, which gives you access to classes in other schools. It gives you the opportunities to learn strategies from other fields of studies, and exposure to learn more than just in your one concentration. It also connects you to other students and graduates in the tech space. What You Will Learn:   Background on Tepper students Alp and Pablo.The recruitment experience of Tepper’s summer internship programs.The Technology Strategy and Product Management (TSPM) track at Tepper.

Welcome back to the Humans of Tepper Podcast. This week hosts Nikita and Ayush are joined by Chris and Chrissy, both first-year, full-time students at Tepper, to discuss entrepreneurship at Tepper.     Chrissy is from China and came to the US at 16. She triple-majored in Accounting, Marketing, and Information Systems in her undergrad University of Chicago at Urbana Champaign. After graduating, she worked in marketing for a Thai start-up company which started her thinking about entrepreneurship and business development. On the other hand, Chris grew up in the Detroit area of Michigan and has a background in corporate finance for the automotive industry. As he worked in various finance positions, he noticed how many of his higher-ups and mentors had MBAs, which ultimately led him to apply to Tepper.   Tepper is very focused on innovations and analytical aspects, which was a huge draw for Chrissy, who works a lot in the ever-changing marketing landscape. Finding a school with solid entrepreneurship programs was also significant to Chris and Chrissy. Tepper strives to create a safe environment for entrepreneurs because it can be a very scary journey.    The Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship is the heart of the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Tepper and is open to current students and alumni to pursue an entrepreneurial journey. It’s a great way to meet others with similar mindsets and goals from many different backgrounds. Additionally, 99 Tartans is an angel investment syndicate of Carnegie Mellon Alumni looking to invest in Carnegie Mellon-founded organizations. The group holds pitch meetings and works to connect start-ups and investors and bring them down the fundraising path.   Many CMU start-ups are tech-based, and Chrissy’s start-up is in supplements. So at first, she was a little skeptical about how much Tepper could really do for her and her business. However, there’s so much to branding, strategy, and more that cross over in the business world, so having that network of knowledgeable people proved integral. In addition, there are so many programs available that provide a critical environment to entrepreneurs that help you succeed regardless of the industry you’re building in.  What You Will Learn:   Background on Tepper students Chris and Chrissy and what brought them to study at Tepper. Information about the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship and 99 Tartans.What CMU can offer if you’re not in the technology field.

Welcome back to the Humans of Tepper Podcast. This week hosts Mike and Rosa Maria are joined by Yingqian Wang and Ben Kaufman to discuss family roles in their journey through an MBA at Tepper. Yingqian Wang is a member of the MBA Part-time Flex program, has a degree in Structural Engineering, and works full-time as a professional engineer. Ben is a first-year full-time MBA Student with an engineering background and was looking for a school with a STEM designation.    For Yingqian, the part-time program allowed her to develop professionally, connect with other people, and explore. Her husband graduated from Tepper, which gave her a lot of first-hand knowledge of the school. She also loved the flexibility of part-time study, virtual classes, and participation in clubs. In addition, access Weekend allows part-time students to get together and spend the weekend networking, taking classes, and more.   Ben’s wife has been incredibly supportive of his schooling. He came in with many fears of disrupting the life they had built together. The hardest part for him is managing the recruiting aspect of his field, seeing as it lined up with the birth of his son. Everyone has been so accommodating when it comes to making time for life events. There are so many resources available to you that are incredibly helpful to support you through these life events. What You Will Learn:   Background on Yingqian Wang and Ben Kaufman.What brought them to study at Tepper.The role family plays in their life at Tepper and how they navigate a work-life balance.

Welcome back to the Humans of Tepper Podcast. This week hosts Nikita and Ayush speak with Robert and Farouk to discuss the interesting journeys that lead them to pursue MBAs at Tepper.  Robert was born into a military family and used sports as a way to make friends despite how much his family relocated. He studied finance and economics and played football in college. On the other hand, Farouk is an MD who originally planned to do his residency in urology. He came to the US to do his clinical research in cancer studies and realized how inefficient the healthcare system is. He started to research ways he could leverage his degree and experience outside of a clinical setting, which ultimately led him to an MBA to further his ability to move into consulting.    Tepper provided the support and knowledge base throughout the entire recruiting process that set the MBA program apart. There are so many different avenues within entrepreneurship, and that was a huge draw. The small class size allows for better networking and experience that improves the MBA experience. Healthcare is a big part of Farouk’s trajectory, and Pittsburgh has a considerable presence in the medical industry.    When you apply to an MBA program, attend all the events you can to get a feel of the school. Get an idea of how you feel about the school and the people there. You’ll spend years out of your life doing this, so you want to make sure you enjoy it. Recruiting was intense, but Tepper made the whole process very smooth. The number of resources was amazing, and clubs early on are a big component for knowing what to expect at Tepper.  What You Will Learn: Background on Robert and Farouk What drew them to pursue an MBA at TepperThe advice they have for potential students

Welcome back to the Humans of Tepper Podcast. This week, Kara and Ben pass the torch to this year's new hosts, Rosa Maria, Nikita, Mike, and Ayush, all full-time 2023 MBA students. Mike previously worked as a CPA and decided to pursue a business degree to pivot into a more strategy-based role. Rosa Maria is an international student who worked in financial services and came to Tepper to explore options and industries outside Peru. Ayush is also international, born in India, and is looking to move into the tech industry. Lastly, from Dubai, Nikita has experience in the tech industry and plans to use an MBA to move into more of a product role within the tech space.    Analytics and leadership focus at Tepper is what brought Mike to Tepper. He's a Pittsburgh native and is looking forward to spending some time as an adult in his home city. The small size of Tepper's class and recommendations from current and past students was a big selling point for many. The city itself has been a huge draw as well. Nikita was blown away by the experience of all four seasons, and the friendliness of the people who live there is amazing.   Another huge draw for Tepper is the amazing clubs available to MBA students. Ayush is a member of GFA, South Asain Business Association, and Business and Technology Club. Nikita is involved in the Business and Technology Club and Tepper Woman in Business. Mike and Rosa Maria agree with Kara and Ben that the Marketing Club is the best club to join. There are so many different clubs at Tepper, ranging from professional and social, to get out and meet like-minded people.    Take your time and talk to everyone you can. Recruiting happens fast, so research what you can, take a step back, and take your time. People have such interesting backgrounds and experiences, so put yourself out there and meet as many people as possible. Lastly, talk to the first-year student in the industries you're interested in because that's a great way to get a feel for what it'd be like to study.   What You Will Learn:   Background on your new hosts.Why they decided to study and Tepper.The various clubs and activities they're involved in.

Welcome back to the Humans of Tepper Podcast. This week, Amy Lasoda, Associate Director at Tepper, joins Humans of Tepper host Kara Budgy and several other Tepper women to discuss their experiences with earning an MBA at Tepper. This is the second session of the “Propelling Woman at Tepper” series, which highlights the experiences of women MBAs and showcases the distinct benefits of the Tepper MBA. In addition, you will hear the experiences from alumni to help you understand the opportunities.    Many people pursue an MBA as a way to switch their career. It’s a good trigger to propel you into something different, and so many MBA students come in with different backgrounds and undergrads, including advertising and even dance. For others, they come to Tepper looking for a career starter, having the background experience to leverage toward business. An MBA is also a great way to round out your education, and gain exposure that will help you in your later career.    The community of students and faculty is what stands out at Tepper. You spend so much time with them, so look at the clubs and activities your peers are involved in. There are such great resources for women to make sure they’re going in the right direction. The staff isn’t focused on what potential students can do for them, but what they can do for you. The overall sense of community goes beyond just the day-to-day, and the small, close-knit community is where many are able to thrive better. Community building is also very important at Tepper.    Many students use what they learned and experienced at Tepper to run their businesses successfully after graduation. Those case studies and books they take with them are so important to do that. Others refer to the collaboration aspects with diversified backgrounds that helped to bring everything together outside of Tepper.    Tepper also has many fellowships that offer students many core benefits to assist them in all kinds of ways. This includes helping students find internships sooner to build those relationships sooner. They are also a great avenue for seeking scholarship funding. Returning to school can seem like a huge ordeal, but there’s so many things you can do to bring you balance while going back full-time. Make time to take care of yourself, and give yourself space to learn. What You Will Learn: What drove this group of women to pursue an MBA What stuck out about Tepper vs. other programsWhat students take away from their time at Tepper

Welcome back to the Humans of Tepper Podcast. This week, Liz Hay joins hosts Ben and Kara to discuss the Business Analytics Track at Tepper. Liz is from Houston, Texas, and went to Washington St. Louis. After graduation, she decided to head to New York, where she worked for a financial research firm before moving to asset management. Along the way, she realized what she was most passionate about was the projects that improved her company and client experiences. That's what ultimately led her to Tepper and pivot her career to consulting.    Liz was attracted to Tepper because it offered a program heavily focused on analytics and the state-of-the-art technologies becoming more and more prevalent in business. Secondly, everyone at Tepper was incredibly welcoming, and for Liz, it was a big deciding factor. The school's Business Analytics track focuses on operations, finance, and marketing and how data plays into the changes that take place on multiple business levels, such as supply chains and trading. Its main goal is to prepare students for these emerging technologies and set up its students for future success.    All track courses are within Tepper School of Business, but there are opportunities to petition for outside classes to count toward the track. Liz also plans to participate in Capstone this spring, which is under a lot of secrecy for the time being. However, past projects have involved businesses within the Pittsburgh area and are ops, finance, or marketing focused. As Capstone gets closer, students get the opportunity to review proposals and decide which area of focus works best with their career path.    Liz is also heavily involved in the Consulting Club, which builds a community of students and faculty interested in consulting and helping them along their path to a successful career. It provides mentorship, interaction, and opportunities to help others grow. Liz encourages incoming and prospective students to challenge themselves. Don't be afraid to take a leap of faith and reach for the opportunities you want. Studying at Tepper is a chance to own your career and take on a challenge you've always wanted to take. At times, you might fail, but it's a very rewarding process, and success is within your grasp.    What You Will Learn:   Background on Liz and what brought her to study at Tepper.Inside information on the Business Analytics Track.Liz's advice for current and incoming students.

Welcome back to the Humans of Tepper Podcast. This week, second-year, full-time MBA student, Dani Grodsky, joins hosts Ben and Kara to discuss the Management of Innovation and Product Development Track. Dani is from New York and attended Brown University, where she studied cognitive neuroscience. She later transferred to CMU to focus on technology for her master's degree in the hope of becoming a decision-maker in the tech field. She chose CMU because melding technology and business is something they do very well in their programs.    Dani is pursuing a dual degree, which you're able to apply for in your first semester at Tepper. Dani healthcare is her passion area despite never studying it formally. She wanted to get a more formal education and have the flexibility in her schedule to do that while pursuing an MBA. CMU allows you to pursue your passions.    The Management of Innovation and Product Development Track, or MIPD for short, falls a little in between Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurs. Dani likes to think of it as an "intrepreneure" track because it's a lot like being an entrepreneur, only in an already established company focusing on innovation. Taking a track to say you did isn't necessary, but if it aligns with what you want to pursue, it's a great way to fit in different courses while staying in the direction you want to go in. Capstone was a big motivator for Dani when she chose her track. She's planning on taking Corporate Startup Lab. It creates student teams from across the school and partners them with an organization outside the school.     Dani urges incoming students to take full advantage of the university as much as possible. It can be easy to stick to Tepper and your peers there, but there's a lot of value across the entire school. Tepper also removed the cap on how many classes you can take outside of Tepper, and Dani strongly encourages students coming in to take at least one course outside Tepper. In terms of tracks, it's essential to look at what naturally fulfills your interest, and if it doesn't, it's okay not to declare a track.  What You Will Learn:   Background on Dani Grodsky and what brought her to study at Tepper.About the Management of Innovation and Product Development Track at CMU.Dani's advice to incoming and potential students.

Welcome back to the Humans of Tepper Podcast. This week, second-year MBA student Rob Miller joins hosts Ben and Kara to discuss his experience with the Entrepreneurship MBA Track. Rob is from Upstate New York and studied Industrial Psychology in undergrad. After graduation, he started building his resume in entertainment and marketing roles before turning his attention to the startup landscape.    When deciding to go back for his MBA, Rob focused on finding a program with an entrepreneurial base. Carnegie Mellon University has such incredibly diverse schools to begin with, and Tepper offers a business degree that capitalizes on that attention to diversity and the opportunities that come out of it. The Sports Fellowship within Sports Center is a program for students already dedicated to an entrepreneurial path in the first year. Through that fellowship, Rob even received an opportunity to interview American entrepreneur Mark Cuban.     The Entrepreneurship Track at Tepper is open to anyone interested in that side of the business world, but it doesn't necessarily mean you're planning to be an entrepreneur. Many students in the tract pursue careers like investment banking, consulting, project management, etc. The track is an opportunity to learn from different angles to give you the skills needed to thrive in an entrepreneurial environment.    It splits into two focuses: high-growth entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial through acquisition. Both sub-tracks allow for the flexibility to pursue interests while giving you access to mentors that will be with you through Tepper and beyond and letting you work with your classmates on real-world applications.    Rob didn't originally plan to follow a track. Instead, he planned to concentrate on the skillsets he wanted to build while at school. However, the great thing about Tepper's tracks is that if you're thoughtful in building your class schedules, it leaves a lot of room to fill with other concentrations. The real-world applications Rob experienced with learning entrepreneurial methodologies and networking opportunities are pivotal to his future in business.    If you've ever been serious about an idea or are interested in helping with someone else's startup, there's nothing like networking with your peers while getting your degree. It's such a cool space to start on your idea and capitalize on your peers and mentors. Rob advises potential and incoming students to take some risks. You have a two-year period to stick your neck out there, network with as many people as you can, and don't be afraid to fail.    What You Will Learn: Background on Rob Miller and what brought him to study at Tepper.Information on the Entrepreneurship Track of the Tepper MBA.What studying entrepreneurship can offer prospective students.

Welcome back to the Humans of Tepper Podcast. This week, joining hosts Ben and Kara is Stephanie Muller to discuss the Technology, Strategy, and Product Management MBA tract. Stephanie started in economics but decided the best move for her was to focus on how technology can revolutionize business.    Tepper stood out to her because it's at the intersection of business and technology and creates competent leaders in both disciplines. Diversity week was also a big factor in why she chose the Tepper community. Diversity week is an event for prospective students from many different backgrounds to come together.   Stephanie explains that Tepper's Technology, Strategy, and Product Management (TSPM) track is all about helping you navigate all aspects of business technology in the functional world. It focuses on what it takes to take an idea and turn it into a product. The tract targets students like computer engineers and students that have a tech background. However, Stephanie did not have that background and still could get into the track she wanted. The support system she's received at Tepper has been integral to her success.    There are many cross-listed courses throughout Tepper and its sister schools, allowing for flexibility to pursue your interests and your MBA. There is such a wide range of projects within your track, and Stephanie is very excited about hers. Stephanie advises prospective and new students to think about what they want to get out of this experience. There are so many programs at Tepper, and it can get overwhelming because you'll want to take them all. So going in knowing what you want beforehand is very helpful. What You Will Learn: Background on Stephanie Muller and what brought her to study at TepperAbout the Technology, Strategy, and Product Management MBA tract at Tepper. Information about Diversity Week at TepperHow many course choices Tepper students have within their Tracks

Welcome to another episode of Humans of Tepper with your hosts, Ben and Kara. Joining us today is Erik Steeb, a full-time, second-year MBA student and classmate. Erik grew up just outside Minneapolis, MN, and studied at UCLA. He joined the Marine Corps right out of college and worked in supply chain and financial management in North Carolina.    He also gained an Energy Policy degree part-time before deciding to break into the energy industry. Erik focused on schools that offer strong energy and electricity programs, and Tepper has an energy business track as well as a close integration with the CMU Scott Institute. He describes a track as a group of classes within a specific core curriculum and allows you to structure your degree around a specific interest area.    At Tepper, there are five different tracks: Business Analytics, Energy Business; Entrepreneurship; Technology Management and Strategy; and Management, Innovation, and Project Development. Each allows students to take classes and connect with professors in those specific areas. In addition, the amount of collaboration and cross-listed courses means you're able to meet students from outside the business school in some classes. For example, Erik has worked with students studying subjects like Electrical Engineering in classes designated as part of his Energy Business Track.    His favorite part about studying a track is that you're able to take classes that might otherwise be outside of your degree and make connections with Ph.D. students as well as peers from other programs. Erik encourages prospective students to do considerable research into the schools they're considering and not focus solely on the rankings or job numbers. Meet and talk to current students and professors to get an idea of the environment and curriculum. You can go anywhere from any school, so the best place for you is the place you'll fit in best. What You Will Learn:   Background on Erik and what brought him to

Welcome to another episode of Humans of Tepper with your hosts, Ben and Kara. Joining us today, Kimberly Chan is a part-time, online, hybrid MBA student and Class of 2022. Beyond being a student at Tepper, Kim is an avid learner, and she applies that curiosity to everything she does in life. That curiosity is what ultimately led her to pivot her career from Operations into the Marketing Field.   One thing that drove her to Tepper was the location. She worked several years in a position that involved a lot of travel, and she enjoyed that time seeing much of the world. However, she missed out on a lot of family milestones. She needed a school where she could go part-time, keep her job, stay close to her family, and be part of a program where she'd get the best experience. The people who go to Tepper are serious about getting to know one another and building relationships. There is such dedication to learning at Tepper, which Kim didn't see in many other schools.     Kim wanted a program that would allow her to continue to work, and that's what she found most attractive about Tepper's part-time programs. You're remote most of the semester, but you come to campus once every few months for Access Weekend. During that time, no matter what class you're in, everyone comes together on campus to attend courses and spend time getting to know each other. Kim has had great interactions remotely, but nothing beats having the ability to meet face-to-face.    Kim is also the First Marketing Officer of the part-time GBA. The Graduate Business Association, or GBA, works as a conduit for the students and staff administration and acts as a voice for part-time students within Tepper. Being on the board means making recommendations as to how the school can improve the experience of their part-time students. In prior years, the part-time program was a lot smaller, and when Kim came into her role on the board, it was clear they needed a lot more representatives to act as the voice and bridge the gap between part-time students, full-time students, and faculty.    Lastly, Kim advises incoming students to say "yes" more often. Tepper is a great place to be and will present you with a lot of opportunities. Of course, you won't be able to say yes to all of them, but try to say yes to as many as you can. You'll meet a lot of people who will surprise you, and you'll find yourself doing things you never thought you'd ever do.  What You Will Learn:   Background on Kimberly Chan and what drew her to TepperHow the Graduate Business Association works to represent part-time studentsHow to make the most out of your Tepper experience

Welcome back to the Humans of Tepper Podcast. Joining hosts Ben and Kara this week Pete Park and Alejandra Rovirosa to talk about the Ninety-Nine Tartans. Pete is originally from New Jersey. Like Ben, he received his undergraduate degree from Syracuse University. He started in healthcare consulting before coming to Tepper for his MBA. Alejandra was born in Miami, Florida, and attended Boston University for undergrad. She started in insurance, focusing on equity-backed businesses.   Ninety-Nine Tartans was founded in 2017 by Rob Myer. Their mission is to find CMU-founded startups and connect them to alumni for mentorship, and, to date, there are over 240 alumni who are part of the group. Kara compares it to Tepper's version of Shark Tank! Companies looking to connect can fill out an application on the group's website and meet with an MBA partner to discuss their work and timeline. The minimum requirement is that there's a full-time CMU affiliate on the team. There is an investor application as well. The group looks at industries from across the board and has unique investors from many different backgrounds.     What really attracted Pete to Ninety-Nine Tartans is the amount of autonomy you have as a member in interacting with alumni and mentors interested in the group. MBA is known for its ability to establish a network, and Ninety-Nine Tartans is just another way to do that. The exposure to different industries is really unparalleled, and the avenues to different career options are opened. Alejandra came in a little later, in her second year, and was really drawn to the opportunity the group offered.    The whole concept of MBA students running Ninety-Nine Tartans is actually fairly new and operated a lot like a startup company in itself. It took problem-solving and thinking proactively to figure out how to operate optimally. Moving forward, Pete is very excited to see what they're able to build upon the foundation they've established. Alejandra is also excited to hone in on how to better meet their investors' needs and actively look for startups instead of relying on applications.    The diversity within the group is a fantastic aspect. Alejandra advises to come in with an open mind and go for it in terms of advice for incoming students. When she first started her MBA, she didn't realize how many opportunities were out there that she would have missed had she not been open to exploring them. Try out different activities, see what you like, and see what works. Pete also advises prospective students to check out the club fairs held at many colleges to explore what's out there and what might interest them.  What You Will Learn: What drew Pete and Alejandra to pursue their MBA at Tepper.What the mission of Ninety-Nine Tartans is.What the Ninety-Nine Tartans has to offer CMU-affiliated startups and investors.

Welcome back to the Humans of Tepper Podcast. Joining hosts Ben(He/Him) and Kara(She/Her) this week is Kovi Shlomchik (They/Them), full-time MBA candidate at Tepper School of Business. Kovi is from Connecticut originally, studied in Chicago, and has a background in the medical field. They really wanted to pursue outside of pharmaceuticals, which ultimately led them to Tepper.   Kovi has a big interest in health tech. They already lived in Pittsburgh when they applied to Tepper and the idea of staying local in their "goldilocks city" was a huge draw for Them. They're on the leadership team for the graduate business associate and acts as the diversity, equity, and inclusion officer. GBA is an elected student body government and is the bridge between students and administration. Their role is to help the student body and connect them to as many resources as possible. Kovi's role as diversity inclusion officer means being a support system for students of all backgrounds and takes part in mixers and dinners.   They believe that it's important for ally clubs to come to the forefront because it's a huge deciding factor for many people. Knowing that genuine people are looking to connect is one of the biggest reasons Kovi decided on Tepper. They are very active in LGBTQ+ clubs where people can ask genuine questions and can get genuine responses. The support and sense of community found at Tepper are very special, and Kovi is looking forward to in-person events.    Kovi advises prospective students to follow their gut when choosing a business program. They love the support they can offer and the support they can get from their classmates. Doing your search and knowing what's important to you while looking at schools will help pick a school that's the best fit for you.    What You Will Learn: What led Kovi to pursue an MBA at Tepper A look at the LGBTQ+ social clubs at Tepper that allow students to connect with like-minded individuals.How student-elected boards work to bridge the gap between students and administration

Welcome to another episode of Humans of Tepper with your hosts, Ben and Kara. Today, joining us is Justin VanNoy, a full-time MBA candidate. Justin is from Atlanta and has a background in healthcare. He studied business for his undergrad. After graduating, he went to New York City to focus on marketing and advertising. After several years of working, Justin decided to broaden his horizons and decided to look to Tepper to get him there.   Growing up, Justin’s parents were very into traveling, and so throughout his teenage and college years, his family vacations took him all over the world. Justin talks about the scholarship program at Tepper that was born from alumni at his previous college. Another big part of coming to Tepper was the MLT program, which links students to fellow, like-minded individuals.    The commitment to diversity at Tepper and to continue to improve upon that diversity is very impressive. The amount of not only support but the importance of having allies. The clubs focus on bringing in those allies and not just sectioning themselves off into one group. Justin’s program works a lot with other schools, such as Harvard’s African Business School and Forum, to put on various cultural fairs. Black History Month is another opportunity to highlight current students at Tepper and host various mixers.    Justin reflects on how crucial it is to spend time with your second-year student while they’re here because people come in and out at different intervals, whether to graduate or to study abroad. You never know who you’ll meet or the wealth of knowledge they have to offer. He also encourages prospective students choosing a business school to look at the school rankings and see why they’re at the rank they are. It can be a very lonely ride, so taking the initiative to connect with like-minded individuals will help immensely. When you come to business school, you should already have a list of your focus. It’d all about the mindset you have while you’re there.   What You Will Learn:   Background on Tepper MBA Candidate Justin VanNoy and what led him to study at Tepper.How dedicated Tepper is to diversity and what clubs are available to support the POC communityAdvice for prospective students considering going for their MBA in business

Welcome to another episode of Humans of Tepper with your hosts, Ben and Kara. Today, joining us is Catarina Oberlander, a full-time MBA candidate finishing up her first year at Tepper. Catarina did her first semester remotely in Brazil before moving to Pittsburgh to finish her second semester. For the last six years, Catarina has worked in the tech industry in Brazil, mostly as a data scientist. She also has some background in social and digital marketing. She always knew she wanted to pursue an MBA, and while working in Brazil, she always felt like she wanted to do something bigger and better.    She was looking for a program that would help her grow more in her industry and knew Tepper would be a perfect fit. What drew her to Tepper was the dual focus on analytics and leadership development. She also is a big fan of the food in Pittsburgh. Catarina talks to a lot of prospective students looking to study internationally. She always advises them to first look at their long-term goals and how attending business school will fit them. It’s important to look at the schools individually, their focuses, where their strengths and values lie and see if it aligns with those goals.    One thing that drew Catarina to Tepper was the smaller class sizes. Looking at the statistics of each school, surveying each school’s website, and reaching out to past or current students can give you a good idea of what the school is like. She knew from the very beginning that she wanted to get very involved with the clubs on campus. She is president of TWIP (Tepper Women in Business) and very involved in the Marketing Club. In terms of club events, Catarina highly recommends the leadership conference held by TWIB, which is a full-day event with a ton of alumni that come to speak. She’s also a big fan of the smaller, more intimate events.    All the clubs offer some form of internships, so it’s helpful to get a mentor or point of contact to help walk you through the more nuanced aspects of the school and get you on the track you want to be on. Catarina moved from Brazil with her husband and is also involved in the Tepper Partner’s Club, which is a great resource to anyone coming to Tepper both domestically and internationally to help connect your partner with others who have been in similar situations. They’re great for connecting you with almost any resource you need, even for simple things like finding a dentist, since the experience can be quite difficult for both partners. What You Will Learn:   Background information on second-year MBA Catarina and Tepper will help hone her skillset to reach her future goals.What coming to Tepper internationally is like and advice for prospective international studentsA close look at several clubs available at Tepper and what each of them has to offer.

Welcome to a new season of the Humans of Tepper Podcast with cohosts Ben Fontana and Kara Buggy. Ben and Kara are MBA class of 2022 students, and our guest is Chris Szymanski. Chris is a part-time MBA student at Tepper as well as on active duty in the Navy. Chris graduated from United States Naval Academy in 2015. His undergraduate degree is in engineering, but he couldn't see himself doing that for the rest of his life. He changed paths to learning about nuclear power before working on nuclear reactors worldwide during his deployment. After deployment, he decided to pursue his MBA. What really stood out about Tepper to Chris was the part-time program being the same as the online program, which offered him flexibility. The staff and faculty are also very willing to work with students to meet their needs. Chris found the access weekends and camaraderie it opened with other students very surprising and not something he was expecting. The courses give a great base knowledge, despite how much work they can be. The courses are scheduled for different times at night, which allows for flexibility no matter where students are located. Faculty is very accommodating, whether it be for time changes or extensions for assignments.  Chris attributes his work in the military to giving him the ability to work with people from different backgrounds. It gives a unique ability to "speak another person's language" because many of these peers are international. Working in the Navy has also done wonders for Chris's time management. The more senior you get in the military, the more you become a teacher to those coming in. The Tepper Veteran's Association provides a unique mix of veterans from different backgrounds. It's a great place to network, exploring new ideas, and overall creating camaraderie that is much needed after transitioning out of the military. They will help translate your military skills into business and civilians skills in your resume and interviews. Business school is a great way to transfer out of the military because it helps translate and build your leadership skills to a new environment. Business school also opens up so many doors later on. Chris invites anyone looking to transition to business school to reach out to them through their Tepper Veteran's Association website.   You Will Learn: Chris Szymanski’s background in the military and how it led him to Tepper Business schoolWhy business school is a great option for people looking to transition out of the militaryHow Tepper offers flexibility and resources to part-time students

Welcome back to the Humans of Tepper Podcast, a show about the MBA experience at Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business. Cynthia and Rohit will be transitioning the show over to two new co-hosts, Ben and Kara. Kara is a Pittsburgh native. She studied business management and, from there, started working in market research and healthcare companies. Ben is originally from Upstate New York and studied broadcast journalism at Syracuse University with dreams of breaking into sports broadcasting. Eventually, he transitioned into digital marketing before moving on to study at Tepper.   Kara wasn't entirely sure how or when she'd pursue her MBA, and Cynthia asks what inspired her to finally make the jump. Kara explains there's so much experience to obtain from working in the real world, and she wanted to ensure she was getting the most out of her MBA. It mostly came down to when she felt ready.   Tepper's community really jumped out to Ben and the exposure to diversity and different backgrounds it offered. He really appreciates the ability to form a community, despite the hybrid experience of online and in-person classes. The amount of support he's received from peers and staff has been phenomenal. Kara agrees, stating that it played a surprisingly massive role in her recruiting journey. Kara is also looking forward to working with the marketing and healthcare club boards. Community and club involvement form the backbone of Temper and provide excellent opportunities for networking and experience.    Ben will be taking over as marketing club president. He plans to continue exposing the club to companies that use marketing as a core function. Many of those companies are local, so there are many opportunities to go to those businesses and show classmates how marketing works on a ground level. In-person events are something he's looking forward to next year, and he is excited to impact the next class coming in.   Cynthia asks Ben and Kara what brought them over as co-hosts to the Humans of Tepper Podcast. There might be instances where students can't be in-person, and Kara has experienced many challenges with experiencing the culture of Temper without being there firsthand. This podcast allows her to bridge that gap and do a deep dive into that culture. For Ben, it stems from his radio background and that it's something he can have fun with. He also wants to encourage other students with his story and remind them that every path is unique.   What You Will Learn: Background on Ben and Kara, the Humans of Tepper Podcast's two new co-hostsWhat sets the community of Tepper apartWhat goals, aspirations, and impacts Ben and Kara hope to achieve

Welcome back to Humans of Tepper, the student-run podcast focusing on real stories from students and alumni of the Tepper MBA program. Today, hosts Cynthia and Rohit talk with second-year MBA student Blaine Dunham. Blaine is a student who comes from a career in electrical distribution wholesales but who chose to pursue an MBA in order to get into a more technically advanced career field. He explains that not only was he looking for that next career accelerant but that he was also inspired by the birth of his goddaughter to pursue his own dreams so that one day he can encourage her to do the same.    Blaine shares with listeners that he chose to attend Tepper’s program because of the program’s strong reputation and emphasis regarding the connection between business, data, and technology. He also cites the city of Pittsburgh as being a large draw, as he found the city to be the perfect balance of feeling at home while still pushing himself outside of his comfort zone.   After sharing why he was interested in Tepper’s program, Blaine then goes on to discuss his experience with applying to Tepper. As someone who applied late to the program, Blaine explains that there is no perfect way to go about the application process. Instead, he stresses that what’s important is knowing what your goals are and dedicating yourself to those.    Finally, Blaine transitions into talking about Tepper’s orientation program and his involvement and leadership in Tepper’s Business and Technology Club and Tepper’s Basketball Club. Regarding orientation, Blaine advises that all new students need to breathe, allow themselves to make mistakes, and say yes to every opportunity. However, what he encourages most is for students to invest in their relationships, asserting that those are the single most valuable thing they can take away from the program. Blaine found this to be true not only during orientation but still today with his involvement in Tepper’s clubs and the opportunities they offer him to connect with not only Tepper students and alumni but also MBA students at other universities.    What You’ll Learn in This Podcast Episode: About one student’s experience with the Tepper application processAdvice for making the most out of Tepper’s orientationWhy investing in relationships is so vital to one’s Tepper experience About Tepper’s Business and Technology Club and Basketball Club   Helpful Links: Check out Tepper’s Business Technologies page for more information about the program: https://www.cmu.edu/tepper/faculty-and-research/academic-areas/business-technologies/index.html   Learn more about Tepper’s Business and Technology Club at: https://sites.google.com/view/tepperbnt/home?authuser=0 Learn more about Tepper’s Basketball Club at: https://tepper.campusgroups.com/basketball/home/

Welcome back to Humans of Tepper, the student-run podcast focusing on real stories from students and alumni of the Tepper MBA program. Today, hosts Cynthia and Rohit talk with MBA candidate Elliott Hasenkopf. Elliott has a background in chemistry and material science and spent five years working in the paints, coatings, and plastics industry before deciding to pursue an MBA. Despite spending six years in Nashville and applying to a number of different MBA programs across the country, Elliott chose Tepper’s program because of how easily he clicked with the other students during his time visiting the school. He advises that when choosing a program, it’s important to find a good fit personality-wise, as this both helps to make classes better as well as helps with networking.   Elliott then moves on to discussing what surprised him most about Tepper’s program when beginning his first year in the program. Because he is originally from the Pittsburgh region, Elliott always knew that Carnegie Mellon was a top university, but since starting the program, he’s realized how much Tepper contributes to the Pittsburgh community, a relationship that became especially highlighted by the school’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Elliott also stresses that one of the best parts of Tepper is that it brings in people with unique backgrounds, drawing from the global community.   As someone aiming to go into healthcare, Elliott also shares with listeners his involvement with healthcare at Tepper. He talks about Tepper’s Healthcare Club and how it has provided him the means to learn more about the industry and how to succeed and advance within it. He also talks about the future of healthcare at Tepper and how he foresees the school continuing to develop a strong curriculum around healthcare.   Finally, Elliott ends his interview today by sharing with us some of his experiences as a member of the MBA Soccer Club at Tepper. He explains that the club has been both a source of relaxation and a way to not only meet other MBA students across the program but also connect with Tepper alumni and other MBA programs across the country.    What You’ll Learn in This Podcast Episode: About Tepper’s Healthcare Club and the school’s continuing involvement with the healthcare industryHow Tepper gives back to the Pittsburgh communityHow joining one of Tepper’s many clubs can become a great way to relax while networking   Helpful Links: Check out Tepper’s Healthcare Club here: http://tepper.campusgroups.com/healthcare/about/   Check out some of Tepper’s other MBA Student Clubs here: https://www.cmu.edu/tepper/programs/mba/life-at-tepper/student-clubs-and-organizations.html