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Meet Arizona State's MBA Class of 2021

Meet these 12 incoming MBA students and find out what led them to enter business school, which programs they considered besides W. P. Carey's, what strategies they used to choose their MBA program, and more.

2020-03-04

Meet our MBA Class of 2021 in this article published on March 4, 2020, when Poets & Quants caught up with our 12 incoming students.

Question: What quality best describes the MBA classmates you've met so far and why?

Incoming 2021 MBA student Prestige Adaberemchi Obioma: Collaborative. As someone who’s worked in the ER, I know the meaning of collaboration and teamwork. My classmates not only exemplify teamwork, but they also live it out. It has been nothing short of amazing working and contributing in such an environment.

Question: Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?

Incoming 2021 MBA student Ann Agbaneje: Of all the business schools, W. P. Carey embodied the message “Business is personal.” I never felt like I was just another name on a list. I had no prior knowledge of any business school as a first-generation student. I researched them from scratch. W. P. Carey was the only school to which I felt a connection. They followed up, connected me to both a student mentor and an executive mentor. Every one of the alumni I reached out to took their time to answer my questions genuinely.

Question: Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far.

Incoming 2021 MBA student Christopher Carpentier: That accomplishment would have to be my podcast, FirstThingsFirst IoT . I hosted and produced this podcast series with nearly 40 guests, each an IoT professional discussing a new technological development, business model, or use case. From industry analysts, successful entrepreneurs, NASA technologists and more — it was a great year conceiving and building up a new form of media to be a significant part of my employer’s marketing activities for the year.

Question: What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process?

Incoming 2021 MBA student Chaitanya Chintakayala: My admission interview for W. P. Carey consisted of a set of questions based on a mini case study. I found this to be the most challenging part of the admission process. The interviewer recited a two-minute case, and I was asked a set of follow-up questions. These questions involved assessing and responding to the case adopting three different roles: as a candidate, a board member, and an external consultant. These questions tested varied skills such as listening, analyzing, and prompt and concise communication. They were challenging because of the need to alter my response and communication style according to three assumed roles in a short time.

Question: Arizona State is renowned for its innovation. How have you seen innovation in the philosophy, curriculum, or resources at W. P. Carey?

Incoming 2021 MBA student David Darnell: We live in a complex world that is constantly changing. In order to keep up with the changes, we also must constantly innovate. At W. P. Carey, innovation is brought into every aspect of our day-to-day lives. I have seen new classes being introduced that build upon new technology and policies, program clubs being organized to bring in experienced CEO guest speakers, and faculty who are always available for help and discussion on new ideas. The program is built to create business leaders that can navigate transforming business landscapes. At W. P. Carey, the innovation and ability to change sets this foundation.

Question: How did you determine which business school best fit you?

Incoming 2021 MBA student Erin Grady: Like many prospective students, I began by researching program rankings and making a list of schools with top-ranked programs for the concentration areas in which I was interested. For example, Arizona State University is ranked #3 in the Best Supply Chain Management MBA Programs by U.S. News & World Report. While that helped me create an initial list, I was able to narrow the list by focusing on two things I valued: culture and collaboration. I called current students from each of the five schools that I applied to and spoke with them in-depth about their classes, curriculum, and classmates. I wanted to make sure that the school I chose would be a good fit for me for the next two years. Finally, I looked at statistics for graduates and did research to see where the MBA graduates from each school ended up working. It was important to me that the companies I was interested in had good connections with the school and were interested in hiring their students.

Question: Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?

Incoming 2021 MBA student Leonardo Jaraba Bejarano: The W. P. Carey slogan that “Business is personal” is not a mere phrase; it’s a reality. I appreciate the flexibility that the school offers and embraces to allow the students to tailor their own path and curriculum during their MBA journey according to their career choice. Furthermore, the school has a comprehensive set of resources and well-prepared professors that support the pursuit of the aforementioned career choice at a top-level.

Question: Most recent employer and job title?

Incoming 2021 MBA student Hannah Jerdonek: Health Extension Agent with the Peace Corps in Tanzania. I worked with Tanzanian government leaders to promote fair resource allocation, build a large-scale water infrastructure system serving an entire village, and teach sustainable small business practices.

Question: Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far.

Incoming 2021 MBA student Abraham Levy: In my last position as director of operations, I was given 30 days to start a new home care agency and to begin providing home care services to 10 patients on day 31. The challenge was exhilarating. I had to learn how to start a new company, maintain strict regulatory compliance, and build a profitable, sustainable business. We started servicing 12 patients on day 29. I was very proud of our team’s accomplishments. That branch is now one of the most profitable parts of the company.

Question: Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?

Incoming 2021 MBA student Zoey Nguyen: The first thing that drew my attention to the curriculum of W. P. Carey was the “Executive Connections” program. As an international student, I would love to enrich my MBA journey in the U.S. as much as possible. I considered “Executive Connections” as a great opportunity to connect and build mentoring relationships with senior executive leaders from top firms in the U.S. such as Deloitte, Intel, Walmart, etc. That would be a unique learning experience that I could not gain from any schools.

As a result of the true understanding of my personal background and experience, the school matched me with a great executive mentor who had the background and career path that I aspired. I was thankful for this and I knew that my first impression about the school was totally correct.

Question: Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far.

Incoming 2021 MBA student Briana Nowak: While working for the Michigan Office for New Americans, I spearheaded a statewide outreach strategy for a program that supported immigrants and refugees in the U.S. job-search process. After a mere three months of implementation, applications to the program increased by 53% after three years of slow growth. As a result, the program was able to serve more clients than ever before. It was rewarding for me to see my clients succeed and get their first professional job in the U.S.

Question: What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process?

Incoming 2021 MBA student Matt Totlis: How do you make business personal in your everyday life?” I was prepared for all the expected questions, but this one caught me off guard. To me, being asked about relationship-building during the interview process made it clear the “Business is personal” was more than a motto but would be a guiding principle throughout my education.

Every student is required to participate in an immersive lab experience that pairs them with graduate students from across our university in thinking cross-functionally to solve a socially embedded problem in the community. In these labs, students get to work with non-business students to frame a problem in an unfamiliar context and learn critical skills in influence and negotiation with non-business professionals.

– Clinical Assistant Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship John Wisneski, who's the faculty director of the MBA program

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