M7A: How Did You Get In?

In this episode, we sit down with Alex Choi (WG ’19, HKS ’19) to unpack his journey from the US Air Force to Wharton and Harvard Kennedy School – and ultimately to entrepreneurship. Alex shares how he built a standout narrative as a veteran applicant, the risk of leaving active duty before knowing he’d been admitted, and how his time at Wharton and HKS shaped his perspective on leadership, service, and career design. He reflects on the transition from the military to big tech, his roles at Instagram and Alchemy, and how those experiences led him to co-found YourNegotiations.com, a consulting company helping job seekers earn more by mastering salary negotiations.

This episode is brought to you by Juno, the collective-bargaining platform that helps MBA students secure lower rates on student loans. Learn more at juno.us/m7a

(00:00:00) M7A Sponsor: Juno
(00:00:34) Opener
(00:00:49) Introducing Alex Choi
(00:03:01) Decision to Attend B-School
(00:03:36) Military Background
(00:05:13) Why MBA?
(00:07:21) Finding Mentors
(00:08:31) Crafting a Compelling Narrative
(00:11:15) Career Highlights Recap
(00:12:32) MBA Application Challenges
(00:15:04) School Selection
(00:16:20) Working with an Admissions Consultant
(00:17:13) Going All In
(00:17:39) GMAT Strategy
(00:19:08) Applying for a Dual Degree
(00:20:13) Opportunity Cost of the Dual Degree
(00:20:54) Value of the Dual Degree
(00:21:27) Was It Worth It?
(00:21:58) Why Wharton
(00:23:10) Time Management as an MBA Candidate
(00:24:45) Post-MBA Career Update
(00:25:28) Founder Journey
(00:26:54) Launching YourNegotiations.com
(00:28:08) Wharton Resources for Entrepreneurs
(00:30:03) Bootstrapping vs. Raising VC
(00:32:22) Long-Term Goals
(00:33:45) How to Get in Touch with Alex
(00:34:19) Advice for Future Applicants

In this episode, we sit down with Brian Willis (WG ’23) to unpack his journey from Notre Dame to Deutsche Bank, GTCR, and ultimately the Wharton MBA. Brian shares how he built his foundation in finance and private equity, what led him to step back and pursue business school, and how the experience reshaped his perspective on career, community, and balance. He reflects on his time at Wharton – from organizing Penn Fight Night to navigating personal loss – and offers candid advice on slowing down, staying grounded, and making space for what matters. Today, Brian is part of the Alpine Investors team, where he focuses on building and scaling services businesses alongside founders – combining the discipline of private equity with a people-first approach to investing.

This episode is brought to you by Juno, the collective bargaining platform that helps MBA students secure lower rates on student loans. Learn more at juno.us/m7a

(00:00:00) M7A Sponsor: Juno

(00:00:34) Opener

(00:00:45) Introducing Brian Willis

(00:02:07) Decision to Attend B-School

(00:03:56) Why MBA?

(00:05:48) Application Timeline

(00:06:35) Writing the Application Essays

(00:08:09) How to Stand Out in a Competitive Pool

(00:09:28) Essay Tactics

(00:10:04) LOR Strategy

(00:10:47) Developing Extracurriculars

(00:11:48) Making Time to Build a Well-Rounded Profile

(00:12:22) Time, Treasure, and Talent

(00:13:32) How to Craft a Cohesive Narrative

(00:15:21) School Selection

(00:16:30) MBA Application Challenges

(00:17:06) Retaking the GMAT

(00:17:49) Taking PTO to Finish Applications

(00:18:56) Leveraging Your Network

(00:20:53) Wharton MBA Highlights

(00:22:35) Family Illness and Loss

(00:23:29) Learnings from Wharton

(00:24:59) Post-MBA at Alpine Investors

(00:26:15) Hard and Soft Skills Development

(00:27:02) Favorite Classes at Wharton

(00:31:07) Long-Term Goals

(00:32:38) Advice to Future Applicants

In this conversation, Bethany Rolan, HBS '22, shares her journey from McKinsey to Harvard Business School and back to the firm in a specialized role. She discusses her pre-MBA background working at McKinsey for three years, including an internal rotation with their global social responsibility group, and her decision to pursue an MBA with company sponsorship.

Bethany provides detailed insights into her application strategy, including taking the GMAT during her final semester of undergrad, crafting her narrative around data analytics and mission-driven leadership, and managing feedback from multiple reviewers. She also covers her experience choosing between business schools during the early COVID period and highlights from her HBS experience, including a transformative service operations class that shaped her career focus. The conversation concludes with her current work in organizational performance at McKinsey and her future plans to transition into operational roles.

(0:00) Introduction to Bethany Rolan

(1:00) Background and Deciding on an MBA

(5:35) Timing the MBA Application

(7:15) Developing Career Focus Areas

(10:20) Application Narrative and Strategy

(13:15) Managing Application Feedback

(16:40) Choosing Recommenders at McKinsey

(19:45) School Selection and Decision Process

(21:40) HBS Experience Highlights

(24:10) HBS Academic Intensity

(25:40) Staying Connected Post-Graduation

(28:00) Current Role and Future Plans

(30:10) Advice for Potential Students

Kelsey Roberts’ path to Harvard Business School was anything but typical. In this episode, she shares how she applied through the 2+2 program as an engineering student at Georgia Tech and used her deferral to explore manufacturing, entrepreneurship, and workforce development. Kelsey discusses her unique application strategy, the decision to wait four years before starting at HBS, and how her MBA has shaped her impact at Forage. Whether you’re an early-career applicant or exploring nontraditional MBA paths, Kelsey’s story offers inspiration and insight.

Radhika Lokur’s journey to Harvard Business School defies convention. In this episode, she opens up about her background in international development, navigating the MBA application process, and pivoting into a tech role in London. From GMAT challenges to building community at HBS, Radhika shares practical insights for applicants considering bold career shifts – and reminds us that the MBA path doesn’t have to be traditional to be transformative.

In this conversation, Bob Boniface shares his journey from working at General Motors to pursuing an MBA at Harvard Business School and eventually transitioning into entrepreneurship through acquisition. He discusses the value of an MBA, the application process, the impact of COVID-19 on his business school experience, and the lessons learned while running a business post-MBA. Bob emphasizes the importance of networking, being open to new opportunities, and the skills gained from an MBA that have helped him in his entrepreneurial journey.

In this episode, Lesley shares her journey from Korea to HBS, discussing her unique background in blockchain and international relations. She reflects on her decision to pursue an MBA, the application process, and the importance of self-reflection. Lesley highlights her experiences at HBS, the challenges of being an international student, and how her education has shaped her career in corporate finance. She offers valuable advice for prospective MBA students, emphasizing the need for thorough preparation and self-awareness.

In this conversation, Ananya Zutshi shares her inspiring journey from her early life in India to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the biotech industry after completing her MBA at Harvard Business School. The discussion covers her educational background, the challenges she faced during her application process, the importance of networking, and the valuable lessons learned about leadership and interpersonal dynamics. Ananya emphasizes the significance of introspection and resilience in navigating her career path, as well as the impact of her MBA experience on her entrepreneurial endeavors.

In this conversation, Kate van Keulen shares her journey from working in insurance and tech to pursuing an MBA at USC Marshall School of Business. She discusses her unique background in cyber security program management at One Medical, her decision to apply to business school despite skepticism from colleagues in San Francisco's tech scene, and her strategic approach to the application process.

Kate provides valuable insights into essay writing, focusing on showing who you are as a person rather than just listing accomplishments. She also shares her experience with scholarship negotiations, successfully doubling her initial award from $25,000 to $50,000 per year by using a competing offer from Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business. The conversation covers her first semester experience at USC Marshall and her reflections on the value of the MBA program, particularly the collaborative culture and networking opportunities.

(0:00) Introduction to Kate van Keulen

(2:05) Growing Up in Northern California

(3:40) Career in Cyber Security Program Management

(7:00) Decision to Pursue an MBA

(10:05) San Francisco Tech Skepticism About MBAs

(17:15) Research and School Selection Process

(20:45) GMAT Journey and Three-Time Test Taker

(27:05) Essay Writing Strategy and Approach

(32:00) Interview Process and Scheduling Tips

(37:45) Balancing MBA Applications with Relationships

(44:30) Scholarship Negotiation Success Story

(57:00) First Semester Experience at USC Marshall

(1:02:05) Advice for Future MBA Applicants

In this conversation, Behram O'Habib (HBS '21) shares his unconventional path from nanotech engineering to Harvard Business School. He discusses growing up in Pakistan, immigrating to Canada as a child, and how his parents' sacrifice to provide better opportunities shaped his worldview. Behram details his experience co-founding a startup, living in China for over two years, and the challenging co-founder dynamics that ultimately led to the company's dissolution.

He explains how the startup's failure prompted his MBA application, his decision to focus on Harvard Business School over other top programs, and his essay strategy centered on his family's immigration story. Behram reflects on the true value of an MBA, emphasizing that while business school provides significant advantages and opens doors, success doesn't require it. He advocates for deep self-reflection about what you're willing to sacrifice for, arguing that understanding your motivations is more important than following conventional paths.

(0:00) Introduction to Behram O'Habib

(1:00) Growing Up in Pakistan and Canada

(3:40) Background and Engineering at Waterloo

(8:50) Working at P&G and Starting a Company

(13:00) Startup Journey and Move to China

(17:00) Co-founder Conflicts and Company Dissolution

(23:40) Deciding on HBS and Application Strategy

(28:00) Essay Writing and Immigration Story

(34:00) Interview Experience and Getting In

(39:00) Key Takeaways from Business School

(50:00) Advice on MBA Applications and Life Philosophy