In this episode, Alex Neuber (HBS '21) is interviewed by her co-host Julia about her journey from marketing at Wayfair to Harvard Business School and eventually to entrepreneurship in the food tech industry. Alex shares how a gallbladder surgery in college sparked her passion for food and nutrition, leading her to pivot her career focus toward the food industry while building entrepreneurial skills at a high-growth company.

The conversation covers Alex's essay writing process, her strategic approach to business school applications, and her current role at a food tech startup called Foodberry. She discusses the importance of authenticity in essays, the value of intentional decision-making, and her philosophy on entrepreneurship that prioritizes autonomy over venture capital backing. Alex also shares practical advice about taking the GMAT early and building a genuine narrative that connects past experiences to future goals.

(0:00) Introduction to Co-Host Alex

(2:30) Family Background and Career Pressure

(6:15) Early Interest in Business and Food

(8:45) Cornell Education and Food Industry Focus

(12:00) Wayfair Experience and Entrepreneurial Skills

(13:25) Reading Alex's HBS Essay

(22:00) Essay Analysis and Writing Process

(29:00) GMAT Challenges and Application Strategy

(33:05) School Selection and Boston Focus

(38:15) Value of Business School Experience

(42:00) Current Role at Foodberry

(53:00) Rapid Fire Questions

In this conversation, Matt Ochalski (Booth '23) shares his journey from working seven years in debt capital markets in New York to pursuing an MBA at Chicago Booth School of Business. He discusses his methodical approach to the application process, including his extensive planning timeline, managing applications while working 90-hour weeks in banking, and his authentic essay strategy centered around bringing kindness to the professional world.

Matt emphasizes the importance of authenticity in applications, detailing how he wrote about kindness as a core value in banking and how this theme helped differentiate him from other candidates. He also covers practical advice on managing recommenders, visiting schools during the pandemic, and making the most of business school experiences. The conversation concludes with insights about Booth's culture, balancing academic rigor with social opportunities, and successfully pivoting within the banking industry.

(0:00) Introduction to Matt Ochalski

(1:10) Background and Chicago Roots

(5:00) Seven Years in Banking

(6:00) Decision to Pursue Business School

(7:15) Managing Applications While Banking

(9:35) Impact of COVID on Applications

(12:25) School Selection Criteria

(14:25) Essay Strategy and Process

(22:00) Writing About Kindness in Banking

(29:30) Recommender Management Strategy

(38:00) Booth Experience and Random Walk

(47:55) Rapid Fire Questions

In this conversation, Jungduk Seo shares her journey from healthcare consulting to pursuing an MBA at Kellogg School of Management. She discusses her thoughtful approach to school selection, the value of working with an admissions consultant, and how she used multiple internships during business school to pivot into product management. Jungduk emphasizes the importance of being open to unexpected career paths, as she initially had no interest in product management but discovered her passion for it through hands-on experience.

The conversation covers her GMAT preparation, application strategy of focusing on just three schools, and the transformative power of MBA internships. She details three different internship experiences in healthcare VC, health systems, and mental health startups that ultimately led to her current role as a product manager at a health tech company. Jungduk also reflects on the lasting value of business school relationships and the importance of having clear goals while remaining flexible about outcomes.

(0:00) Introduction to Jungduk Seo

(2:50) Background and Path to Cornell

(5:45) From Engineering to Healthcare Consulting

(8:15) Decision to Pursue an MBA

(12:05) Working with an MBA Consultant

(16:35) Crafting Application Narrative and Essays

(20:15) GMAT Journey and Test Strategy

(25:00) Application Process and School Selection

(31:45) Kellogg Experience and MBA Internships

(40:25) Transitioning to Product Management

(46:25) Value of MBA and Career Reflections

(51:00) Rapid Fire Questions

In this episode, Julia and Alex tackle three critical MBA application topics that prospective students frequently ask about: handling waitlist decisions, choosing between Round 1 and Round 2 applications, and deciding between the GMAT and GRE. Drawing from their own experiences and conversations with classmates, they provide practical advice for navigating these challenging aspects of the MBA admissions process.

The hosts share personal stories about waitlist experiences, including Julia's journey being waitlisted at Harvard Business School and Alex's sister's experience at MIT. They discuss the emotional challenges of waiting and offer concrete strategies for managing the uncertainty. On application timing, they explain the trade-offs between rounds, emphasizing that readiness matters more than acceptance rate statistics. Finally, they cover test preparation strategies, sharing their own GMAT journeys and providing tips for effective studying, including when to consider tutoring and how to source affordable prep materials.

(0:00) Welcome and Topic Overview

(1:55) Understanding the MBA Waitlist Experience

(5:20) Strategies for Managing Waitlist Emotions

(8:15) How Business Schools Structure Their Classes

(11:55) Personal Waitlist Story from Julia

(14:35) Round 1 vs Round 2 Application Timing

(18:00) When You Should Apply Round 1

(21:25) GMAT Strategy and Preparation Approach

(27:00) GMAT vs GRE Decision Making

(31:20) Study Timeline and Test Taking Schedule

(36:45) GMAT Preparation Resources and Tutoring

(40:20) Final Takeaways and Advice

In this conversation, Tyrel Sulzer (HBS '22) shares his journey from working as a geotechnical engineer in Canada's oil sands to pursuing an MBA at Harvard Business School. He discusses his unique background as an indigenous Canadian and how he crafted his application essay around his experiences bridging corporate and community interests in the energy sector. The discussion covers his strategic approach to the application process, including his decision to apply to only three schools and how he drew on his distinctive perspective on indigenous sovereignty and energy development.

Tyrel provides detailed insights into his essay writing process, which took an entire summer to refine, and explains how he positioned himself as different from typical engineering applicants. He also reflects on how his goals have evolved during business school and shares candid advice about dealing with skeptics during the application journey. The conversation offers valuable perspective on how applicants can authentically showcase unique backgrounds and experiences that set them apart in the admissions process.

(0:00) Introduction to Tyrel Sulzer

(1:45) Background and Pre-MBA Experience

(2:55) GMAT Score and Application Stats

(4:50) Harvard Business School Essay Reading

(11:10) Reflecting on the Essay

(13:20) What Made the Essay Unique

(15:40) Essay Writing Process and Timeline

(19:00) Career Goals and Vision Changes

(21:05) School Selection Strategy

(23:45) Application Resources and Advice

(25:00) The Real Why Behind MBA

(26:15) HBS Experience and Value

(28:05) Rapid Fire Questions

(34:30) Final Application Advice