Q: Why did you decide to get an MBA at the D'Amore-McKim School of Business?
I decided to pursue an MBA degree to pivot into the healthcare consulting field. My previous career experience in property management and pharmaceuticals just didn't feel like the right fit. When I began to think about a career in healthcare, I knew I wanted to work somewhere where I could enact real change in company technology, innovative practices, and overall efficiencies.
When deciding on a business school, I knew D'Amore-McKim was the place for me. As a career changer, I needed the business school fundamentals and the necessary experience to pivot into consulting. During the program, I chose to concentrate in corporate innovation and venturing, and leading people and organizations – two areas of study I knew would enhance my workplace skills and set me apart from others going into the same field.
The Global Consulting Project and the Corporate Residency Program at D'Amore McKim differentiated it from other business schools as well.
Q: What was the full-time experience like? Why did you decide on a full-time program?
I decided on the full-time program because I was committed to changing careers. I wanted to fully immerse myself in the program and take advantage of all the opportunities available.
Upon entering the program, Professor Todd Alessandri described the first semester as “drinking out of a fire hose,” and that was exactly what it was like. While the condensed core was stressful and challenging, it pushed my capabilities to new heights. As a full-time student, I was able to connect with my classmates and faculty and build meaningful relationships. The faculty at D'Amore-McKim have been so supportive during the program from both the Career Center and the greater community at Northeastern.
Outside of the classroom, I experienced several hackathons sponsored by IBM, State Street, and P&G; where I was able to work with students outside of D'Amore-McKim. I really enjoyed meeting new people, solving business issues, and immersing myself in the competitive spirit. The competitions were intense, but the outcomes were always awe-inspiring.
Q. Tell us about your corporate residency experience.
I experienced my corporate residency at East Boston Neighborhood Health Center (EBNHC), one of the largest community health centers in the country that serves an underrepresented population in East Boston and the surrounding areas. These projects consisted of multiple meetings, some of which were with the head of the development firms and the C-suite of the health center. These meetings gave me such great insight on how decisions are made within a non-profit. I enjoyed my time at EBNHC; the various projects reconfirmed my decision of pursuing a career in healthcare consulting.
Q: Tell us about your Global Experience Consulting project. Where did you go, and what did you do there?
The Global Projects Course, a three-credit experiential learning opportunity spanning various countries, connects students with diverse multinational companies for two months, working both at home and abroad on a business issue or opportunity.
During my time abroad, I was able to consult on a project for Johnson and Johnson, an incredible organization committed to innovation and healthcare. This project gave me first hand consulting experience and an opportunity to develop creative solutions with my team. Working together to solve a business issue, we later traveled to Prague to present our findings and solutions to the Johnson and Johnson Global Leadership team.
This experience was a once in a lifetime opportunity to work with an incredible organization and create lifelong memories with my teammates.
Q: How did COVID-19 impact your experience here?
As an MBA student, COVID-19 definitely changed life as I knew it. The drastic transition to virtual classrooms, the poor economic conditions, and life in quarantine, made everything really difficult for a while, and I know I'm not the only one who felt it. Although we weren't able to meet in person during the end of the semester, it didn't stop us from celebrating our accomplishments and making plans for the future. The silver lining of this pandemic is that we have formed a closer connection to each other by experiencing it together. Our virtual game nights have been full of laughter and joy during these testing times.
Q: Reflecting on your time at D'Amore-McKim, what moment sticks out the most, and why?
D. All of the above.
I have been fortunate enough to experience beautiful moments with my classmates and faculty in the past two years. Whether it was debating in the classroom or the grad lounge, working with one another in class, or catching up after work at Connor Larkins, it's been an incredible experience to learn and grow. To prospective students, remember to take a step back and enjoy your time in business school. Within the walls of Dodge Hall, expect to be challenged by your professors, inspired by your peers, and motivated to exceed your expectations. Be creative, ask questions, and don't be afraid to try new things. Take the time to get to know your peers and take advantage of opportunities to network with the greater community. The semesters will fly by, you will probably talk about Tesla more often than you would think, and the S-curve will always be relevant.
Q: How has D'Amore-McKim prepared you for the future of work?
The innovation course exposed me to emerging technologies and examined how they will impact organizations and communities. The pandemic allowed us to witness just how quickly companies needed to change to survive. I worked on organizational resiliency projects and implementation plans over the past two years and to see it in action months later is crazy! I've learned innovation is constant, and adaptation is vital.
Q: What has defined your D'Amore-McKim experience?
The community at D'Amore-McKim, both the faculty and staff, and my classmates, have been inspiring and supportive. I have both loved and hated group projects, but I have always learned from them, and they have allowed me to grow personally and professionally. The diversity in my cohort led to many engaging class discussions that have continued outside of the classroom. My network has widened during my time at Northeastern and I immensely enjoyed getting to know my classmates and building great friendships.
Q. What are you doing after graduation?
Job hunting in the middle of a pandemic has been challenging. I just moved back to New York, where I spend time with my family while continuing to interview and network virtually. I remain optimistic that the economy is slowly recovering, and I am excited to start the next chapter in my career!
