The MBA from a Different Lens: Meet Mary Beth Lantzy

Tell us about yourself

I am originally from Michigan. I went to Michigan State University and studied Journalism. I came into Admissions in a roundabout way. I originally wanted to go into sports broadcasting. As a woman, I was compelled to head into an industry that was less common. I went to ESPN, moved to Major League Baseball, and then decided to transition into more of a communications/PR role. I was an entertainment publicist and also worked in the non-profit space. 

Eventually, like a lot of our Booth students, I wanted to invest in my professional growth in business and gain a deeper global perspective and the best decision was to return to school. I always had a love for higher education and, after being in the workforce, I thought it was important to step back from my career and be able to engage intellectually in an academic setting again. Which can seem daunting.

I studied for a Masters of Science in Marketing at the University of Edinburgh to continue to learn, be curious, have exposure to vast cultures, and broaden my international perspective. Plus, being in the land of tartan and haggis was also persuasive! My dissertation was focused on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in professional golf with a comparative analysis between golfing organizations within the UK and within the United States (which I loved because my research included being onsite at The Open at St. Andrews!). 

Prior to Booth, I was at MRM, McCann’s digital and data technology company. I was ready to make a switch from the agency world and wanted to get into an area that I support, so I started looking at the university space. That led me to Chicago Booth. It’s wonderful to join an institution where I can get behind the mission.

Tell us about your role

I support the Full-Time MBA, Evening MBA, and Weekend MBA Programs. I touch a lot of different areas and am a generalist in a sense. Within admissions, I focus on women initiatives quite a bit; I work on opportunities promoting events for women and also corporate engagement. I also work with companies where we want to engage more deeply, both domestically and internationally.

Part of my role involves global corporate outreach. On the Full-Time MBA side, I work with our Country Captains, who are Booth’s global student ambassadors, to see where we can engage with corporations, potential prospects, or areas that need more outreach. We work together to figure out what resonates best in their home countries. It’s wonderful to see a group of people working together to strengthen Booth’s brand on a global scale.

What upcoming opportunities for women are you excited about?

We have Booth Women Connect on March 25, 2022. The conference is for prospective students, current students, and alumni. There is also a Booth Women Connect Brunch the next day that will allow everyone to engage and connect with our strong, dynamic women community.

At the end of the month, we’re hosting a virtual event in honor of Women’s History Month that will  include participants from our various MBA Programs and geographies. We will have a panel with women student leaders who will share their perspective of how they have succeeded as a woman leader at Booth. 

Could you share your thoughts about gender equity?

I heard a quote that said, "Culture does not make people. People make culture." Which is very thought-provoking and impactful. Achieving gender equity requires commitment and engagement from everyone — it truly is everyone's responsibility. It’s great to be part of a university that is continually working and making strides on inclusivity. I’m excited to be where we are and see where we’re going.

Who is the woman that most inspires you? 

Personally, that woman is my mom. I’m one of three girls, as was my mom. I was raised around a lot of women. My mom did such a great job of giving us confidence and instilling in us the need for kindness. I think a lot of times people think that to be a successful woman, not only in the workplace, but in the world, you have to be a certain personality type. My mom really wanted us to realize that we need to act with empathy, that we can be strong but also be understanding of others. 

Being in the sports world for a while, I looked up to women sports figures who paved the way for other women and I admired women like Christine Brennan and Linda Cohen. Within sports we're making strides, but it’s still going to take time. It’s nice to turn on a football game or a basketball game on a Saturday and see women in the booth. 

I also love the fictional character Leslie Knope from the TV show Parks and Recreation. A strong, smart, confident, funny female character. Also, she loved waffles and who doesn't love waffles?!

What other resources at Booth should women know about?

The Chicago Women in Business Full-Time student group and Graduate Women in Business Part-Time student group are both incredible student-led groups, which organize many events and networking opportunities. Our annual Booth Women Connect Conference is wonderful, as is Booth ReLaunch, where we work with alumnae who have stepped out of the workforce and are looking to reenter.