Chicago, IL
Occupation: Director of Strategy, Operations, and Special Projects at P33 Chicago
I studied classical music in college and in graduate school, so my educational background is unique among most MBA students. Over the past decade, my work experience and business intuition have allowed me to successfully pivot into the role I have today, but I’ve always felt as though an MBA could provide me with the skills, frameworks, and ideas I needed to advance my career and make a significant impact in the social sector. I feel as though my unique background and experiences are not only welcome at Booth, but they are celebrated - and when I discovered the Civic Scholars program, I knew immediately that I had found my home at Booth.
I envision a world where all people can freely participate in a just and inclusive economy. To hasten this vision, I’ve dedicated my career to advancing economic opportunity and supporting initiatives that address social problems related to minority and gender-based wealth gaps, capital access for underrepresented entrepreneurs, and structural inequities in economic policy. Eventually, I plan to pursue an executive leadership role within an organization where I can advance my impact by dismantling barriers to capital access and reimagining the ways in which we leverage capital to benefit under-resourced and underestimated communities.
I’m excited to further develop my financial acumen and explore the intersections between traditional financing, impact investing, philanthropy, and nonprofit funding strategy. I hope to use the insights I gain to champion sustainable nonprofit funding models that generate returns and reinvest profits into expanded resources for the continued advancement of financial inclusion.
Some people might think of nonprofit organizations as less serious or less competitive than their for-profit business counterparts. But I argue that, because nonprofits are often dedicated to addressing our planet’s most pressing social problems, it is imperative that our work be led by exceptionally well trained and well prepared individuals. An MBA provides the tools and frameworks that those leaders need in order to be successful. The societal challenges we’ll face in the coming decades will be great and the stakes will be high - that’s why, for me, an MBA is a critical part of my career development in the nonprofit sector.
I chose Booth's Evening & Weekend MBA because it provides a unique opportunity to cultivate the thinking frameworks necessary for achieving my long-term career goals, while allowing me to continue to develop practical knowledge and leadership skills on the job. And, given the diverse array of students Booth’s Weekend MBA attracts, I'm able to enjoy and discover new perspectives and insights that are immediately applicable when I return to work each Monday morning.
