Hello everyone. I’m Jessica, a first-year MBA student at Stern.
I have to admit that business school was never in my plan. I was a history major in undergrad, pursued a career in writing, and ultimately ended up managing content and community for a consumer products start-up.
Business school always seemed too corporate, an ivory tower that was distanced from my experience in the creative world. When I first started thinking about getting my MBA, friends in the start-up space scoffed. “You want to learn about business?” they said. “Build one.”
And so I did. I shelved my GMAT prep books and booked a trip to Cambodia, where I spent several months getting to know local social enterprises and ultimately sourcing a line of ethical accessories that I retailed in the U.S. I certainly learned a lot about business, but it was mostly by trial and a whole lot of error.
One of my biggest takeaways from the experience is the power of businesses to do good by being good and the profound impact that can occur when social responsibility efforts are implemented at scale. While I have a soft spot for start-ups and will probably return to entrepreneurship eventually, I am currently fascinated by how ethics and sustainability are implemented at larger companies, particularly in the apparel and retail space. There are huge opportunities to create positive change, particularly as tragedies like the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh put pressure on companies to change their ways.
But in order to be an effective change agent, I need to be able to make a business case for social responsibility, rather than an emotional one. For me, that was where Stern came in. I was drawn to Stern for its progressive approach to business, its pioneering efforts in socially responsible business, its location in New York, and its flexible curriculum. At Stern, we have the opportunity to choose up to three specializations from more than 20. I’m planning to focus my studies on Social Innovation & Impact, Supply Chain Management & Global Sourcing, and Luxury Marketing, and I already have a list of more than 60 classes that I want to take. It’s too bad we only have two years!
While I never foresaw going back to school to get my MBA, I am convinced that it has been the right choice for me. I am encouraged by the efforts of the dean, faculty, and administration to recreate Stern into an incubator for changemakers, and I am inspired daily by the passion and drive of my classmates, who come from wildly diverse backgrounds.
In coming posts, I will share more about life at Stern and how it is enabling me to pursue my passions and interests. If there is anything in particular you’re interested in hearing about, I’d love to hear from you in the comments.