Some of the experiences that developed me most as a leader were the nontraditional ones – the Global Consulting Practicum, Rebuilding Together, and a Leadership Venture to Patagonia.

Coming full circle
I was a Penn undergrad majoring in communication and linguistics, but I had an interest in marketing and got a taste for it early on. I was particularly impressed by Professor Barbara Kahn, who taught me Marketing 101. After college, I worked in strategy consulting, but I knew I still had this passion for marketing. I later joined a brand consulting firm for three and half years, where I gained more marketing knowledge and led projects. In order to move into the competitive field of brand management, I knew I needed the background of a formal MBA program. As it turns out, I served as a teaching assistant (TA) for Barbara Kahn in my second year, so I felt like I came full circle. One of my particular interests is looking at marketing activities critically – using an analytical framework that asks what is the return on marketing investments. It's a huge benefit that Wharton has a quantitative mindset and allowed me to study marketing from a scientific angle, something I don't think I could do at other schools.

Looking back
Looking back over the two years, I think that some of the experiences that developed me most as a leader were the nontraditional ones – the Global Consulting Practicum (working on a team consulting project for an Israeli company), acting as House Manager for Rebuilding Together (a student-led community service program), and working as a TA for a highly intelligent and select group of undergraduate students in Marketing 101. I also took part in a Leadership Venture to Patagonia, Chile, over Spring break. It was amazing – a way to experience a part of the world I'd never been to, make new Wharton friends, challenge myself mentally and physically – and learn some valuable things about leadership and teamwork in unfamiliar and often uncomfortable environments, for instance, while hiking straight up a mountain!

Cream of the crop
A Wharton degree is a signal that you're the cream of the crop. It means that you have the ability to make decisions with a measurable impact on an organization. This skill is extremely important in today's environment. Someone gave me the advice that in five or ten years, I will understand even more the value of my MBA. I'm very proud to be associated with the Wharton brand for the rest of my career.

My career
Since graduating from Wharton, my most surprising discovery – and what I think will be Wharton's most important lasting impact – has been how much credibility I can bring to my job as effective, cross-functional leader. Wharton's strong core curriculum really prepared me for my position as a general manager, beyond my core interest in marketing. Whenever my colleagues in Operations, Finance, Engineering, etc. learn that I have a Wharton degree, I get instant credibility as a well-rounded business manager. And I find myself actively leading conversations on operations and financial analysis, even though they're not my chosen areas of professional expertise. Wharton taught me how to effectively leverage my marketing expertise in a cross-functional team environment, which gives me a leg up from my peers from other schools.

Advice to incoming students
Know yourself and your interests/goals. In order to truly make the most of your Wharton experience from Day One, you must know what you want to get out of the two year experience. Wharton provides a terrific structure or framework for you to gain leadership competency, technical, strategic, and analytical skill sets, and make strong professional and personal relationships, but you must bring focus, passion, and time management capability to the picture, so that you don't feel overwhelmed by the opportunities. While Wharton can help you discover where your business interests and strengths lie, you'll have a richer, more rewarding experience if you arrive at Wharton knowing what your core passions and end goals are as a business leader.

Major: Marketing

Extracurricular Activities: Head teaching assistant, Marketing 101 undergraduate course; house manager, Rebuilding Together; writer, Wharton Follies; team leader, Wharton Community Consultants; member, Marketing Club, Wine Club, and Culinary Club

Internship: Brand management, Frito-Lay

Favorite Classes at Wharton: Global Consulting Practicum (GCP); Marketing Strategy; Communications/Public Speaking Seminar; Negotiations