Upon graduating and receiving my undergraduate degree from the University of California (where I received a BA in Business Economics with an Emphasis in Accounting), I worked at BDO Seidman, LLP in their attestation group for three and a half years. I then became an investment banker with Wells Fargo Securities, starting as an associate and then onto vice president. The majority of VPs in Investment Banking have an MBA, and I felt I needed it to add credibility to my resume and to the advice I was providing my clients. The Wharton executive MBA program allowed me to simultaneously continue my career and attain a top MBA degree.

I left Wells Fargo Securities to join RBC Capital Markets, doing the same kind of job but on a much larger platform (RBC was voted the Middle Market Investment Bank of the Year in 2008 by Investors Dealers Digest).

Exceeding expectations
The Wharton program exceeded my already high expectations in virtually all areas, particularly the quality of courses, professors, and students. In the Foundations of Leadership class, Mike Useem taught the important concepts behind successful leadership by making us perform in real-life, high-impact situations. It was a powerful learning experience, and the lessons we learned by "acting and doing" were easily transferable to our daily lives and in the workplace.

On sponsorship
When I approached my employer about pursuing an MBA, I received full endorsement for a part-time program. My division was relatively new, and I was the first person to be sponsored. My employer was very supportive, giving me the time needed to attend the program, without taking it out of my personal or vacation days, and allowing me to choose the transactions that I took on at work. My colleagues were also extremely supportive.

A natural career fit
Wharton's MBA is a natural fit for my career in investment banking. The majority of vice president-level bankers have MBA degrees already, and the MBA is a must-have credential in my profession. I would like to continue with investment banking or eventually transition over to the "buy side" in venture capital or public equity. Either way, the Wharton name will add credibility to whatever I end up doing. The most valuable aspects of the program to me are the contacts I made and the friendships that will last a lifetime.