2016 Best MBAs: Tyler Erhorn, Michigan State

Tyler Erhorn Michigan State

Tyler Erhorn

 

Michigan State University, Broad College of Business

“Tyler has been a difference-maker ever since his arrival at Broad…the total package. Great leader, teammate, and steward of the program.”

Age: 24

Hometown: Spring Lake, MI

Education: Central Michigan University – Sport Management

Where did you work before enrolling in business school? A number of start-up companies while in undergrad (including companies in logistics, demolition, PEO Services and Medical Devices)

Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? Spectrum Health Hospital System- Contracting Intern

Where will you be working after graduation? Raytheon- Supply Chain Leadership Development Program

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School Appointed as a Team Advisor (a top student in leadership), as a presentation coach (a top student for communication skills) and as the President of our Finance Association along with my graduate assistant position with the Entrepreneurship Institute on campus.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Being a team advisor for this academic year was a great opportunity. Four people in our program get the opportunity to “advise” the first years as they navigate through their first semester with their team (that they are assigned to for the year). Being able to learn how different individuals come together in a team to form different strategies for success was extremely insightful. This is an experience that I will take long into my professional career of establishing and working in teams.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am most proud of my contributions to the start-ups that I have been working on throughout the program. I am currently working on two, one in the energy industry and another in autonomous technologies. The work that I helped with has resulted in the autonomous technologies company to be awarded an SBIR grant through the military and being a part of the company has given me a lot of opportunities to learn more about the engineering side of things.

Favorite MBA Courses? Corporate Financial Strategies, Leadership/Teamwork and Supply Chain Applications

Why did you choose this business school? The location and quality of the program, I felt I could get a well-balanced education. The family atmosphere both with the staff and the students were a major draw as well.

What did you enjoy most about business school? The challenges and experiences gained from working with so many different people with different backgrounds. I’ve learned a lot about different people and cultures and how those differences effect teamwork in business.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from business school? There are tradeoffs with everything and understanding what the reaction to a decision will be is the key to making the right strategic moves.

What was the most surprising thing about business school? The extensive diversity of backgrounds was a pleasant surprise. I wanted to get an MBA for the opportunity to learn from people that had different experiences than I did and the diversity of backgrounds in our program widely exceeded my expectations.

What was the hardest part of business school? Learning a “new level” of time management. I had previously worked for multiple employers/organizations at one time, so I thought that I knew how to manage my time until I started this program. Balancing all of the competing priorities in the program with extracurricular opportunities and academics was difficult enough, but then making sure to balance that with personal life was definitely an adjustment.

What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? Begin with the end in mind. Identifying the appropriate MBA program for you does not only come down to rankings, but look where graduates are going and really see if that’s where you want to be. Michigan State was the best choice I could have made, but I also realize that it is not the best choice for everyone.

 I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I realized that I had an opportunity to learn from many people with different backgrounds while being challenged in the classroom and professionally.”

If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…working in finance for small businesses in West Michigan.”

What are your long-term professional goals? I really enjoy the challenges related to working with people and thinking strategically, so I would like to be in an executive level management position in a small or large business.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? My parents taught me an excellent balance of hard work and knowing that there is more to life than work. Through that perspective, I have been able to focus on finding what I enjoy and understanding the risks to decisions I have made. And of course, my fiancé has helped me through this MBA program. She really encouraged me through all of the times that I felt like I had taken on too much and has been a major factor in my success since we met.

Fun fact about yourself: I ran my first marathon (without training) and went skydiving in the same month.

Favorite books: Business by the Book by Larry Burkett, Give and Take by Adam Grant and Dodging Extinction by Anthony Barnosky

Favorite movie: Goodwill Hunting

Favorite musical performer: Needtobreathe

Favorite television show: House of Cards

Favorite vacation spot: The family cabin (Cheboygan, MI)

Hobbies? I enjoy working with start-ups, reading and working out.

What made Tyler such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?

“Tyler has been a difference-maker ever since his arrival at Broad. He has been our #1 student mentor and advocate in financial matters, both academically and professionally.  As a first year student, his efforts were instrumental in developing and conducting the ACG cup on campus and as the #2 in the student finance organization.

In his second year, he set the Broad MBA program on fire. Through his work with the Broad College Institute for Entrepreneurship, he helped inspire and create a 3-day innovation/entrepreneurship workshop that garnered the highest seminar course evaluations in the Broad MBA in 3 years! Although our overall finance enrollment has dipped, Tyler’s efforts have added tremendous value in the professional development of our student finance group. Through his leadership, the finance organization increased their program offerings to students, both on-campus and on professional treks, 200%. Tyler is amongst the top 5% of students in the Broad MBA because he is the total package. Great leader, teammate, and steward of the program.” –Wayne Hutchison, Director, Academic and Program Services, Broad MBA

DON’T MISS: CLASS OF 2016: THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST GRADUATING MBAS

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