Meet Georgetown’s MBA Class of 2018

John Wenstrand

 

Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: A big sushi roll of ingenuity, perseverance, and passion for driving positive change.

Hometown: Menlo Park, CA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I played the violin in Carnegie Hall when I was 12 years old.

Undergraduate School and Major: Gonzaga University, History Major

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Juniper Networks (networking products company) University Recruiting Specialist

Birst Inc. (business intelligence software company) Lead Development Representative, Manager of Lead Development, Director of Lead Development

Altify (sales acceleration software company) Director of Business Development

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: At Birst, I scaled the business development function successfully and hired, enabled, and led over 35 business development professionals in Singapore, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The biggest accomplishment in my young career has been helping many young professionals start successful careers in enterprise software sales.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? Over prepare for your interviews. Practice with someone beforehand and be sure to come up with well thought-out questions for your interviewer that are genuine and show both an in-depth understanding of the school and your high level of interest. Also, speak to current students and recent graduates before interviewing, as it will show your initiative as well as allow you to engage with your interviewer at a deeper level.

If you have strong work experience and have shown the ability to lead and drive change, be confident and follow through with the applications to your dream schools. Even if you lack in another area like your GPA or GMAT scores, you may be surprised how much a strong business experience and a track record will do for you in the application and interview process.

What led you to choose this program for your fulltime MBA? I went to a Jesuit high school and attended a Jesuit University for my undergraduate degree. The Jesuits taught me that cura personalis, men and women for others, and finding the place where your greatest talents meet the world’s greatest needs were all ideas that would guide my professional and personal life. Continuing my experience at a Jesuit University where I knew I would get a values-based education was a key factor in my decision to choose Georgetown.

When considering MBA programs, it was also a priority to find a school and a location that would allow my wife to thrive during my time in the program. I did not want her to feel like she was just supporting me but also that she was able to develop professionally and personally. After attending a panel discussion at an event sponsored by the Georgetown Partners Association and learning about the vibrancy of Washington, D.C., and the many job opportunities here, I knew that Georgetown would allow us to both thrive individually and together.

As a part of my due diligence, I also spoke with a few recent graduates from the MBA program and instantly felt a strong connection with them. They were eager to pay it forward by speaking to me as many times as I needed and through their words of wisdom regarding the application process. Joining the thousands of Georgetown MBA graduates and the huge network of the broader Georgetown alumni who prioritize looking out for one another was very attractive.

I wanted to find an MBA program that shared my desire to increase diversity in American business, especially in Silicon Valley where the underrepresentation of Black, Hispanic, and Native Americans has been well documented. I knew I would find alignment on this mission at Georgetown because it is a member of the Consortium for Graduate Studies in Management, holds an annual Diversity Day, and generally emphasizes the importance of diversity in business.

Finally, the strong entrepreneurship focus was important for me. Startup Hoyas, recent winners of the Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC), and a group of very impressive entrepreneurs in residence are just a few examples of the opportunities for people like myself who want to pursue entrepreneurship at Georgetown.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? My dream job is to be an entrepreneur and start a high-tech company that changes the way the world works. Whether in the areas of education, healthcare, or another area, I want to build a valuable company that also helps improve the quality of people’s lives. This would be my dream job because I enjoy leading and building things. I also feel that by running a business that has a positive social impact, I will be living the Jesuit values that I so closely identify with.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? That I was a caring and supportive classmate and that I was able to inspire them to find their passion and be their best.