Meet Minnesota Carlson’s MBA Class of 2018

Thomas Cloyd

Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Alliteratively articulate, inevitably indefatigable, selectively serious, purposefully pledged to progress…and one word short.

Hometown: Edina, MN

Fun Fact About Yourself: I produced advertising for and my name appears in the credits of the Academy Award winning documentary film The Cove.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Colorado – Boulder, Creative Advertising

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Get Up Stand Up to Cure Paralysis Foundation – Cofounder/Vice Chair, Wellthy – Subject Matter Expert in Spinal Cord Injury

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Advocating for and assisting in the passing of the MN Spinal Cord & Brain Injury Research Grant Act [2015].

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants?  One thing I wish I had done was remove myself from an application before submitting it. I think it would be a great idea to completely finish your essays and applications two weeks before they are due. Seven days later, go back over everything and tighten things up if you see a need. I re-read my application essays so many times that I couldn’t tell if I was using commas correctly, let alone conveying a coherent idea.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? I am pursuing an MBA to learn and to provide the foundation for a career in medical technology. After researching top programs, I realized Carlson provides a unique combination of experiential education that employers recognize as valuable experience with a committed relationship to top companies in the industry. This one-two-punch has proven successful in getting graduates to the places they want to be, especially within the medical technology space. Carlson’s strengths and opportunities directly support my goal. Therefore the U of M was my best option.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? As of today, prior to my robust understanding of the business world, my dream job would be managing a product/intervention that improves the lives of people with health impairments. Specifically, I want to restore function for those with spinal cord injuries. To achieve this goal, dedicated scientific research is critical. Equally essential is providing the business strategy and motivation to bring such products to market. I want to help develop and deliver these ideas, strategies, and products.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? “I can’t wait to work with him again.”