Meet the IESE MBA Class of 2018

Danielle Francis

IESE Business School

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I’m a sincere and resourceful person who grabs life by the horns.

Hometown: Union, NJ

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve practiced muay thai and kickboxing for six years.

Undergraduate School and Major: Stevens Institute of Technology, Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: 

• Tyco International – Operations Leadership and Development Program Analyst
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of IL – Operational Excellence Analyst
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of IL – Product Development Analyst
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of IL – Product Development Consultant 

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Early on in my career, I was given responsibility over a work stream that would typically be given to someone with much more experience.  I was responsible for managing a multi-million dollar budget for a highly visible corporate initiative. I had very little knowledge in this area; however, I was able to quickly learn how the budget and forecast was impacted by accruals, depreciation, salary expenses and more in order to provide updates to c-suite executives. The initiative faced many challenges, but I was able to find savings to maintain the budget and ease leadership’s concerns. This experience taught me the importance of bringing forth solutions rather than only highlighting the risks.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? The GMAT is definitely the toughest part when it comes to preparing for business school. It can take a lot of time and dedication to achieve a “good” score, so give yourself enough time to take the test again should you not achieve your ideal score on the first try. The last thing you want to do is study for the GMAT while writing your admissions essays.  Also, if you’ve been studying for weeks and your practice scores are not improving, it may be time to try a different approach. There are many prep courses available with various teaching methods that may align better with your learning style. I was able to grasp more from the second prep course that I took compared to the first due to its different approach.

For your application essays, ensure that you’re telling a cohesive story. Your essays should paint a picture of who you are and why business schools should want you. Also, start jotting down accomplishments, goals, and notes about your personal brand as they come to mind months before the application deadline. This was a huge help for me, because it provided a bank of ideas once it was time to write my essays. I used these ideas to discover consistent themes that helped me shape my story.

Also, make time to do activities that you enjoy while you’re studying and writing essays. If you enjoy weekly dinners with your friends or exercising in the morning, ensure that you fit it into your schedule.  Applying to business school can be stressful, so it’s good to stay connected with whatever keeps you balanced. Plus, you won’t have much time left with family and friends once you’re accepted. This is especially true if you apply after round 1, or you’re planning to relocate for business school.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? When I decided to go back to school full-time, I knew I wanted to be in a program that has an international focus, is two years long, is located in a large city, and provides the opportunity to learn a second language. I was drawn to IESE by its mission and the fact that everyone I met exemplified its core values of respect for others, humility, and learning and listening.  It became evident that the IESE community actually lived by its stated mission and core values the more I interacted with admissions counselors, current students, and alumni. IESE became my number one choice after I visited the campus, and I’m so happy to be a part of this community!

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? My dream job is a management consultant.  I realize this may sound odd to some, but it’s because I love helping people.  I volunteer often, and was even a weekly adult basic education tutor prior to preparing for business school.  Although it’s not altruistic to be a management consultant, the fundamental activities of being a consultant revolve around helping organizational leaders transform their business. It would be great to integrate my passion for helping and advising into my professional life.  Plus, I’ll have the opportunity to travel, which is also a perk.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program?  My contributions inside and outside of the classroom enriched their experience while at IESE.