Meet Stanford’s MBA Class of 2018

Megan Holston-Alexander

Stanford Graduate School of Business

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: A hilarious, high-energy, Alabama belle laser-focused on creating a new lane exploring business, sports, and social impact.

Hometown: Montgomery, AL

Fun Fact About Yourself: Served as Miss Clark Atlanta University, Miss Black Texas USA and Top 10 Miss Black USA

 

Undergraduate School and Major:

Clark Atlanta University, BA in Sociology

University of Houston, MA in Sociology

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Unity Care Group – Research & Outcomes Program Supervisor

All Stars Helping Kids – Program Director

San Jose State University – Lecturer

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Working for All Stars Helping Kids allowed me not only to learn a broad range of competencies, but also to grow my independent leadership style and explore different passions I didn’t even know I had. Having a background in the social sciences, I loved using my skill set to support startup nonprofits and philanthropic athletes in measuring their community impact.

One of my absolute favorite moments was having Super Bowl 50 come to the Bay Area. I was afforded the amazing opportunity to serve on the 50 Fund Advisory Council helping fund inspirational, impactful nonprofits that are committed to making sure kids and families are afforded every opportunity that their peers have. Knowing I had a role in distributing millions of dollars to support all the hard work of community organizations to make the future brighter for those who will come after me was truly humbling.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? Of course, it’s always so easy to give advice in hindsight! I think the most important thing I’ve learned is that there are NO rules to this game. There is no way to ensure that you will be admitted and very few things that will ensure you won’t be admitted. So the best advice I can offer is: give the application your absolute best, be yourself, and then…just let it go. LET IT GO. You have no control over the rest of the process. And no matter the outcome, always remember that being selected does not mean you’re better than those who were not, and not being selected does not mean you’re any less than those who were.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? The Bay Area has been my home for the last 4 years. I love the people, the culture, and the weather. Attending Stanford has been the proverbial icing on the cake. When I considered business schools, I wanted a program that aligned with my beliefs: 1) social impact has a place in business; 2) diversity makes businesses better; and 3) holistic approaches to leadership allow people like me to thrive not only in business but also in life. I chose Stanford because Stanford believes in what I believe in.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? One of my most important goals at the GSB is to graduate and work for a company whose mission I am passionate about or whose products I actually use. With that in mind, one dream employer would be the Honest Company. They are truly changing how companies view social responsibility and have a great focus on how they can use their base to give back.

My other interest would definitely be in sports. A career managing community relations or nationwide impact programming like NBA Cares or NFL Foundation initiatives would be a great fit to merge my passions.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? The most important words my peers could ever say about me are simply: “I enjoy being in her space.” I don’t want to be remembered for being smart or beautiful or tough, but as someone who has a warm energy that is enjoyable to be around. I want people to say I made them feel good about themselves whenever I was with them. More than a great business leader, I want to be a great person.