Meet The Incoming Kellogg Class of 2017

Iyembi Nkanza

Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management

Hometown: Lusaka, Zambia

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Cape Town – Economics and Finance Major

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Kanz Investments – Private Equity Deal Origination – 2014 – 2015, Founder & Director; Pulce – Big Data Analytics software start up – 2012-2014, Founder & CEO; Frost & Sullivan – 2011-2013 (Research Analyst – Information, Communication and Technology, 2011-2012; Account Manager – Business and Financial Services, 2012-2013)

Recalling your own experience, what advice do you have for applicants who are preparing for either the GMAT or the GRE? I would recommend that you take a minimum of three months to complete the GMAT exam. Use a resource such as Magoosh to support your study plans. Magoosh really helped me to structure my study plan in a way that made me confident on exam day. Another piece of advice that can be carried into business school is critical self-examination. Record every mistake you make, figure out why, write it down, and examine that record throughout the study process.

Based on your own selection process, what advice do you have for applicants who are trying to draw up a list of target schools to which to apply? Applying to business school is a chance to shoot for the stars, so think about the places that you would love to go (for whatever reason) and throw them on the list. I compiled a list predominantly based on alumni that I had met from particular schools. Alumni are a good reflection of the quality of a business school.  However, you must compile a list based on the most important factors that are key to your decision – rank, cost, location, alumni. Consequently, your decision will be based on a balance between a number of reasons. You will often feel a connection with the school that you truly identify with. This will make the essay writing process a lot easier.

What advice do you have for applicants in actually applying to a school, writing essays, doing admission interviews, and getting recommenders to write letters on your behalf? Make a plan, whether on Excel or a sheet of paper, tracking what needs to be done on a daily basis. Handle your recommenders with the utmost respect by reaching out to them far in advance and giving them the necessary time to work on your recommendation. The application process can be exhausting, but if you are able to strategize your time effectively, you will be on the right path to creating a great MBA career once you get into a school. You could be applying to a small number of schools, so be sure to continue to fall in love with the schools that you choose by reading about the programme in depth and connecting with alumni. This will help you to write better essays and have rich conversations during admission interviews.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? My ex boss is a Kellogg alumnus and she was a fantastic representation of the spirit within the institution. Working closely with her allowed me to see the value of the Kellogg brand in practice.

I chose Kellogg because they have the best one year MBA programme in the world. I am able to skip core courses that I took in my postgraduate degree and focus on key areas for my next career move.

What would you ultimately like to achieve before you graduate? The Kellogg experience, like other top MBA courses, is a buffet of amazing options that unfortunately cannot all be done. I aim to choose the optimum combination of classes, trips, and experiences that will create memories of a fantastic once-in-a-lifetime experience and set me up for years of continued professional growth and prosperity.