Meet Harvard’s MBA Class of 2017

Francesca Ioffreda-Harvard-PoetsAndQuants-Classof2017

Francesca Ioffreda

 

Harvard Business School 

Hometown: Arlington, Virginia

Undergraduate School and Major: Claremont McKenna College, Economics and International Relations Dual Major

Joint Degree MBA/MPP Program with Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School of Government

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: 

  • Summer Fellow, Office of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, City of Chicago
  • Consultant, Deloitte Consulting
  • Research Fulbright Scholar in Bogota, Colombia

Recalling your own experience, what advice do you have for applicants who are preparing for either the GMAT or the GRE? Know your strengths and weaknesses and design a study plan that works for you. In consulting, I witnessed a lot of my colleagues self-studying and initially thought that this too would work for me. However, being on the road every week and having variable workloads made self-studying difficult. I found myself studying intensely some weeks and then going a week without studying. After a few weeks, I recognized that self-studying would not work for me and I would be best served by the discipline of a private tutor. The upfront financial investment, weekly check-ins, and mock tests were invaluable in holding me accountable to studying, pinpointing my weaknesses, and ensuring consistency in my studying schedule. I would also recommend giving yourself enough time to take the test more than once. If possible, try to take the GMAT/GRE before beginning the application process so you don’t have to juggle it all concurrently.

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? To draw up a list of target schools it’s important to know what you are looking for in an MBA program. For example, some students might prefer an immersive MBA experience in a small city, while others might want to attend a school located in a big city to enjoy the benefits of cosmopolitan life. You should also think through how the school fits in to your larger plan. For example, some schools might have better brand recognition within a specific geographic region or globally. It might be helpful to think through the kind of environment you need to thrive, and see which schools have those characteristics.

I also encourage applicants to talk to as many people as possible who have attended the schools they are considering. Of course, there’s no substitute for visiting the schools. A visit to campus will provide an immediate sense of the student body, culture, and classroom experience. Don’t discount the importance of culture and fit – just because a school has a great reputation doesn’t mean it’s the right school for you.

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? The most important aspect of a successful application is being able to articulate your story. This means understanding how your past experiences connect with your future goals and how an MBA program figures into this equation. Crystallizing your story requires deep reflection and (in my case) innumerable conversations with peers and loved ones. Once you have your story, your essays should flow naturally from there. I think it’s important to really open up in your essays and show who you are and what differentiates you from other candidates.

As far as interview preparation is concerned, all I can say is practice, practice, practice. One of the tactics I found most beneficial was having alumni from target schools who I didn’t know interview me. This simulated a true interviewer and the alumni were able to provide insight on whether I was resonating with the school’s culture.

Picking the right recommenders is critical. Don’t just pick the people with the best titles, but rather people who really know you. Once you have them selected, help them help you. Make sure to share your story with them, tell them what makes you tick, and explain why you are applying to each school. Remind them of stories and anecdotes that they can draw on in their letters. Try not to overburden any one person and put deadline reminders in their calendars. Once it’s all said-and-done, make sure to thank them profusely and send them a thank you card and gift basket.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? I chose HBS because of the case method, the RC FIELD course, the diversity of the student body, and the joint degree program with the Kennedy School.

I think HBS’ use of the case method is really special. It creates a dynamic learning environment, brings to bear the unique experiences and backgrounds of your classmates, and encourages students to be fully engaged and present. While it can sometimes be intimidating, I think the case method is great preparation for the real world. Learning how to analyze a situation, knowing how and when to contribute to a discussion, and how to take a stance are key skills that will serve me well over the course of my career.

In addition, I was attracted to HBS’ RC FIELD course – a first year course which consists of three components – improving our leadership skills, a global consulting experience, and launching a micro-business with classmates. This course helps supplement the case method by allowing us to put into practice what we discuss in class, while interacting in small settings with other talented and diverse classmates.

Finally, I see my career spanning the private and public sectors and was attracted to the three-year joint degree program with the Kennedy School. I liked the idea of an integrated program, a small cohort of like-minded individuals, and a joint degree seminar specifically focused on cases at the intersection of business and government.

What would you ultimately like to achieve before you graduate?

I don’t know that there’s any one thing I hope to achieve before I graduate, but I hope to grow as a person and as a professional. During my time at HBS, I plan to tap into as may resources as possible to enhance my breadth and depth of knowledge of different business functions and career paths. In addition to gaining new technical knowledge, I hope to use this time to develop my personal brand of leadership. Most importantly, I hope to have developed a network of life-long friends and colleagues.

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