Meet Washington University’s Olin MBA Class of 2017

Cambrie Nelson

Washington University, Olin Business School 

Hometown: Denver, Colorado

Undergraduate School and Major: Washington University in St. Louis

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Diversity Awareness Partnership—Assistant Program Manager

Institute for Community Leadership – Community Organizer

Rainier Beach High School—Success Youth Inc. Consultant

–International Baccalaureate Community Outreach Coordinator

Kent Denver School – History Faculty and Diversity and Inclusion Department Chair

Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder – Director of Ethical Leadership Programming and Consultant

Civic Creatives—Co-founder and Director of Organizational Vision and Strategy

Recalling your own experience, what advice do you have for applicants who are preparing for either the GMAT or the GRE? 

1. Give yourself enough time to be successful.
2. Share your process with friends and family and allow them to support you.
3. I’ve traditionally struggled with standardized tests for a number of reasons, and this test felt no different—in fact, it felt like the stakes were higher than they ever were in the past. As someone who has not been in school for a while, my advice is not to be intimidated by the test. The purpose of it is not just to see it as a “key” unlocking access to graduate schools, but as an opportunity to re-establish a study rhythm and to unearth how you learn (even if the test doesn’t cater directly to your strengths).

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? There are an abundance of great business schools, but the aim is to find a great school for you. Yes, this means making ranking secondary to fit because opportunity is only opportunity if it can be used. Instead, try to draft up a list of schools that you can both see yourself at for the next two years and that you can see how it offers a bridge to the years beyond the scope of the program. I found that a school’s values offered the insight I needed to craft my list. While the student body changes from year-to-year finding one that resembles the community you hope to be a part of it crucial. If you have a chance to visit the school, spend time just watching and observing, not just speaking with everyone. I found that the character of a place can be seen in the daily “unwatched” observations.

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? Be genuine. You want to find a school that wants you, not a hyperbolic version of you.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA?  I chose Olin because it truly embodied everything I wanted in a program: A small class-size, a central location, a strong experiential learning program, a Social Entrepreneurship concentration, and a collaborative environment. I wanted to be in a program where the focus was partnering with each student to design his or her MBA experience. Specifically, the platform system, the Center for Experiential Learning, and an innovation-driven St. Louis area were key influencers in my decision.

What would you ultimately like to achieve before you graduate? Professionally, I hope to solidify the financial model of our start-up and expand my exploration into strategy-based careers. Personally, I hope to leave with a community rather than merely a network. Academically, I hope to pursue and retain my learning with intrigue and joy rather than consume it. From an extracurricular standpoint, I hope to promote increased diversity, inclusion, and innovation in business programs as a whole.