Meet Cornell Johnson’s MBA Class of 2018

Sara Johnson

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I leverage all things for good.

Hometown: Sacramento, CA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I lived in Kathmandu, Nepal, for three months during their civil war.

Undergraduate School and Major: UC San Diego, Philosophy

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Administrator for a women’s health clinic, Paralegal, Yoga Teacher, Founder, Executive Director, Manager, and Intern.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I launched a new business model in my hometown: a brick and mortar yoga studio that was also a public service organization. This was a community-based studio that also partnered with area social services to provide physical, mental and emotional tools to underserved populations. What started as a team of volunteers and grassroots fundraising is now nearly a half million-dollar organization that employs a staff of 40.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? Do not doubt the value of your perspective or the remarkability of your accomplishments. Keep going. There is a need for your unique qualities. Tell your story, be proud of your resiliency, and know that it’s not all about the GMAT.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? Each time I spoke with someone from Johnson, the possibilities for my career expanded beyond what I previously thought. At admissions events, I found myself recruiting other students to their table! Obviously, I will be very well prepared for the career I want with the core curriculum of any top tier school, and particularly so with Johnson’s Immersion in Sustainable Global Enterprises.

However, it is significant to me that Cornell University was created on a basis of inclusion. “Any person … any study” is precisely what makes it different. I am proud to be getting my MBA from the first American university that was founded on the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities. Cornell changed the game in higher education, and I want to be with the game-changers. Finally, when I visited Johnson, I never felt like a token of diversity. I was acknowledged for my achievements and authentically seen and valued for the work I’ve done in my community. It felt like family. This is the kind of culture that I thrive in and that I want to replicate in the larger business community.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? VP of Social Impact. I want corporate social responsibility to be a part of the company’s decision-making process at the highest level. I’d love to build out the department for companies that are ready to commit because they understand that social responsibility is good for business.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? I would like them to remember me for genuine nature, warmth of character, and high integrity.