Meet Chicago Booth’s MBA Class of 2018

Daniel Patton

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Lover of all things including rooftops, people, and brunch

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am the social chair for the auxiliary board of the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago, where I plan fun events to get young professionals excited about the ballet.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Pennsylvania, BA in History & Africana Studies

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

UBS: Investment Banking Analyst

McMaster-Carr Supply Company: General Management / Operations Supervisor

Groupon: Business Development, Health Beauty Wellness Vertical

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: When I first became an operations supervisor at McMaster-Carr, I coached a low performing employee to become the most productive member of my team. I worked with him to isolate key challenges and developed a plan to address them. While I held the employee accountable, the situation would not have improved had I not earned my teammate’s trust. After diligently executing the turnaround plan, the employee’s overall quality and productivity dramatically improved to the point where he received a promotion. Through this experience, I learned the significance of taking the time to understand my teammate’s individual needs. The experience also revealed the true meaning of driving performance through others.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? For the GMAT, I recommend taking time to determine the most effective way to prepare based on your learning style (test prep class, self-study, private tutor or a combination). Once you determine your approach, hold yourself strictly accountable by setting timelines and devoting the time you need to adequately prepare. It may also be helpful to work with an “accountability-buddy” to keep you on track to do your best.

For essays and interviews, make sure your responses actually answer the prompts and write from a place of genuineness, rather than what you think the admissions office wants to read. Have a few people read over your essays who may provide a different perspective. It’s good to get a mix of people who know you well and others who will have a more objective view. Most importantly, be comfortable with your story inside and out. That will shine above all else.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? A number of factors went into choosing Booth, but for me it came down to the people and the intellectual rigor of the program. After speaking with a number of alums and current students, it became clear that Booth equips grads with unique problem solving capabilities that provide confidence and leadership on the job and in the world. Quite simply, I like the way Boothies think. Another thing that stood out to me was that although the school is rigorous. There is a very supportive community that encourages students to have fun with like-minded individuals through awesome social programming in Chicago and around the world. On a personal note, as a native south side Chicagoan, it’s bittersweet to attend b-school in the amazing city that I will forever call home!

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? It has been a long-time dream of mine to become Mayor of Chicago. I love this city more than anything and am a proud product of the Chicago Public Schools. As I grow up as a corporate leader, I hope to develop a skillset that will be one day be useful to serve the people of this awesome city.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? I want them to know that they can ALWAYS call on me, and that my integrity is as solid as the fun times we will have over the next two years.