Meet The Michigan Ross MBA Class of 2018

Edward Norwood

University of Michigan – Stephen M. Ross School of Business

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: A small-town southern gentleman with enormous goals and a bigger heart.

Hometown: Jackson, Mississippi

Fun Fact About Yourself: Leaving the motorcycle dealership with my brand new Kawasaki Ninja 600, I had an accident in the parking lot…oops.

Undergraduate School and Major: Millsaps College

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: BankPlus—Loan Officer; Trustmark National Bank—Assistant Vice President; Comer Capital Group—Director of Public Finance

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Over the past six years, I have helped a startup municipal advisory company grow from a theoretical concept into a viable business enterprise with in-depth quantitative analysis, diverse client base in multiple states, and multiple product offerings.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? There are three things that I would encourage every applicant to include in his or her business school process—reach out to current students (more details to follow), visit the campuses and master, not just know, your personal story.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? Ross stood out for several reasons. First, the people were truly amazing. I often tell the story that my first interaction with a Ross student sold me on the school’s collaborative culture and community. The student was in his first year at Ross. He was very genuine about his experiences, positive and negative, at Ross and he went out of his way to connect me to other Ross students and his network of fellow students at other schools that I was considering. I was shocked that a student would go out of his way to make sure that a “random guy” had the resources necessary to make the best decision. At first, I thought this was an isolated event, but soon thereafter, I realized this caring spirit is ingrained in students and continues the Ross “pay it forward” culture.

The second reason was the MAP program. The opportunity to work on meaningful real-world projects from across the globe helped make Ross the best option for me.

The third reason is…. Football! Jim Harbaugh in the Big House! What could be better?

Go Blue!

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? My dream job will combine my soft and hard skill sets, passion for helping others, entrepreneurial spirit, and my affinity for traveling. I truly want to make a positive difference in the quality of life in my community and across the world.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? “Edward is very helpful.” Helping someone develop or reach his or her career or personal goal(s) is my top priority.