Meet the Indiana Kelley MBA Class of 2018

Alexander Ivanov

Indiana University, Kelley School of Business

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I’m always looking for new challenges no matter how far I should go to find them

Hometown: St. Petersburg, Russia

Fun Fact About Yourself: When exploring some very tight caves shaped by underground river in a rural Russia, I got so excited about a discovery of new passageways of the river, that I missed a check in time with friends who have waited at the entrance to the cave and almost called for a rescue mission.

Undergraduate School and Major: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University,

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Junior Field Engineer, Field Engineer, Senior Field Engineer, General Field Engineer, Dual Service Manager, Field Service Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Over the past few years, I have grown from an entry level field engineering role with virtually no knowledge of the oil and gas industry to a line management position in a Fortune 500 company while overcoming language, cultural and perception challenges. During my latest assignment as a Field Service Manager, I have developed and implemented a strategy that led to a growth of an assigned account from zero to 2 million dollar in monthly revenue. In the core of the strategy was a complex mix of new technology, innovative operations procedures, and the selection of highly trained and motivated personnel who were not afraid to operate outside their comfort zone and who were ready to push the boundaries. Due to the initial success, the project rapidly grew outside of the boundaries of business segment and involved other company’s product lines, creating greater value for the organization. As a result of the cross-segment collaboration, the project won a corporate level award for Innovation, Teamwork and Impact.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? Start preparing for the GMAT as early as possible in order to get a better score. In addition to basic quant and verbal knowledge, the test requires a candidate to master test specific skills, such as time management, strategy, endurance. Successful test takers spend a lot of time reviewing previous exam questions to make sure the he or she understands the questions format, identifies the knowledge being tested, and common trap answers the authors of the test have prepared. The ability to keep a sharp focus throughout the exam is also very critical, so taking multiple practice exams under the official timeline is crucial in building the stamina for the test day.

While writing essays, just make sure you let your own personality to shine through the words and paragraphs to deliver a clear picture of who you are, where you have been, and where you are going. The rest of it will come naturally. Take your time talking to the potential recommenders and secure recommendations from the people who know your work the best (direct supervisor, mentor, functional manager), so the admissions committee is able to assess your personality from another point of view.

Schools are looking for a right fit, and you might be surprised how important it is for your future two years at the business school. The fit should be mutual, so take an opportunity to visit campus, talk to the current students, MBA office staff and faculty. Each school has its own culture. While one school can have a better rating, it can actually be not as great of the personal and professional fit as a lower ranked program. Enjoy your applications time! It really is an exciting time and a first step towards your MBA journey!

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? After working for over 7 years in a Fortune 500 company, I have realized that there are certain skills I need to develop in order to grow both personally and professionally. While managing 20 employees was a great practical way to quickly learn people management, leadership, conflict resolution, and other interpersonal skills, I still felt that I need a broader perspective in a more structured and fundamental way that only a formal full time MBA program could deliver.

Like many of perspective MBA students, I’ve started learning about different programs from the top of the business school ratings, visited a few campuses, and spoke with students, administrative staff and faculty. At that time, I couldn’t imagine that the journey would lead me to a beautiful campus of Indiana University and Kelley School of Business. But the minute I walked into the building, I started to fall in love with the atmosphere of the school, it’s vibe, and the spirit of discovery, collaboration and involvement. I felt at home at Kelley and my interview and the rest of the admissions process just further reassured me that I’m in the right spot. And even though, it was a difficult decision to turn down an admissions offer from a higher-ranked school, I just couldn’t discount that illusive “fit-factor” that is crucial in selecting the right program.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? My dream job will involve creating a measurable positive impact not only on the business itself, but also on the communities it operates in. I’m fascinated by opportunities the MBA program provides to embrace and solve the most challenging problems and business cases. Through the comprehensive education, development of functional expertise and leadership as well as enhancement of interpersonal skills, I aspire to grow to a C-Suite role in a Fortune 500 company, drive the company to superior results, and further promote responsible business.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program?  I would like to make sure that my peers enjoyed the time spent together at business school as much as I do and keep the relationship long after graduation. Kelley is a unique school with a smaller class size, which provides a great opportunity to personally know everyone in the class, develop exceptional relationships and build a strong network to rely on during the post-MBA career. I would like to be remembered for collaboration, cultural and professional perspective and unconventional way of tackling the challenges and solving problems.