Meet NYU Stern’s MBA Class of 2018

Allison Kantor

New York University, Stern School of Business

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Happy, self proclaimed type A, literary nerd, quick to laugh and thirsty for knowledge

Hometown:  New York, New York (originally Scarsdale NY)

Fun Fact About Yourself: I met my future husband at an adult summer camp called Camp No Counselors. We met over a chili cook off where we both lost!

Undergraduate School and Major: Brown University, Religious Studies

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Bloomingdale’s- started as an assistant buyer in the training program, worked my way up to Buyer, making pit stops along the way as a Business Manager & Digital Merchant

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment is becoming a leader at Bloomingdale’s. Over the course of my career here, I have exceeded sales plans and margin targets and challenged myself to learn each day. But the most important and memorable thing is having become a mentor to those around me and a subject matter expert. The second thing I am most proud of is that I came to Bloomingdale’s as a religious studies major from a liberal arts college and pushed myself to learn how to be comfortable with the financials of running a business.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? I would say the most important thing for me was getting insight into the different programs from family, friends, and my extended network. From working on applications through deciding which school to go to, I am so glad I spoke to anyone and everyone about their experiences.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? I found from beginning to end, the application process at Stern was actually pleasant. Everyone I spoke to had nothing but positive things to say about the school. Being in NYC was a huge selling point for me as well, as it is where I live and want to be. For internships and coffee chats, I don’t have to travel at all to be at the center of the business world.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life?  I would love an employer who values my ideas, and challenges me to learn and grow. I want to do something that I am passionate about and be valued for it. I would love to stay in Luxury Retail, or learn things from a different sector and then go back to it, eventually bringing with it the things I have learned.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? I would like them to say that I am a hard worker who puts in effort in all that I do. I would also like them to (hopefully) recognize that while I can be serious and work hard, I like to laugh and always find the humor in any situation.