Meet The Rochester Simon MBA Class Of 2018

Tite Jean-Pierre

Simon Business School, University of Rochester

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: ‘My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive;… with passion, compassion….’

Hometown: I was born in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti and grew up in Miami, FL

Fun Fact About Yourself: I had a brief stint in Hollywood as an extra on a Telemundo TV show where I played a few roles such as a nurse and a police officer.

 

Undergraduate School and Major: Business Administration, Florida International University

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

PPG Industries, Sales Professional

Coca–Cola North America, Account Manager

Caleres, Inc., Associate Store Manager

 Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Having migrated to the U.S. from Haiti in the late 90s and navigating the educational process, I noticed that I had instances where if I was aware of a piece of information a few months prior, I would’ve benefited greatly. The saying ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’ is something that I strive to change for underrepresented minorities.

The biggest accomplishments of my career do not come when I am able to negotiate a big contract, secure a new customer, or increase company sales, but in the opportunities that allow me to give back. Such an occasion presented itself with The Coca–Cola Company as a volunteer to facilitate students encouraging recycling at annual festivals. I relished in that opportunity and used it to speak to students that I would not have had prior access to and discussing their future plans. I had the opportunity to serve as a mentor with Take Stock in Children while working with PPG Industries. I worked one-on-one with a high school senior in helping her navigate the next step in her education. Mentoring future business leaders is a passion that drives me; going back as far as 2007 where I competed a few stints as a summer intern with the Upward Bound organization at my alma-mater. True accomplishments for me are measured by the lives I get to touch as I truly believe that knowledge is power.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants?

The GMAT /GRE Experience: I remember this like it was yesterday. My schedule consisted of work from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m., dinner at 5 p.m., my GMAT class from 6 p.m.  – 8 p.m., a small snack on the drive home, studying for approximately 3-4 hours, and then waking up to do it all over again. This was my daily schedule for a good chunk of my time pre-MBA. The GMAT or GRE, whichever test you decide to take, are not easy tests. That statement might be subjective to my case, but I would wager that is it not as we can peruse any bookstore or website and see hundreds of books written on the topic of ‘cracking’ these tests. I say this to urge you to take this step of the application process very seriously. Testing may even be considered as step one in the application process as it may be the factor that gets you in the door and into the consideration pool for top programs. A great majority of us will have to balance having a full time job and our daily responsibilities while preparing for this test. My advice is to plan your days down to the minute. Time usually flies, whether you are having fun or not. It is best to make the most of it and be meticulous and plan your days accordingly.

Visiting Schools: I am a very big believer in ‘fit’ and being diligent in knowing as much as possible about a program that you intend to attend beyond what is posted online or can be garnered through phone conversations. Not only does the face time with admissions give your name and application a boost, but as much as the program wants to ensure that you are a fit, you should also strive to ensure that they are a fit for you. The program should align with who you are, the things that matter to you, and your professional and personal goals should align with the program. Take advantage of visiting the school to interact with your potential future classmates who are also visiting, the first and second years, and the faculty and staff that you will rely on for support. I am not recommending visiting every school on your application list, as that can become an expensive undertaking in time and resources, but I advise visiting the top three programs you are considering.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? I was introduced to the Simon Business School through the Consortium for Graduate Studies in Management Organization. I researched several member schools and decided to embark on a journey of visiting their campuses. It was at the Simon Business School where I truly understood what the words ‘fit’ meant in choosing an MBA Program. The entire school body, current students, alumni, and staff/faculty, were the people whom I wanted to be around for the next two years of my life. Not only that, but the program is famously known for having a rigorous quantitatively-driven curriculum, and a place where I will be challenged theoretically and practically are of high importance for me and my long term goals. Furthermore, the smaller class sizes that come with being a part of an intimate program allow me to gain another benefit that I was seeking in a program, the opportunity to foster strong relationships with my peers during my studies and continuing those relationships beyond.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? Through development sessions and conferences with Management Leadership for Tomorrow, an organization that I am proud to be a member of, I have had the opportunity to learn more than most regarding my potential employers and my dream post-MBA role. My dream job is at a place where I am challenged to solve our business problems by tapping into my ingenuity and experience while leveraging my graduate studies. I aspire to work in brand management with a consumer goods company where we strive to not only meet but anticipate the needs of our customers. I have learned that many CPG companies have innovation arms within their organization that focuses on projects and products with a 2+ year timeline for reaching the market. Envisioning the future and strategizing to ensure that my company is at the forefront of consumer trends or needs and pioneering change is something that I look forward to leading in my dream career.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? I hope that my peers think of me fondly and can genuinely say that I gave as much as I took. Although we all have a vast and varying background of skills and experience, we are at business school to fill in some gaps that will catapult us to our dreams.

My strong belief in relationship building includes my belief in asking for help. At times when I am faced with a problem, academically or personally, I am very open to going to my peers and asking them to dedicate some time out of their busy schedules to float a lifeline my way. I strive to make this a two-way street and have had the pleasure of helping my peers who come to me for assistance. I also have a tendency of volunteering my services to a peer who I see with a need that I can help meet. It is a tricky task to approach someone and offer unsolicited help, but that is a part of what makes Simon a great community and program to be a part of. We have a saying, “Simon Strong,” as we believe that in the grand scheme of things we are not competitors to each other but collaborators. Giving back, as much if not more than I take, is what will help me in my desire in continuing that legacy.