Meet Foster’s MBA Class of 2018

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Lauren Krainski

Foster School of Business, University of Washington

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Strategic aspiring leader who is passionate about people and curious about the world.

Hometown: Erie, PA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I completed a six month mountaineering class despite being very afraid of heights.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Pittsburgh: BS Economics, BSBA Marketing

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Alcoa, Inc.: Global Procurement Strategy & Analysis Manager, Business Partner to CPO (2015-2016), Consultant, Management Consulting & Strategy (2015), Analyst, Management Consulting & Strategy (2012-2014)

Deloitte Consulting, LLP: Consultant, Enterprise Performance Management Technology (2011-2012), Business Technology Analyst, Enterprise Performance Management (2009-2011)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I was the first internal promotion to the consultant role in Alcoa’s Management Consulting & Strategy group, which requires an MBA for external hires. I even ended up recruiting MBAs without one myself!

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? Above all else, find a business school whose culture, network, and teaching style fit with you and what you are seeking from the MBA. Visit campus, speak to current students, and get to know the program well. Your essays, recommendations, and interviews will reflect whether you are genuinely interested.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? Foster’s close-knit community, focus on leadership development, and connection with the vibrant technology culture in the region.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? Ultimately, I want to run a large business in either the manufacturing or technology sector. Driving the overall strategy, building an organization, and developing its talent are what I aspire to do, and the experiences I’ll gain from the MBA will accelerate me down that path.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? Always up for a challenge and never too busy to lend a hand.

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