Meet the USC Marshall MBA Class of 2018

Sam Rowen

University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Global traveler, tech and entrepreneurship enthusiast, sci-fi nerd, avid reader, baseball fan.

Hometown: New York, NY

Fun Fact About Yourself: I once hitchhiked on a motorcycle across parts of Central Africa.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Political Science & Middle Eastern Studies

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: United States Peace Corps: Youth Development Coordinator in Ambam, Cameroon

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I managed a project to build the first library in the south region of Cameroon, bringing books and computers to my village for the first time. I coordinated the book donation and shipment, negotiated with the local and regional governments for financial resources and a land donation, and I worked with a team of local construction teams to design the building. Now fully constructed, the library serves thousands of students in Ambam, who can access the internet on a computer for the first time and browse the 30,000 French-language books.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? Try to tell your own story, and don’t try to give the “right” answers. There is no set path to business school and sharing your authentic experiences and your true dreams and goals is the best way to be a competitive applicant.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? I was attracted to Marshall because of its global focus and its various entrepreneurship programs. Marshall’s PRIME program, which includes a global travel component, shows its commitment to global learning and engagement. I am proud to be at a school that prioritizes preparing students for a changing global landscape for business.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? I’m a creative thinker and self-starter with a passion for global impact. I work hard, I care about people, and I want to engage communities across the world.