2017 MBAs To Watch: Alex Royalty, Yale SOM

Alex Royalty

Yale School of Management

“Friendly, Active, Generous, Easy going/Light hearted, Adventurous, Genuine, Disciplined.”

Age: 29

Hometown: Carlsbad, CA

Fun fact about yourself: Although previously allergic, I caught three beehives in college and used some of the honey to make mead.

Undergraduate School and Degree: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo – Business Administration and Psychology

Where did you work before enrolling in business school? Deloitte Consulting LLP

Where did you intern during the summer of 2016? Vertile – My startup working with engineers to create custom drones. – San Francisco, CA

Where will you be working after graduation? Deloitte Consulting LLP

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

Leadership

  • Director of Clubs and Finance
  • Student Government Vice President
  • Voices Co Leader – largest regularly attended event at Evens. Facilitate and meet with weekly speakers who then share something they are passionate about. The talks range from inspirational and educational to deeply personal and vulnerable.
  • SOM United Captain – One of the largest clubs which attends 4 tournaments (including leading the hosting of 16 MBA teams at Yale’s tournament) and conducts intramurals, weekly practices, a World Cup, and other activities.
  • Orientation Leader for 400 incoming 1st years and MAMs
  • Welcome Weekend Committee – admissions support, club fair lead, voices, hosting, etc.
  • Commencement Committee
  • Admissions Ambassador

Other involvement/volunteer leadership etc.

  • Christian Fellowship
  • Design and Innovation Club (D+I)
  • Hockey – I am on the SOM Hockey team which plays once a week with all skill levels.
  • GSE India – TA for a class that consists of consulting projects in India
  • GSE Ghana – consulted for an Impact Investing startup in Accra Ghana
  • Startup Founder Practicum – CEO and cofounder of a startup.
  • CEID Lab – projects, workshops, 3D printing, laser cutting etc.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Apart from Student Government VP and Co-leading Voices, leading the clubs and finances at SOM has been extremely rewarding. This past year, in managing all the funds and supporting 56 clubs, they hosted 520 events that enriched each student’s experience through community development and professional growth.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Professionally, I was most proud of my management and integration of project resources in India. While at Deloitte, I often worked with dozens of engineers in India and had the privilege to travel there three times to further develop the team that would be responsible for developing complex financial planning systems. It was a rewarding challenge that spawned great friendships and multicultural management lessons.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Dean Jain is an inspirational combination of profound eloquent intelligence and a sincere investment in the university and each and every individual that makes it special!

What was your favorite MBA Course and what was the biggest insight you gained about business from it? Innovator – As the last class of my first year, it actually served as the perfect capstone by highlighting the power of creative thinking. The solution to any problem is a new application of an existing component and the complexity of business should not be constrained by traditional principles.

Why did you choose this business school? In choosing from four schools, I felt that Yale SOM embodied the culture I was looking for. Not only was it integrated with the broader university, but it also had a culture of authenticity and collaboration as it challenges itself to think innovatively about business solutions that go beyond the single bottom line. It is about Business & Society.

What did you enjoy most about business school in general? The community is simply unprecedented. It is the most intellectually stimulating and supportive environment I have ever been a part of.

What was the most surprising thing about business school for you? I understood that it would be diverse, but the diversity of experiences and insights surpasses my comprehension. Each student has an amazing story and incredible unique talents.

What is your best piece advice to an applicant hoping to get into your school’s MBA program? Really be introspective about what you want to get out of your MBA experience and then strive to be your authentic self throughout the process. The fit will become apparent.

What is the biggest myth about your school? SOM is not all about non-profit, but rather a holistic approach that certainly has ‘non-traditional’ business components.

What was your biggest regret in business school? Two years is not enough time to fit everything in. You really have to be intentional about how you spend your time – it is a tricky balance to not get distracted but also remain open to new experiences.

 Which MBA classmate do you most admire? There are too many to list, but the common theme is the dedication they have to a cause. Whether that cause is family, green energy, social justice, or a personal startup, they balance an enormous amount of responsibilities while keeping an eye on the prize.

 I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I spoke to MBA alumni about the culture of learning, leadership, and communal development.”

If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…working for a technology firm with a much narrower view of the future.”

If you were a dean for a day, what one thing would you change about the MBA experience? SOM does a fantastic job setting a vision for the school. Many of the desired changes however are more in the smaller details of refining higher education. However, the common theme revolves around facilitating connections and integration that is pervasive and substantial amongst students and with faculty and administration.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? I would like to run my own venture capital/impact investing firm.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? The application process is taxing, from studying for the GMAT to writing essays, requesting recommendations, and visiting schools, but the support from close family and friends was instrumental.

In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you? Inspiring kindness.

Favorite book: Everything Golden Retrievers

Favorite movie or television show: Forest Gump

Favorite musical performer: Pop Culture and I don’t mix too naturally    

Favorite vacation spot: Lake Powell UT

Hobbies? Soccer, Backpacking, Photography, Snowboarding, SCUBA, Art, Tennis, Building Drones, 3D Printing, Bee Keeping,

What made Alex such an invaluable addition to the class of 2017?

“Alex Royalty is the Vice President of the SOM student government, and Clubs & Finance Chair. He was selected as an orientation leader, a very small group of students who engage with the incoming MBA and MAM students as a peer mentors and facilitators. Alex was chosen from a large group of applicants as he exemplifies outstanding leadership qualities. His commitment to diverse perspectives within the SOM community is demonstrated his commitment to Voices a platform where students express individual narratives to leverage the expansive community viewpoints. Alex will be joining Deloitte Consulting after graduation.”

Sherilyn Scully

Assistant Dean, Academic Affairs and Student Life

 

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: THE STORIES OF 100 EXTRAORDINARY GRADUATES FROM THE CLASS OF 2017