2017 MBAs To Watch: Jamie Glover, University of Minnesota (Carlson)

Jamie Glover

Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota

“Marketer with a passion for social ventures where work can make a true impact.”

Age: 33

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN

Fun fact about yourself: I have a two-year-old son who is the center of my world. He was eight months old (and far from sleeping through the night) when I started b-school, which made the first semester even more reliant on coffee!

Undergraduate School and Degree: Carleton College, B.A. in Economics

Where did you work before enrolling in business school? 3M – Advertising Manager for the consumer brands (Post-it, Scotch, Scotch-Brite, etc.)

Where did you intern during the summer of 2016? ASIYA (co-founder of start-up) and Anytime Fitness (marketing) – in Minnesota

Where will you be working after graduation? ASIYA – Co-founder (see asiyasport.com)

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

  • MN Cup (start-up competition) – Won social venture division, and named top women-led and top minority-led business
  • Carlson Women’s Mentorship Program – Board Member
  • Carlson Marketing Network – Board Member

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? As a board member of the Carlson Women’s Mentorship Program, I had the pleasure of calling accepted female students, being their first student-contact at the school. This provided them a peer connection to the program and allowed these women to ask honest questions and feel like part of the community, while they were making their decision on which school to attend.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am very proud of the start-up, ASIYA, that I’ve co-founded and launched during the b-school program. ASIYA is an activewear company creating culturally-appropriate activewear and sports uniforms for Muslim girls and women. Our mission is to help enable more Muslim girls & women to be physically active and participate in sports, while upholding their religious and cultural beliefs.

In 2016, we successfully raised capital through the MN Cup start-up competition (winning the social venture division and being named the top woman-led and minority-led business) and a Kickstarter campaign, where we exceed our contribution goal.  We have been featured in media outlets such as the New York Times, Buzzfeed News, and Oprah Magazine.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Toby Nord – his entrepreneurship course and leadership of the Carlson Ventures Enterprise provided invaluable guidance as I worked to launch my business.

What was your favorite MBA Course and what was the biggest insight you gained about business from it? Corporate Social Responsibility.  Social issues are inherently complex – more complex than a click-bait headline or 140 characters could ever suggest.  Businesses need to do their due diligence at looking at all sides of the issue, and then make a decision that will most certainly appear imperfect to several parties involved.  Know your facts, and be prepared to justify your decisions.

Why did you choose this business school? I was attracted to the small class sizes, emphasis on practical application with Enterprise Program (consulting projects for real, paying clients), and connection to the great business community in the Twin Cities.

What did you enjoy most about business school in general? I enjoyed connecting with a smart, diverse group of people – they taught me a lot and have become close friends.

What was the most surprising thing about business school for you? I didn’t expect to start my own business (ever), let alone during business school.  When I decided to take the plunge, I was surprised by how quickly the faculty and staff opened their doors to help provide mentorship and counsel—even when it was beyond assigned coursework.

What is your best piece advice to an applicant hoping to get into your school’s MBA program? Do some proper soul-searching before you start b-school, so you are clear on what your priorities are during the program. It’s easy to get pulled in too many directions, so it’s important to know your end goal to help guide your path.

What is the biggest myth about your school? It’s a myth that people from Carlson only get jobs in the Twin Cities – I have classmates who have successfully landed future gigs all over the country.

What was your biggest regret in business school? I don’t have any!

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Nichole Norby. She is smart, inquisitive, hard-working, and wears her values on her sleeve. In an environment where business discussions can result in very narrow perspectives, she challenges the dialogue with facts and a fresh perspective. Nichole is determined to make a radical change in our nation’s food system, and when she does I’ll be proud to say, “I knew her when…”

I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I was searching Youtube for tricks to help me remember which journal entries are debits versus credits.”

If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…marketing office supplies and other innovative products at 3M.”

If you were a dean for a day, what one thing would you change about the MBA experience? Create more services to encourage working moms to attend business school – such as building out a daycare on campus.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My professional goal is to do work that has a meaningful impact on people’s lives, and wake-up looking forward to going to work.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? My husband. He supported my decision to go to business school and my decision to focus on my start-up, and has been there for me through the highs and the lows.

In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you? As a team player who cares about doing impactful work.

Favorite book: Moby Dick

Favorite movie or television show: Mad Men

Favorite musical performer: Garth Brooks

Favorite vacation spot: Italy

Hobbies? Travelling, Trying New Restaurants, Outdoor Activities, Volleyball

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

“Jamie’s excellent work and resulting success with her business, Asiya, has been an inspiration to her classmates and the entire Carlson MBA program. Winning the social division of the Minnesota Cup and being further honored with awards for founding and building a woman and minority-led business is testimony both to her talent and her character. The fact that Asiya addresses cultural inclusiveness and acceptance at a time when these issues are headline news is a great source of pride for our community.

Jamie is such a good leader and teammate that everyone wants to work with her! She is a role model for other students who are embarking on their own entrepreneurial journeys and proof positive that you can make the world a better place by creating and managing businesses who value doing both “well and good.”

Toby Nord

Senior Lecturer

Professional Director of the Carlson Ventures Enterprise

 

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

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