Meet Georgetown McDonough’s MBA Class of 2019

Celeste Ho

Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Aspiring marketing mogul, adventurous traveler, perpetually curious learner and storyteller, wine lover, noodles addict!

Hometown: New York, NY

Fun Fact About Yourself: I spent a summer as a production assistant at NBC, where I worked with the directors on live tapings of the July 4th Fireworks Show. The show taping took place on a brand new cruise ship, and I also got to see Enrique Iglesias and Nick Cannon up close! Working a live show was exhilarating, nerve-racking and definitely enhanced my on-your-feet problem solving.

Undergraduate School and Major: Cornell University, Communication

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: 

Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)- Senior Associate, Marketing & Communications

Association of National Advertisers- Associate Manager, Coordinator, Sponsorship & Partner Programs

NBCUniversal- Marketing Assistant

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:  I was the project manager for the development of marketing and communications materials for the Ready To Learn grant at PBS KIDS, an initiative funded by the Department of Education. The grant focuses on creating impactful early educational content, particularly for children in underserved communities.

In this position, I developed marketing and communication resources that local PBS stations used to tell the story of their work in their communities. This work took many forms, from producing written materials to creating videos to launching summer camps for kids across the country. Occasionally, we would hear directly from parents and caretakers, telling us they are grateful that our work has made a difference for their children, whether it was a renewed excitement for learning or a newfound confidence. It was immensely fulfilling to see the impact of my work firsthand and help the grant further its legacy.

This job was especially meaningful to me not only because of my passion for education, but also because PBS KIDS played an important part in helping me learn English when I first moved to the United States as a child. Little did I know that I would one day get the opportunity to work for the same grant that funded some of my favorite childhood shows, including Dragon Tales. Talk about coming full circle!

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants?  Do your research and take some time to really think about why you are pursuing an MBA! Make a list of reasons why you want to pursue an MBA and what your strengths are as a candidate to help you focus on how to best present yourself in an impactful, but authentic way throughout the application process. Having that focus early on will be instrumental in keeping your story on track, and will keep you from losing your real voice throughout the rounds of applications.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? While considering different MBA programs, it was important for me to pick a school that provides a well-rounded educational experience.

For me, that means being able to learn from people from all walks of life, having the opportunity to learn from a global perspective, and feeling comfortable with the people in that community.  I know I will be able to find all of that at McDonough.

Having DC as the backdrop gives Georgetown a unique advantage in attracting diverse students and gives it a front row seat in global business. The Global Business Experience, a requirement for all McDonough students, also appeals to me since it would allow me to learn by doing in a global setting. Finally, the authentic interactions I had with everyone at McDonough made me feel welcomed and comfortable in the community from the very start, allowing me to envision myself thriving here in the next two years.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?  Success after my first year of business school means being able to balance academics, social, and professional development equally. I would have navigated the harder parts of the curriculum with my friends in the program, and be seen as a collaborative team player who contributes to the McDonough community. I would also be heading into an amazing marketing strategy summer internship in the media, technology or CPG sectors, where I can put my newly refined business skills to use!