Meet Georgetown McDonough’s MBA Class of 2019

Timm Hwang

Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business     

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Just a guy trying to live well.

Hometown: Fairfax, VA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I played violin from when I was six years old through high school until I rebelled and bought an electric bass. I still enjoy playing and play regularly for my church worship team. I also spell my name with two m’s, but my full name isn’t Timmothy.

Undergraduate School and Major: Virginia Tech, B.S. Accounting and Information Systems

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Audit Manager, Senior Audit Associate, and Federal Audit Associate – KPMG LLP

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I was assigned as the lead Senior Associate for a publicly traded company that was delayed over a year in issuing their annual and quarterly reports. The client had failed accounting systems, significant turnover, and multiple instances of incorrect accounting, which created a high risk and unusually difficult environment. My team had less than five months to get current on the audit of their financials or the company would face de-listing from their stock exchange and risk severe fines that could lead to bankruptcy. I effectively led a talented team in meeting the company’s tight deadlines and ensure continuity of their business.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Make sure you know why you want an MBA and which schools will help you get there. After that, enjoy the process. It’s easy to be overwhelmed with breaking 700 on the GMAT, writing inspiring essays, making sure your boss doesn’t forget that one really great accomplishment on your recommendation, and getting into a program on the first page of the US News rankings. However, you can only do your best and anything outside of that would not be true to yourself or the program you’re applying to.

I enjoyed the application process and how it helped me define not only what I wanted out of the MBA, but also how that fits into my overall life plans. I learned a lot about myself and even learned a few handy math tricks from studying for the quant section. Enjoying the process will allow you to organically show your passion and enthusiasm for the school, which will resonate with the reviewers.

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?  I chose McDonough for its Jesuit tradition and emphasis on raising principled leaders in the business world. I also valued McDonough’s opportunities and network both locally and abroad, which would allow me to obtain a diverse and global experience while staying in my hometown of Washington, D.C. Further, McDonough’s connection to the local tech community and continued growth of the entrepreneurship initiative were resources that would help me achieve my goal of working in the technology space.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?  Success for me would mean three things: 1) obtaining a position with either a startup or venture capital firm working on developing and fostering innovative products and technology; 2) befriending and having memorable experiences with my future colleagues; and; 3) seeing the Washington Wizards make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.