Meet USC Marshall’s MBA Class of 2019

Sam Eunsaem Kim

University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: A management consultant and sports enthusiast, looking to make life-changing experiences through USC’s MBA program

Hometown: Seoul, South Korea

Fun Fact About Yourself: I used to be an aspiring competitive Taekwondo athlete as a teenager.

Undergraduate School and Major: Yonsei University (Seoul, Korea), Business Administration

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Project manager (Roland Berger), Consultant (T-Plus)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: After beginning my consulting career at a Korean firm, I successfully transitioned to a leading global firm and I was promoted to project manager in 2017. With that promotion, I had achieved the fastest career advancement among my peers.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? I am sure a lot of MBA students would agree with the statement that writing essays are the toughest tasks. Some applicants seek MBA essay advisory services to focus their time on other aspects of the application or to make themselves appear like potentially better candidates. Ironically, nobody knows exactly what constitutes the right candidacy for any specific program in the first place. Developing your own story that defines who you are and who you want to be – and subsequently being able to put it on paper – is a valuable opportunity in itself. I would strongly recommend that everyone takes this chance as a self-reflection to really identify your brand, regardless of the admission results.

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? The unparalleled unity and support of the Trojan network – it was the decisive factor because, as a career pivoter, I would need to transform 1) location, 2) function, and 3) industry simultaneously. It is not an easy goal but I felt confident in achieving it with the support of my peers, alumni and faculty member who would provide me with unconditional advice and guidance. I’m also hoping to provide such help to future students.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? I will have successfully finished my internship with a leading company in an industry of my interest and have had a clearer direction on my career transition. I’ll also start preparing my 2nd year as a leader of a student club or organization.