Meet Notre Dame Mendoza’s MBA Class of 2019

Robert Singley

University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Creative leader looking to make an impact by putting data behind big ideas.

Hometown: Ballston Lake, NY

Fun Fact About Yourself:  In my free time, I enjoy playing a variety of genres on the guitar and piano.

Undergraduate School and Major:

United States Military Academy, BS in Electronics and Information Technology Systems

University of Maryland University College, MS Computer and Information Systems and Information Assurance

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

 US Army

Director-Telecommunications

Aide-de-camp (military advisor)

Information Systems-Senior Manager/Consultant

Telecommunications Systems-Project/Operations Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:  My most rewarding assignment was leading 140 soldiers as a signal company commander in the US Army, while stationed overseas in Germany.  As a company commander, I not only set the mission, vision, and training objectives for my team, but also oversaw the daily operation of providing telecommunications access to US and NATO users across Europe.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Writing the essays for business school can be a very rewarding time that teaches you how to tell your story in a summarized format.  I recommend first taking time to list out past career accomplishments and understand the deeper lessons learned from each experience. If you have a non-traditional background or your experience requires some translation (i.e. military), I recommend seeking out individuals who can give you candid feedback about your essay so you can determine if you have portrayed yourself clearly to the reader. Additionally, make sure you research each of your target schools to understand the uniqueness of each program, and how you will fit into each school. Finally, take time to carefully proofread your essays. It is important to demonstrate strong communications skills along with an attention to detail.

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 was most drawn to the unique Notre Dame culture, which is present in the classroom and the community.  I feel that this culture creates a supportive environment to learn while challenging leaders to think more about how they can constantly improve themselves and their teams in business.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? Success to me after the first year of business school is to make sure that I have achieved a balance that allows me to experience all that Mendoza has to offer. I hope to challenge myself academically while taking time to be an active member of the community by participating in clubs and other social activities.