Meet The Texas McCombs MBA Class of 2019

Jacqueline Sigler 

The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Well-rounded, family-oriented, action-oriented, high expectations, empathetic, athlete, corny, open-minded, former finance lady, battery recharging necessary.

Hometown: Westchester, NY

Fun Fact About Yourself: Traveled around Europe for six weeks post resigning and enjoyed four months of summer break. First summer break since graduating from college (nine years ago).

Undergraduate School and Major: Lafayette College, Easton PA. Major: Economics & Business

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Pro Bono Consultant, Taproot Foundation, Greenwich, CT

MSCI, Vice President, EMEA Strategy and Corporate Development, London, U.K.

MSCI, VP & Sr Associate, Strategy and Corporate Development, New York, NY

MSCI, Associate & Analyst, FP&A and Sales Operations, New York, NY

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Pursing a transfer to London, leading EMEA corporate development. Created the role as a team of one in Europe, with rest of team based in New York. Was told no for over a year before securing the role.

Second biggest accomplishment — having the wherewithal to quit a successful career in finance to pursue personal passions and profession unknown.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Reflect strongly on what your MBA goals and post-MBA goals are. Choose both a program and a city that is conducive to those goals. You are evaluating a school as much as they are evaluating you. Most likely this is your decision and your money, so make the path your own.

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 biggest area I wanted to focus on in business school is entrepreneurship. I applied exclusively to schools and in cities that were centers of tech excellence and bolstered a start-up environment. I very much liked Austin’s culture — food, music, sports and humility. I felt I would have more creative liberty to experiment and to do so without feeling pressures of suits and billion dollar valuations around me at all times. Plus, I liked the idea of living in and interacting with people from a different part of the country. Warm weather winters a perk.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? Learning enriching new skills from professors and peers. Having the opportunity to pursue a summer internship with a start-up that has a dual mission of for-purpose and for-profit.