Meet Wharton’s MBA Class Of 2019

Yusuf Kosoko 

The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Globe-trotting professional DJ, event curator and an adventurer.

Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m a professional DJ mostly based in NYC and with shows across the globe.

Undergraduate School and Major: 

New Jersey Institute of Technology, BS, Electrical Engineering

Columbia University, MS, Operation Research

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: 

• Goldman Sachs, Technology Associate (Data Science)
• Goldman Sachs, Technology Analyst (Network Engineer)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Co-founding a curated experience company aimed at connecting and providing quality events for young professional Africans in the diaspora. These events now connect over 10,000 people a year and has grown to include other cities in the US and globally.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? There are so many resources out there that you can easily get lost. Pick one and be very dedicated to it. The MBA application is a year-long process, so start early so you are able to pace yourself.

Introspection: Introspect early on to be able to come up with why you want to pursue an MBA and what matters to you the most. This will help to identify the schools to focus on, visit, and talk to alumni and students. Each school is very unique, so make sure you visit and learn as much as you can. The introspection will greatly help with your essay writing.

GMAT: Make sure you devote as much time to practicing once you get the fundamentals of the exam. I studied over winter when there was less distraction. Come up with a study schedule and stick with it. Practice, practice, practice. Keep an error and time log to document your progress and to analyze what questions and sections you need to improve on.

Recommendations: The recommendations are equally as important. Make sure you get stellar and passionate recommendations. It’s better to get a passionate recommendation from a colleague than an okay recommendation from someone with a big title.

Interview: Make sure you practice so you’re comfortable with your pitch and story then just enjoy the interview.

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?  Wharton is great at almost every discipline. This diverse and strong curriculum drew me to Wharton. I’m very interested in finance and there’s no better MBA school at that than Wharton. It’s also one of the best in marketing, entrepreneurship, and other areas. I will be able to get the best exposure to other areas and interests at Wharton. The Semester in San Francisco was also a factor.

I chose Wharton also because of its excellent student body and culture. It has a big African student body, association (WASA), and alumni network. I’m very passionate about Africa and will be leveraging that community. Philadelphia is also a great and vibrant city.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? After my first year, I hope to have secured a unique internship in a new career, challenged and stretched myself with the various leadership opportunities and expeditions available, formed new and lasting relationship with my classmates, and opened my mind to new ideas and possibilities that will fuel me to do great things in the world. This is what success looks like for me after my first year.