Meet Kellogg’s MBA Class Of 2019

Amanda VanHoet

Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management

One Year MBA Program

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Anthropologist at heart. I love facilitating teams from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Hometown: Canton, MI (although Mexico City has won me over)

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve walked the world’s longest suspended bridge. The Cesana Claviere Tibetan Bridge is 478m long and ranges from 30m to 90m above the Gorge of San Gervasio in Claviere, Italy.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Michigan – Stephen M. Ross School of Business, Bachelor of Business Administration

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

2015-2017 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Mexico

Logistics Services Buyer

2014-2015 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Italy

Supply Chain Interface for NAFTA Market

2010-2014 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US

Supply Chain Management Intern

Vehicle Demand Planning and Dealer Allocations Analyst

Latin American Market Liaison

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:  Learning from and blending into the culture and language of different social and work environments in three very unique countries. My greatest satisfaction came from observing a look of surprise from friends, coworkers, and suppliers when I connected with them in their native language. I’m proud that I’ve become an enabler for the people around me to bridge the gap among many different styles.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Start the process early, commit to it, and don’t hesitate. Take time to reflect on your accomplishments, passions, and to think about the timeless question, “Who do you want to be when you grow up?” Have confidence and be true to yourself throughout the process. Seek out and incorporate the advice of people you admire who have gone through the application experience. They can help you practice and perfect your story, and will support you along the way.

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? Kellogg’s collaborative spirit is one of the key elements that made me want to be a part of this community. Personally, I believe that being surrounded by people who are different from me is critical for my learning and future success. Coming from a unique background in automotive, part of the reason why I chose to get an MBA was to challenge myself outside of my comfort zone to work with and learn from people from different industries, job experiences, and geographies. I was looking for a catalyst to accelerate my career, and Kellogg had the perfect setting waiting for me. At Kellogg, collaboration is a way of life. When speaking with current students and alumni, I observed a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. As it turns out, that sampling of the Kellogg population proved representative of my class. In my One Year program, students are coming from a variety of industries, work experience, and geographies. It’s hard to explain how it works, but Kellogg manages to facilitate this diversity in a way in which we all get along and learn from each other. The collaborative spirit and the way in which Kellogg embraces diversity extends beyond the classroom. In the winter, I plan to take experiential learning coursework, like Global Initiatives in Management, to solve a real-world problem somewhere across the globe.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?  Since I am in the One Year MBA Program, my first year of business school is my only year of business school. In half the time, I have to pack in as many great experiences as possible. Success to me would mean that after this year I feel prepared to re-enter the workforce equipped with a broad set of skills and a new lens for being able to solve a variety of problems.