Meet Kellogg’s MBA Class Of 2019

Sangita Annamalai

Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Extroverted Introvert. I love meeting new people and learning about their interests, but need time to daydream.

Hometown: Saratoga, CA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I initially picked up learning Korean by watching Korean television shows. Then I learned Korean in college. Then I lived in Korea. Can I be Korean? 

Undergraduate School and Major: Molecular Environmental Biology, BS, UC Berkeley

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: 

1. Fulbright Scholar Program, Researcher
2. Triage Consulting Group, Senior Associate
3. Doximity, Business Development and Operations

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Beginning the conversation around immigrant healthcare (and lack there of) in South Korea. The demographics are changing and Korean citizens are not the only residents. I was able to interview these immigrants to identify barriers to accessing healthcare and brought the issue to key government officials. While significant legwork has been completed from a qualitative standpoint, I am currently analyzing published academic and census data to contextually understand healthcare access.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants?  Use essays to not simply create a story, but to fill in the gaps of your story. If you are coming in with strong statistics but your background is traditional, use your essay to humanize your application and lend vulnerability. Similarly, if you are concerned about your numbers and your background is non-traditional, use your essay to prove why business school is necessary. Focus less on a smooth narrative and more on straight reasons on how you provide unique value and why business school makes sense for you.

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? Experiential and collaborative learning is how I learn best. I learn quickly hands-on and I am most motivated to learn and be involved when I am working on a team. Kellogg was the school that consistently iterated those two concepts while being couched in an undeniably gorgeous campus.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? Success after one year would be having taken a class that challenges my perspective and finding friends who challenge me to be a better version of myself.