Meet Emory Goizueta’s MBA Class of 2019

Ryan Trepte

Emory University, Goizueta Business School

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Motivated and intellectually curious team player seeking new challenges for growth both personally and professionally

Hometown: Roswell, Georgia

Fun Fact About Yourself: I was at The Fabulous Fox Theatre in downtown Atlanta for the final concert of Ryan Adams & The Cardinals (March 2009). The Fox Theatre is an incredible venue on its own, but the music that night made for a surreal setting that was particularly memorable as it would be the last night the band would ever share the stage together again.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Georgia – B.B.A., Finance

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

• Earth Fare, Inc. – Director, Retail Analytics (Asheville, NC)
• Earth Fare, Inc. – Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis (Asheville, NC)
• Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. – Financial Analyst, Investment Banking Division, Financial Sponsors Group (New York, NY)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Participating in Earth Fare’s brand reinvention has been the most exciting and dynamic challenge I have faced in my career to date. As a natural and organic food retailer, it was a delight to come to work every day knowing that my colleagues and I were helping to improve more than 40 communities through food. The brand reinvention helped Earth Fare raise its voice and reach even more families with an authentic message about the benefits of eating clean, wholesome, nutritious food. It was an incredible opportunity for me to apply creative problem solving and my passion for service towards a noble and ambitious purpose.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? I believe it is critical that you take the appropriate amount of time to allow yourself vindication in your test preparation, school research, and your ultimate choice of where to attend business school. While it will certainly vary from person-to-person, I found myself feeling more able to make satisfying decisions throughout my application process when I gave myself enough time to have a clear understanding of my skills and personal values today as well as what new abilities and experiences I sought in my career following business school. With this clarity, I was then able to ask the right questions and seek out answers that defined my ideal program, and choose the school that offered me the best support in realizing my vision for my future.

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? My decision was most prominently impacted by the smaller class size at Goizueta. With an intake of less than 200 students in each class, I had no doubt that I would be able to meet each of my classmates to create a strong and lasting network. I also recognized that the smaller class size would provide me with greater access and more individualized attention from the faculty and staff to maximize my growth and development as a leader. I am confident that my new family at Goizueta will be available to support me wherever my career goes next, and I look forward to returning that same support to others for decades to come.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? Success looks like having a strong sense of direction for my career after graduation from business school, as well as having established relationships both within Goizueta as well as beyond the school. I aspire to have found meaningful community involvement after my first year, and be well on my way towards achieving the goals I have set for myself in becoming a stronger leader and more skillful professional.