Meet Carnegie Mellon’s MBA Class Of 2019

Laura Chan 

Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: An introvert who isn’t afraid to be on stage, astute and self-motivated.

Hometown: Needham, Massachusetts

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I grew up taking ballet classes from the age of 2 all the way through high school. I still get to classes whenever I can as an adult.

Undergraduate School and Major: 

Carnegie Mellon University, B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Carnegie Mellon University, M.S. Mechanical Engineering

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: 

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Tire Development Engineer Associate in Consumer Tire Engineering

Schlumberger, Field Engineer, part of Tech & Field rotation program in Subsea Landing String Services

Schlumberger, Mechanical Engineering Intern in Subsea Landing String Services

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I am particularly proud of a recent work experience I had while on a business trip to Brazil. I traveled to a tire manufacturing plant to provide technical expertise during a key development tire build to be submitted to a customer. During my time there, I was able to overcome language barriers and make many connections with the plant employees. We were able to work together to successfully troubleshoot some issues with the tires and deliver a quality product to the customer. I was also able to leverage these connections during my future tire development projects in Brazil and received recognition from my Technical Project Leader for how quickly I was able to build these relationships.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Throughout my application process, the GMAT was my biggest struggle because my nerves would always get the best of me. Take it early, so you have the opportunity to take it a second time. If you’re nervous like me, practice, practice, practice, even the sections that come easily to you at home. I used to practice in locations that made me uncomfortable (like a noisy public cafe) so I could get used to distractions that might happen during the test.

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? I originally applied to Tepper School of Business because of the online-hybrid program that was offered. I was excited because this program would give me the flexibility to continue to grow and learn in my current job while also earning my degree. However when I came to campus for my interview I was blown away by the students that I met. They all had such diverse and unique passions, I felt inspired to grow my career and compelled to surround myself with this type of energy and enthusiasm.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?  Success looks like having a strong foundation in the core academics, genuine relationships with my peers, and an open mind to continue exploring and learning from the people around me.

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