Meet Ohio State’s MBA Class Of 2019

Jeff Baldetti 

Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I’m an aspiring Renaissance man, loyal friend, world traveler, and family-oriented person.

Hometown: Skaneateles, New York

Fun Fact About Yourself: I used to be a Division I athlete in golf. It’s by far my favorite sport and I’ve been playing since I was five years old. To this day, if I have some free time you’ll most likely find me out on the Scarlet Course here at OSU enjoying life to the fullest.

Undergraduate School and Major:  Elon University, BSBA Finance, 2015

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Fixed Income Research Analyst at Twin Lake Total Return Partners

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Having the opportunity to work at a hedge fund directly out of undergrad is definitely the biggest accomplishment of my career so far. When you’re the youngest person on the team, the feeling of having your own investment ideas put into the portfolio is pretty amazing, especially when you start to see the returns. More importantly, I had the privilege to work with a fantastic team that taught me powerful skills that will last a lifetime. Twin Lake gave me a strong group of mentors that genuinely cared about my professional development and seeing me succeed as a person.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? When you’re looking at programs, don’t forget the human element of the process. It’s easy to get caught up in storied reputations and class rankings, but remember that business school is a life choice where you will dedicate yourself to a cohort and community for two years. Choose the program you feel fits you best as a person and I promise you will be happier, more fulfilled, and more successful in your future career. If you don’t believe me, I urge you to read Chapter 3: Caroline Sacks from Michael Lewis’s David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants. This book has helped me challenge my thought processes and come to a better decision by thinking differently many times.

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 have a personal connection to OSU as I am currently following in my sister’s footsteps; she graduated from Fisher’s MBA program in 2015. However, when I was looking at programs I really focused on the size of the program and the associated culture. Wanting to get a great education was a given, but I also wanted to have the opportunity to build lasting relationships with my classmates, professors, and the community. Here at OSU, the university really is a part of the Columbus community and I loved that connection. Additionally, the small class size fosters that interaction between the faculty and the students. From the moment I stepped into Gerlach Hall for my admissions interview, the people at OSU made me feel like I was a part of the Fisher family. It was this connection that showed me this was a program where I could truly be successful and thrive in.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? For me, coming back to business school really was an opportunity to explore new career paths and discover my true career passions. If I have a better answer to the question, “what should I do with the rest my life?” I will be happy that I’m on the right track. Sometimes learning what we don’t want to do is just as important as finding out what it is we do want to do. So I will consider answering this question a success after my first year of business school if I’ve developed meaningful relationships here at Fisher with classmates and professors that open my eyes to the many possible answers to this question we all ask ourselves.