Meet Washington Olin’s MBA Class of 2019

Sharon Mazimba

Washington University in St. Louis (Olin)

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I am an adventurous person who loves to solve problems and a good challenge.

Hometown: Lusaka, Zambia

Fun Fact About Yourself:I have spent a week in the Amazon jungle in Manaus, Brazil

Undergraduate School and Major: St. Lawrence University, B.A. Global Studies

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Akros, USAID Systems For Better Health (SBH):

Surveillance Manager

Malaria Program Manager/Acting Water and Sanitation Health (WASH) Program Manager

WASH Surveillance Officer

 

St. Lawrence University:

Community Assistant

Library Assistant/IT Help Desk

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment so far has been leading the process of bringing electronic data entry into rural Zambian clinics – facilities that have never done electronic data entry before. This has enabled the clinic staff to submit real time data about the public health situation in their particular areas to the national public health database. As a result, the people who make key public health decisions and policy have access to faster and better quality data and can use that data to improve health in the most rural parts of Zambia.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? This is a tough one. I would say reflect. Dig deep into why exactly you want an MBA and how it is going to help you achieve your goals. What is your background and how does it inform your decision to pursue an MBA? Why do you want to do it? What goals will it help you achieve?  How will it impact your career? What will you be doing after your MBA? Asking yourself these questions and really digging deep for honest answers will go a long way in articulating your goals in your essay and interview. You will be investing a lot of time, money, and effort so it is important to know the in depth reasons and motivations for pursuing an MBA.

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? The key reason I chose Olin was its emphasis on collaboration. The workplace in recent years has shifted from being one of individual work, to accomplishing major things through collaboration. The accomplishment I spoke of above was achieved through both my initiative as well as through collaboration with my counterparts in the Ministry of Health. This allowed us to work together to bring about something in the country that has never been tried before. Coming from that experience, it was natural that a place like Olin, one that placed emphasis on such an integral part of business, was a place worth being.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? Success after the first year would be having an internship and feeling like I did all the things I wanted to do without compromising anything. This includes academics, clubs, building relationships, and having fun!

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