2018 Best MBAs: Alex Prosperi, Notre Dame (Mendoza)

Alex Prosperi

University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business

“I live with enthusiasm, love to learn, and value relationships more than anything.”

Age: 30

Hometown: Northbrook, Illinois

Fun fact about yourself: I was a contestant on The Price is Right, met legendary host Bob Barker, took home a year supply of ointment cream and a giant freezer chest.

Undergraduate School and Degree:University of Michigan – Bachelor of Arts, Sport Management

Where did you work before enrolling in business school? (List Company and Role)

• FleishmanHillard (2012-2016): Account Supervisor for Brand Marketing/Sports Business clients.
• KemperLesnik (2010-2012): Event & Media Manager for Maui Invitational college basketball tournament.

 Where did you intern during the summer of 2017?

Unilever; Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. I was an Associate Brand Manager intern on the Popsicle brand.

Where will you be working after graduation?

Unilever; Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey; Associate Brand Manager

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: (Include school awards and honors)

• Dean Woo Leadership Award recipient
• Notre Dame MBA Fellow
• President, Management Club
• Selected to Corporate Ambassadors Program
• Second-Year Buddy Mentor
• Presented new orientation program to Business Advisory Council
• Mendoza Professional Services member
• Student Ambassador for prospective students visiting campus
• Preview Day student panel speaker
• Notre Dame MBA Irish Echoes student blog contributor

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? When I was elected President of Management Club, my goal was to increase collaboration among MBA clubs to host more joint club events. My reasoning was that this would allow us to attract more guest speakers and positively impact the MBA experience for more students. To that end, the Management Club Executive Team – myself, Shareen Lee, Adam Solyst, and Luke Nitchals – delivered 20 events to our membership of 61 people in just one year, including 11 joint club events. Of particular note, Management Club brought together four MBA clubs to host the first-ever Class Elective Informational Session, a convenient and open forum where MBAs were able to comfortably discuss specific elective courses before class registration began. I believe our efforts over the past year represent how the collaborative nature and unity that permeates Mendoza can effectively be brought to life.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? On behalf of my U.S. Soccer client, I project-managed a six-figure experiential marketing event that spanned an entire city block in Times Square as a send-off to the U.S. Men’s National Team before the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. The purpose of the event was to promote the team and help to get Americans excited about cheering on the red, white, and blue at the World Cup. The event came in under budget, attracted thousands of U.S. Soccer fans, and was broadcast live on ESPN.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Mendoza because of what the school requires of its MBA students – to “Ask More of Business.” I’m striving to find meaning in my professional work, and Mendoza aligned perfectly with my core values. I was also attracted to Notre Dame’s powerful alumni network and brand.

 What is your best piece advice to an applicant hoping to get into your school’s MBA program? Due to the program’s relatively small full-time MBA class size, the experience is highly collaborative and close-knit. Everyone helps everyone, whether it be with academics or recruitment. Demonstrating your willingness to be a team player is vital.

What was your biggest regret in business school?Upon arrival in South Bend, I wish I had immediately appealed to the administration to start a three-year MBA program so that our class could have one more year in business school together!

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Tom Jones is Mendoza’s “Most Interesting Man in the World.” A veteran of the U.S. Army, Tom has this incredible ability to relate and converse with anyone. We were roommates during our Module in Chile, and his stories from serving in the U.S. Army have brought me great perspective on life. I’m honored to call Tom my classmate and my friend.

Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? My dad went to business school, and he and I first talked about the idea of going during my senior year of undergrad. He recommended I work for a handful of years before applying. I followed his lead, and I couldn’t be happier that I did.

“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…continuing to work in public relations, most likely on the client side within the sports industry.”

If you were a dean for a day, what one thing would you change about the MBA experience? I would work with Student Services and department heads to determine how we could improve scheduling core classes for first-year MBAs in Mods 1 and 2 in order to alleviate some of the intense academic rigor in the first few months of class.

What are the top two items on your bucket list? Visit all the continents – I’m missing Africa and Antarctica. And run a marathon – I ran The Notre Dame Holy Half Marathon last year and I’m running it again in April.

In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you? As someone who was friendly, reliable, fun, hard-working, and genuinely cared for others and for Mendoza.

What is your favorite movie about business? Office Space. Don’t waste time. And do whatever it is that you’re passionate about.

What would your theme song be? “Semi-Charmed Life” – Third Eye Blind

Favorite vacation spot:La Jolla, California

Hobbies?Traveling, running, playing basketball, cooking, and reading non-fiction

What made Alex such an invaluable addition to the class of 2018?

“I had a hunch after my first encounter with Alex Prosperi that he was going to be an engaged MBA student; my hunch was not wrong. Along with his genial personality, Alex brings uncommon energy to his pursuits – of which there are many.

In addition to spending seven weeks studying international business in Chile, Alex served as president of Mendoza’s graduate business Management Club. Working collaboratively with other club leaders to increase the number of guest speakers hosted by graduate business clubs, he and fellow club leaders also sponsored an inaugural student session aimed at discussing the benefit of various MBA elective courses.

Lastly, Alex is adept at providing constructive feedback to college administrators in a courteous, proactive, and productive manner. This skill will serve him well in his career, along with his eager willingness to be of service to any community he joins.”

Andrew Wendelborn

Associate Director, Graduate Business Programs Student Services

DON’T MISS: THE ENTIRE LIST OF THE BEST & BRIGHTEST: CLASS OF 2018