Hollis Farris

University of Michigan, Stephen M. Ross School of Business

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Humbled adventure-seeker powered by coffee, bourbon, and gum, whose MBA path surprisingly leads back home  

Hometown: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Fun Fact About Yourself:  Member of the 2004/2005 U-16, and 2006/2007 U-19 USA National Field Hockey Teams (USFHA) touring in Holland and Argentina.

Undergraduate School and Major: Princeton University, major in history; double-minor in Urban Studies as well as French Language and Cultural Studies

Most Recent Employer and Job Title:

BlackRock, New York

Associate

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Having the courage to make a change. It’s comfortable to stay in a job and dream about getting an MBA, but it’s simultaneously exhilarating and liberating to have the confidence and determination to pursue a new and unexpected path.  

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? It’s absolutely true that Ross is a close-knit, collaborative, and supportive community.  An email with “Go Blue” to a current student or alumni inevitably receives a response within 24 hours – it’s incredible!

Aside from your classmates, 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 action-based learning opportunities integrated with the Michigan Model of Leadership, particularly because I want to apply classroom lessons real-time while also making a positive impact in the community and learning how to navigate ambiguity in the workforce.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Michigan Business Women because it’s a community of incredibly talented and inspirational women. I am also really excited to pass the support and advice along to someone else.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I want to complement my legal background with the quantitative skills and business acumen to manage companies and people in a way that is constructive both at the individual and global level.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I knew I was not going to be an attorney after seven years working in various legal and compliance roles, and I felt that I could transition to a managerial role more effectively by equipping myself with quantitative and financial skills through a structured environment with guidance from experts in the MBA program.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Chicago Booth

How did you determine your fit at various schools? Academically, I wanted to see how my classroom knowledge is applied in the real world, and the action-based learning opportunities at Ross exceeded my expectations. Socially, I want to be a part of a supportive community that extends to life post-MBA, and the Michigan alumni network is second-to-none. Finally, from a career perspective, I want to be a leader regardless of my title, and I believe that the Sanger Leadership Center will provide me with the soft-skills necessary to succeed. Ultimately, reaching out and talking with current students, alumni, and the admissions team as well as attending the Women in Leadership Conference at Ross and the NYC MBA Forte Forum convinced me that I only wanted an MBA if it was from Ross.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Actively deciding not to apply to law school and become an attorney was pivotal in my career. Until that point, my personal and professional goals were rigidly fixed, but now I’ve discovered that ambiguity can be equally (if not more) rewarding.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? Before re-entering the workforce, I hope to travel either to Peru to hike Machu Picchu, or visit Scotland to hike the Highlands and see the Military Tattoo in Edinburgh.

Where do you see yourself in five years?  My goal in five years is to be a decision maker within a company not only managing P&L, but also empowering others to reach their lifetime goals and promote their careers.  Also, my husband and I hope to start raising our own family (dogs included).