Daniel M. Rooney

Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

“I am a competitive, loyal, hard-working individual, who commits his efforts towards earned success.”

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

Fun Fact About Yourself:

1. I was born on Christmas Day at 12:25am.
2. When I had the opportunity to meet one of my lifelong heroes, Arnold Palmer, I tripped and fell flat on my face as I went to shake his hand. He had quite a laugh, and let’s just say I made a memorable impression.

Undergraduate School and Major: Dartmouth College, History modified with Sociology.

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

National Football League: Junior Rotational Program (Public/Community Relations, Digital Media, Data Analytics).

Pittsburgh Steelers: Scouting / Coaching Assistant.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest career accomplishment to this point has been achieving versatility in my field. I have experience working in and forming relationships across the corporate world of New York City to the football field in Pittsburgh, PA. I believe knowing the ins and outs of a business allows for more growth and opportunity down the road.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Prepare for your interviews as much as possible but always remain authentic. Positive human-to-human interaction is crucial when presenting yourself. Do not let that be your undoing.

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 diversity of Wharton’s student profile was extremely attractive to me. I feel that rather than specializing in a specific field, it encompasses a dynamic range of experienced individuals that I look forward to learning from and collaborating with. I believe exposure to this multitude of expertise will only give me a leg up when re-entering the workforce.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? After one year, I hope to gain an enhanced breadth of knowledge from Wharton’s focus on management and leadership fundamentals. I also anticipate developing strong bonds with my fellow classmates, not just from a business standpoint, but also on a personal level, which I will carry with me into the future.