Meet Wharton’s MBA Class Of 2020

Logan Piper

Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Good-humored, numbers-loving, fashionista, and college football fanatic.”

Hometown:  Houston, Texas

Fun Fact About Yourself: One of my closest friends from Chevron founded HauteWork, the industry’s first women’s upscale FRC (Fire Retardant Clothing) brand and named “Logan” Lilac (also known as purple) after me.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Oklahoma, Petroleum Engineering

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Chevron Corporation, Reservoir Engineer

Chevron Corporation, Production Engineer

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment in my career so far was building mutual respect and personal relationships with the oil field personnel during my first summer internship in Eunice, Louisiana. As a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed sorority girl, I was immediately out of place in the male-only oil field setting. I was labeled the “what” girl due to the high volume of questions I asked—the operator of my field made a “what” label for my hard hat just for good measure. After weeks of waking up at 4:00am and doing the lowliest tasks to win over my counterpart, he finally acknowledged my growth and invited me to his son’s birthday in Gueydan, LA, where we shot clay pigeons in the backyard and had gumbo with three generations of his family! This intern experience taught me the importance of building relationships, especially with people from different backgrounds, a skill which has played a vital role in my career so far.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Be true to yourself and your aspirations and have a vision! Taking a step back from your professional and personal life to get a full-time MBA is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that requires a high level of self-awareness and drive. Connect with as many current students, alumni, and faculty members as possible from the schools that you are interested in. Additionally, connect with professionals who work or have worked in the roles and industries that you aspire to be in post-MBA. Having an educated, personalized vision of your career path will not only help you choose the right school, but will also translate into genuine essays and admission interviews.

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?  

As an engineer aspiring to pivot to finance, I was initially drawn to Wharton’s renowned finance curriculum and reputation. However, the key  factor that led me to Wharton for a full-time MBA was the people I met throughout the admissions process. After receiving an invitation to interview at Wharton, I was overwhelmed with the amount of Wharton alumni, many of whom were friends of friends that I had never personally met, who were willing to share advice on navigating the process and reminisce on their fond MBA experiences. When I attended Winter Welcome Weekend with my future peers, I was further impressed by the number of highly accomplished yet approachable members of the class of 2020. I met all four of my current roommates during the weekend! I found that Wharton was a place that would prepare me for the next step in my career, challenge me socially, and allow me to be an integral member of a community that lasts a lifetime.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?  Success after my first year at Wharton would include taking full advantage of the professional and social opportunities inside and outside the classroom, forming lasting friendships with my peers of different backgrounds and nationalities, traveling the world, and landing a challenging internship in finance.

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