Meet The Texas McCombs MBA Class Of 2020

Lindsay Sullivan

University of Texas, McCombs School of Business

“Enterprising and approachable, with a passion for people and a love to solve problems!”

Hometown: Ormond Beach, FL

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I’ve played competitive volleyball in every place I have lived, including Florida, Connecticut, Boston, Dallas, and Singapore.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Connecticut, Electrical Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Accenture, Consultant

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: It would be when I assumed the role of lead functional designer for an end-to-end software implementation project. This role required me to manage the life cycle of each functional design, starting from the initial impact assessment through to the development, approvals, testing, and go-live support.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Cohesive. From Day 1, every question has been answered collectively, every plan has been made with awareness of the group, and every opportunity has been taken with the intention of sharing a mutual success rather than improving the success of the individual.

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? McCombs has always been my top choice. I learned early on that where I live is crucial, and I immediately fell in love with the palpable energy that is unique to Austin. Joining the McCombs community was not only an educated career choice, but also a desire to put down roots in a city and people that I can get behind.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Board Fellows

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? In my most recent promotion, my role grew from accepting assignments to getting the opportunity to create new business opportunities. I come from a strong technical background, and as I progress in my career I find it has become increasingly important to support my decisions with knowledge of the economy and relevant markets.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I love school and have always believed the knowledge and experience alone would be worth it. Regardless of my career path, higher education was always a “when” for me, not an “if.”

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Stanford Graduate School of Business

How did you determine your fit at various schools? Location was the most important factor for me. Once I narrowed the schools down based on academics and location, I researched factors such as the cost of living, average age, and extra-curricular activities available in each city.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I came very close to losing a family member unexpectedly. I used to be the one to strive for perfection. I still find myself stressed when things do not go exactly as planned, but I no longer sweat the small things. Family, health and happiness are key drivers for me; I’ve gotten better at not obsessing over perfection.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I plan to find a position that allows me to combine my love of technology and of people and apply it to practical business solutions. I love to problem solve and am motivated to find a collaborative work environment.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself as either a product owner or specializing in the improvement of a business process (e.g. transitioning from waterfall methodology to agile). I enjoy the challenge that change poses to businesses, and my goal is to be in a role where I can lead that change.

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