Annie Henderson

Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business

“Dedicated mother and wife. Army Veteran and former Division I Athlete.”

Hometown: Sewickley, PA

Fun Fact About Yourself: Due to a torn ACL, I missed the girl’s tennis season so I requested to compete on the boy’s tennis team during my junior year of high school. I became the first girl to win the Boy’s Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic League (WPIAL) Championship.

Undergraduate School and Major: United States Military Academy, American Legal Studies

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: United States Army, Chief Human Resources Officer

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: While stationed in South Korea, I had the privilege of working alongside the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. I led a team of 15 U.S. and South Korean soldiers. We successfully managed and staffed the only permanently forward-stationed, combined division in the U.S. Army, which consisted of 12,000 U.S. and South Korean Soldiers.  It was an incredible learning experience to work so closely with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and very humbling to manage such a large population of U.S. and South Korean Soldiers.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Extremely Helpful. During the application process to Tepper, I reached out to current students for advice and questions regarding business school. I expected a fifteen-minute phone call or less with each student. Surprisingly, all four students I spoke with spent over an hour on the phone with me. They answered all of my questions and discussed, at length, their reasons for choosing Tepper. I can honestly say my phone calls with the MBA students at Tepper and their willingness to help, sold me on the school.

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 close-knit community. I interviewed at Tepper and immediately felt a sense of community with the faculty and students. Tepper’s small class size (about 220) will allow me to form genuine relationships and get to know my classmates on a personal level.  Graduating from West Point, I realized the impact a small class, with peers dedicated to one another, can have on your success. I look forward to participating in a similar experience at Tepper.  

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am most excited about the Tepper Women in Business (TWIB) club. TWIB empowers women to grow as confident leaders in the business community. Having previously worked in the Army, which is 75% men, I can appreciate the TWIB Club, the close bonds I will form with other women like myself, and the benefits of learning from successful businesswomen in the private sector.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I knew I needed an MBA to prepare me for the private sector and ensure a smooth transition from the military. Tepper’s rigorous curriculum, dedicated professors and intimate class size will strengthen my strategic thinking and analytic skills, tools necessary to succeed in the business community.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I was nervous about my transition from the Army to the private sector. Once I learned of Tepper’s Accelerate Leadership Center, I knew the investment in business school was well worth it. The Accelerate Leadership Center provides personalized, one-on-one leadership development and coaching from renowned professors. I have heard remarkable stories about the extensive leadership transformations students experience from the leadership coaches. Additionally, the new Tepper Quad, an innovative hub located in the center of Carnegie Mellon’s campus, was icing on the cake.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? McCombs, Kenan-Flagler 

How did you determine your fit at various schools? The school’s emphasis in analytics and quantitative analysis.

What tools did you use to evaluate schools? Professors, core curriculum and class size.

How did you research culture?I spoke with MBA students from each school I applied to and visited the campuses.

How did you know it fit your career goals? Tepper has a strong reputation in marketing which is what I hope to do after graduation.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are?  Becoming a mother. It truly is life-changing. My daughter motivates me every day and keeps me grounded.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? Brand management for a top marketing firm such as Johnson and Johnson.

Where do you see yourself in five years? More kids, working as a marketing director for a company I am passionate about, and keeping up with my Tepper alums.