Meet Ohio State Fisher’s MBA Class Of 2020

FIRST-YEARS SPEND THREE WEEKS OVERSEAS

What attracts students to Fisher? Among the Class of 2020, the GAP (Global Applied Projects) program was a huge hit. Held each May, GAP sends 4-5 member student teams across the globe to partner with an international firm. After completing seven weeks of intensive preparation, students spend three weeks overseas, with the course culminating in a presentation to senior company executives.

In recent years, the GAP project has taken Fisher MBAs to locales as different as Ethiopia, France, the United Arab Emirates, Mexico, and India. While demanding, GAP teams also find plenty of ways to enjoy themselves. Last year’s German team, for example, visited Prague and Geneva, enjoying architecture tours and sampling cafes along the way. In China, the team visited the Great Wall, not to mention taking a bullet train to the most luxurious hotel in Nanjing to indulge in salty duck.

Not surprisingly, alumni consider GAP to be Fisher’s signature experience, an international consulting project whose length doubles those offered at rival programs. It is also an immersion that means very different things to the Class of 2020. For Christopher Scott, GAP is a “unique primer” designed to prepare him for his summer internship. Adedimeji ‘Tade Idris is treating it as a chance to deliver practical solutions to real world problems. By the same token, Rabia Usmani, a global financial analyst for a Fortune 500 bank, views GAP as an avenue to absorb different cultures and business practices.

Then again, Sai Velaga is looking forward to doing all of the above. “I believe that true learning comes by applying classroom concepts to real-world situations. GAP is an excellent opportunity not only to exercise my teamwork, leadership, planning, communication, and decision-making skills but also to understand the work culture in a different economy. Cross-functional knowledge is extremely important in today’s global business environment.”

SMALLER SIZE, BETTER LEARNING

The Fisher Board Fellows (FBF) has also piqued the Class of 2020’s interest. In a nutshell, the FBF places second years on local non-profit boards for a year as non-voting members. In addition, board fellows must complete a consulting project for their organization to gain further business experience. “The opportunity to channel my humanitarian entrepreneurial spirit and interact with top-level management to understand the intricacies of strategic decision making is what drew me to Fisher Board Fellows,” says Sai Chandra Pujita Vazrala, a process engineer who was born in India and raised in Uganda.

Sai Velaga’s heart, however, is set on making an impact on Fisher’s Centre for Operational Excellence (COE). “COE is a place where member companies, which belong to a wide variety of industries, come together to solve operational inefficiencies symbiotically,” he writes. “This center not only helps students to learn about current problems in the operations and supply chain management industry, but also gives an opportunity to interact with influential people in various organizations.”

Another benefit to the Fisher experience? The small class size, say first-years. In particular, students cite the “personalized” attention and support they’ve received from all corners of the MBA program. More than that, says Sandra Glaude, the program’s size amplifies the educational experience. “I wanted to join a program where I could readily access my professors. I believe smaller classroom sizes enhances the learning experience for both the instructors and the students. Furthermore, a small class setting encourages intimate, meaningful and collaborative discussions between students and professors.”

CAPITALIZING ON THE RESOURCES OF A “BIG” UNIVERSITY

In the process, Fisher also offers the best of both worlds: a small community embedded in a business school with 80,000 alumni…and a larger university where over 500,000 graduates call themselves Buckeyes. Bottom line: Fisher MBAs will have plenty of opportunities to pursue their passions.

“Because the overall university is so large, any experience or opportunity you can dream up is possible if you know where to look,” says Paul Sobecki, a 2018 P&Q MBA To Watch who joined Deloitte Consulting after graduating this spring. “Fisher specifically offers international project opportunities, global business expeditions, countless student organizations, and one-on-one attention for your job search.”

One example of this is Ohio State’s Center for Automotive Research. Affectionately known as CAR, the center – an interdisciplinary collaboration headed by the College of Engineering – includes over 150 graduate and undergraduate students who focus on areas like safety and environmental protection. The center is also a leader in autonomous vehicle research, a point not lost on Monyk Hernandez Wecker, a mechanical engineer hoping to transition to a strategy role.

“Autonomous vehicles are the next generation of vehicles that will hit our streets, and I want to develop plans to deploy them safely. At Fisher, I will have the opportunity to research the area that I intend to work post-MBA.”

FISHER’S SECRET WEAPON: COLUMBUS ITSELF

This wide scope of resources at Ohio State, coupled with the personal touch of Fisher, is what truly sets the MBA program apart, adds Roger Bailey, co-director of the Full-Time MBA program.

“The diversity of the student body complements a culture of collaboration and close relationships. MBA students get to know and learn from each other. On the other hand, Fisher College of Business includes over five thousand students, and being part of The Ohio State University, MBA students have access to all of the amenities, resources, and opportunities afforded by a large top-tier research university.  Fisher is also in the heart of a thriving business community.  Columbus is the 14th largest city in the US, and the Columbus region is home to the headquarters of 15 Fortune 1000 and five Fortune 500 firms.  Our unique combination of size, location, and culture is a real differentiator, and the MBA redesign leverages these strengths to offer students unique opportunities such as on-site consulting projects with local firms and a social impact challenge where student teams work together with non-profit organizations to solve problems and give back to the community.”

Indeed, Columbus may be Fisher’s most underrated value add. It is just an afternoon drive away from Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Detroit, and Pittsburgh – a circumference that nets nearly 70 Fortune 1000 firms. In addition, Columbus has also been racking up the honors in recent years, ranking among the top metros for Up-and-Coming High Tech City (Forbes), Most Livable City (CNN), and Best City for Jobs and Finance (Yahoo Finance). Translation: The area is flush with opportunities for students to gain real experience and build a strong network.

THE GOAL: LOVE WHAT YOU DO

“I saw Columbus’ globally-focused economy and Fisher’s role in the region’s advancement as incredible assets for an MBA program, full of opportunities for collaboration and partnership,” says Isaac Reynolds. “As an MBA candidate, I have already connected to Columbus’ community within the Council of World Affairs, Metropolitan Club and Sister Cities International.”

So what’s next for the Class of 2020? Courtney Clark, for one, is quite specific. “My goal is to be riding my bike to work in Amsterdam as the Director of Innovation or Marketing for an international NGO or a socially and environmentally conscious company.”

Adedimeji ‘Tade Idris, however, is looking for more intangibles. “Find a role that lets me do what I love, in a way I love doing it. There is an obvious attraction to some roles or organizations due to the financial remuneration, but I prioritize learning, an open, welcoming work culture and a chance to grow above all else.”

What led these professionals to enter business schools? Which programs did they also consider? What strategies did they use to choose their MBA program? What was the major event that defined them? Find the answers to these questions and many more in the in-depth profiles of these incoming MBA candidates.

Student	Hometown	Alma Mater	Employer
Courtney Clark	Muskegon, MI	Loyola University of Chicago	Optum
Hayley Coffas	Bellevue, IA	University of Wisconsin–Platteville	Georgia-Pacific
Erin Collin	Novi, MI	Miami University	University of Michigan
Sandra Glaude	Brooklyn, NY	SUNY College at Old Westbury	Coffee America
Monyk Hernandez Wecker	Nuevo Casas Grandes, Mexico	University of Texas at El Paso	Commercial Vehicle Group
Adedimeji ‘Tade Idris	Lagos, Nigeria	Federal University of Technology	Access Bank PLC
Sai Velaga	Hyderabad, India	Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University-Hyderabad	Trans Asia Pipeline Services FZC
Sean O’Rourke	Pittsburgh, PA	Grove City College	Westfield Insurance
Sai Chandra Pujita Vazrala	Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India	Milwaukee School of Engineering	Tekra
Isaac Reynolds	Cleveland, OH	Miami University of Ohio	The Oman Oil Company-Takatuf Human Capital
Christopher Scott	Worcester, MA	Rochester Institute of Technology	Honda R&D Americas
Rabia Usmani	Cincinnati, OH	University of Cincinnati	Fifth Third Bank

SEE THE ENTIRE CLASS OF 2020 SERIES