Ryan Bell

University of Rochester, Simon Business School

“Collaborative and curious, data-driven problem solver with a passion for technology, innovation, and good beer.”

Hometown: Boston, MA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m an avid water-skier. One summer, I taught myself how to barefoot waterski, despite the countless head-over-heels somersaults that I endured while learning.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of New Hampshire – Finance, Information Systems Management

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Liberty Mutual Insurance – Lead Financial Analyst, Global Portfolio Strategy & Analytics

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I consider my greatest professional accomplishment to be the relationships and network that I’ve developed over the past five years. During my time at Liberty Mutual, I had the opportunity to work with some incredible people and each of them taught me something new. These relationships not only pushed me to work harder, take risks, and think outside the box but also turned into some great friendships. Each of my individual successes are far outweighed by the combined success of the teams that I’ve been a part of and that is something I am very grateful for.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Impressive. Simon Business School has one of the most diverse programs in the country and it is evident every day in the classroom by the creativity, enthusiasm, and thought leadership of my fellow classmates. It’s an honor to be included amongst such an impressive group of peers. I’m excited to see all that we will accomplish together over the next two years and beyond!

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? It really came down to the culture and fit. Throughout my interactions with admissions, current students, and alumni, every person went above and beyond to make me feel valued and included. At Simon you’re not just a statistic in a recruiting pamphlet, you’re a part of the family and that was really important to me.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m really looking forward to my role as a Project Manager for Simon Vision Consulting, a student-run pro-bono consulting organization that services businesses in the greater Rochester area. Over the next six weeks, I’ll be working closely with a local entrepreneur to develop their business plan and secure funding to start a socially-responsible winery. I’m thrilled to apply what I’ve learned in the classroom to a real business and look forward to the fast-paced challenge of working with a startup.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I’ve always planned on getting an MBA, but recognized that having some work experience first would allow me to contribute more to the classroom. After working for five years and having the opportunity to lead initiatives across the organization, I realized that the next step for my career progression was to get an MBA. I have no doubt that the experience and knowledge I will gain over the next two years will push me to be a better leader and help me achieve my long-term goals.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? It’s hard to estimate the true value an MBA degree (although the finance guy in me did construct a NPV model to try). Ultimately though, investing in an MBA is a long-term bet on yourself and I didn’t want to look back on my career and regret not placing that bet.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Stanford, Sloan, and Tepper. Each offers an incredible program, but I’m confident that I ended up at the school that is the best fit for me.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? In my opinion, the best way to research the culture and fit of a school is by visiting campus and speaking with current students and alumni. This helped me make my decision and I’d advise all perspective MBA students to do the same. Online forums and school rankings are great, but they often leave out many of the personal and intangible aspects of an MBA program that can’t be quantified.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I don’t think I can choose a single defining moment. The greatest lessons I’ve learned throughout my life have often come from my family and closest friends. They help remind me to be humble, focus on what is most important, and pursue my dreams. Without them, I know I wouldn’t be where I am today and I’m thankful for all the support I’ve received over the years.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I’d like to find a role at an innovative company that continually challenges me and allows me to make an impact on customers’ lives and the company’s success. I see myself working in either a product management or business development role directly after my MBA, with the long-term goal of starting my own business.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Managing a business that I created and solving the problems of customers of the future.