Nicole Dillard

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

“Driven, giving professional passionate about social and environmental impact in the food and agriculture industry.”

Hometown: Cheyenne, Wyoming – with post undergraduate career (seven years) in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Fun Fact About Yourself: The summer before attending Carlson, I woofed (world wide opportunities on organic farms) on a biodynamic vineyard in the Piedmont region of Italy and an organic rice and vegetable farm on Shikoku island in Japan.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Pennsylvania – Dual Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and Urban Studies

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: trepwise – Chief Operating Officer

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In 2014, I was the first hire at a new management consulting firm, trepwise, in New Orleans that was established to help entrepreneurs who were gaining traction continue to grow their business. Over the course of four years, we helped build the capacity of over 200 organizations across sectors and industries that in turn contributed to a more robust and resilient local economy. Additionally, as the chief operating officer, I was focused on accelerating the growth of our start-up and I am proud to have worked hand-in-hand with the founder to grow the team to 12 by the time I left to pursue my MBA.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Inspiring. On a daily basis, I have been surprised by the level of expertise my fellow classmates have developed through their past experiences. It is motivating to be part of this talented group of individuals using intellect and passion to rise to the next level.

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? I plan to pursue a career in food and agriculture after my MBA and therefore attending a school in a region with a critical mass of large companies in this industry was key. I chose the Carlson School of Management because in 2018 the business community in the Twin Cities had 19 companies on the Fortune 500 list, including five that are food and agriculture related.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? My long-term career goal is to work in corporate social responsibility and use my career to help create a more socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable world. I am very excited to join the Net Impact Club, a chapter of an international nonprofit organization whose mission is to make a positive impact on society by growing and strengthening a community of leaders who use business to improve the world. One exciting event recently publicized by our Net Impact chapter is the first ever Food | Ag | Ideas Week in the Twin Cities, powered by Grow North, a resource and connection hub for Minnesota’s food and agriculture entrepreneur and innovation ecosystem housed within the University of Minnesota’s Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Through my consulting work in New Orleans, I was exposed to the positive impact of social entrepreneurship and business as a force for good. Pursuing an MBA will allow me to build upon my social entrepreneurship and start-up operations experience to transition into a larger, corporate company where small decisions can have a big impact on society. Additionally, as I am looking to work in the food and agriculture industry, an MBA will provide me with the opportunity to learn more about supply chains and manufacturing.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I was fortunate to work at a small start-up where multiple team members had previously pursued MBA degrees and were able to speak to the value it provided each of them. Through these conversations, it became clear that the investment (time and money) would pay off if I did the due diligence to find a school that was the right fit for me. To determine this fit, I had to define my ideal geography, class size, post-MBA career, school culture, and more.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? (1) University of Washington, (2) University of Colorado Boulder, (3) Berkeley, (4) University of Chicago, and (5) Northwestern.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? When applying to MBA programs, one of my initial criteria was geography because I wanted to move closer to my family. From there, I focused on the school’s class size, specialties in industry or function, and any key differentiating factors. However, determining fit was more than just facts on a piece of paper. The tipping point for me was when I visited the schools I was accepted at and spoke with students and alumni in my intended function or industry. The opportunity to make these strong connections allowed me to dig in deeper and determine if there was a cultural fit and if the school’s offerings aligned with my career goals.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? It all began with a traveling oyster bar in New Orleans, Louisiana. While working full-time at a management consulting firm, I had a side hustle shucking oysters for a friend’s start-up. While I had previously worked with social entrepreneurs and already believed in the power of business to do good, shucking oysters was when it all came together – business, food, community, and sustainability. We sourced our oysters from local waters, supported small fisherman, and recycled the shells to help preserve our coastline. I realized I was part of a socially and environmentally responsible food venture that was creating jobs, providing regionally-based alternatives to wasteful consumption practices, and creating communities built around food. This experience reinforced my beliefs and desire to use my career to help create a more socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable world through the food and agriculture industry.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? My post MBA plans are to work in the food and agriculture industry in either a supply chain and operations or corporate strategy role.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Five years from now, I hope to have advanced into a corporate social responsibility role within the food and agriculture industry. I see myself working at a company that is striving to make supply chains more environmentally and socially responsible and provide consumers with more information about where their food comes from.