Elizabeth Lunn

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

“Creative professional passionate about problem-solving, social impact, and collaborating with dynamic teams.”

Hometown: Sterling, Virginia

Fun Fact About Yourself: I performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade—two years in a row!—while I was in high school.

Undergraduate School and Major: New York University, BA in Dramatic Literature

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Penguin Random House, Associate Managing Editor

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment so far has been helping transition teams through a multi-system integration. As a result of a merger at my previous company, there was an immense corporate-level effort to integrate all systems between the various divisions. My role was to attend numerous trainings and give feedback to the corporate team, helping create a system that was inclusive of my departments’ needs. I then helped train my teammates to use the new systems and trouble-shooted any early issues or confusion. I knew I had done my job when after about a week, no one was even talking about the systems anymore—productivity was back to normal!

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? My MBA classmates are so insightful. We have students who were teachers, engineers, servicemen and -women, consultants, and financial analysts, from many different industries and life experiences. I learn something new from every conversation I have with them, whether we’re discussing the viability of a product in a new market or the best foods at the Minnesota State Fair. My classmates all have a perspective that is unique to me, and I’ve already been challenged to think more widely and deeply.

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? Carlson’s experiential learning program was the single biggest draw for me. After a rigorous first semester in core academics, the curriculum becomes very heavily project-based, with teams working to solve real business problems for local companies. In my work before business school, I learned almost everything I needed to know by asking questions and seeking out resources on the job. I knew that Carlson’s learning format would encourage me to keep up that spirit of curiosity and learn by doing.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m most looking forward to diving deep into the marketing function through clubs and extracurricular activities. By joining the Carlson Marketing Network, contributing to the Elite 8 Brand Management case competition (as either a team member or organizer), and finding other ways to take on leadership roles during my time in business school, I hope to become a more well-rounded marketing professional and to engage with the Carlson community in a really fun and meaningful way.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? In my previous role as a book managing editor, my work coincided with every department in the business—inventory management, contracts, production, sales, publicity, etc. As much as I was able to learn from experience, I knew that my knowledge was limited to my company and my industry. I was curious about how different roles translate to other industries and enthusiastic about growing my knowledge of the marketing function, so I decided to pursue an MBA to broaden my experience and worldview.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I knew I wanted to pursue an MBA because I saw how valuable it was for my partner’s career. Though my partner’s program was defined and structured very differently than mine is, his three years as an MBA student allowed him to apply his classroom knowledge on the job and gave him so many career opportunities while he built his network. Witnessing his growth as a leader made me confident that an MBA would be a great investment for me as well.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I applied to Northwestern Kellogg, Michigan Ross, and the Wisconsin School of Business.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I knew early in my MBA program search that I wanted a change of environment and a strong, collaborative community. Having gone to a school with a city campus for my undergraduate degree, I sought out programs that had more of a “campus feel” with small class sizes and abundant individual resources. A friendly, inclusive culture was extremely important to me, and I assessed schools by visiting in person and communicating with current students. I felt confident that many MBA programs would help me achieve my career goals but ultimately got the best of both worlds in a school both known for its marketing program and situated in a metropolitan area with plenty of industry growth and opportunity.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? A lifelong fan of theatre, dance, literature, and the arts, I always knew I wanted to work in a creative industry, contributing to projects that feel culturally valuable to me. I landed my dream job working in book publishing but realized that simply participating in a creative industry does little to inspire me; rather, I need to be able to think creatively and innovatively to find significance in my job. My favorite moments working in publishing involved dealing with ambiguity and finding unique solutions to complicated problems, even if those problems were small-scale and operational in nature. When I realized over time that I could be a creative professional regardless of industry, it seemed to instantly open many doors that I always thought were closed for me.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? After graduation, I plan to move into a marketing role in the CPG or retail industry. Though I’m not sure yet whether that role will be in brand management, consumer insights, or retail buying, I am excited to join a vibrant community of marketers in the Twin Cities and continue to be a resource for future MBA students at Carlson.

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I hope to have established a promising career in marketing, working toward a director role or other leadership position. Regardless of title, I want to be using my experience and knowledge to help build others’ careers and mentor young professionals who may be making important career decisions to figure out their own abilities, passions, and skills. I have benefitted from a supportive community in all stages of my career and hope to create this kind of environment in my future workplace.