Meet the MBA Class of 2021: The Go-Getters

Alysha McElroy

Emory University, Goizueta School of Business

“Energetic, conscientious, and passionate about improving communities through investments in education.”

Hometown: Saratoga Springs, New York

Fun Fact About Yourself: In my free time, I train for obstacle course races (Spartan Race, Tough Mudder)

Undergraduate School and Major: Williams College, History

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Goldman Sachs, Private Wealth Management, Associate

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I was selected to lead the operational transition for two wealth managers who decided to merge their books of business into one, which ultimately resulted in my promotion to Associate

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Fascinating – everyone I’ve met has a unique background and my classmates come from all over the world, so I’m learning about different cultures every day!

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? Class size was most important to me – I attended a small undergraduate institution and really thrived in a small classroom environment. Goizueta offered the same experience in a major city

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Goizueta’s Impact Investing Club

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? Articulating an answer for “Why an MBA now?” was harder than I initially thought; it involved a lot of soul-searching to make it concise.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I’ve had significant client-facing responsibilities at Goldman, which I plan to leverage into a career in investment banking. I come from a liberal arts background, though, so I decided to pursue my MBA to hone my quantitative skills to make the transition IB.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Dartmouth

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I prioritized culture – I was considering top 25 MBA programs and knew with hard work I could achieve my career goals at any school. As a result, I wanted to find a place where I could really get to know my classmates and faculty on a personal level to maximize my MBA experience.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I was financially independent after I graduated from college, so I moved to the South because of the more affordable cost of living. I didn’t know anyone and moved before I found a job, but taking that risk made me resilient, tenacious, and changed my career trajectory.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? Director at a private equity firm.