Irina Grekova

Washington University, Olin Business School

“I do not give up.”

Hometown: Moscow, Russia

Fun Fact About Yourself: The place of birth in my passport is different in English language from that in Russian.

Undergraduate School and Major: Plekhanov Russian University of Economics (Economics) and Bauman Technical University (Computer Science)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: SAP Delivery Manager (Shell&Gazprom joint venture Salym Petroleum Development)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I’ve implemented a process for SAP software user’s training and education that received an annual award from SAP.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Diversity is the right word. We have students from 16 countries and with backgrounds in all fields I can think about: social, tech, consulting, sales, law, medicine and many more.

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? Experiential and innovative learning experience. I think today’s world changes so fast that you cannot rely on the traditional ways of education anymore because they become absolute before you even finish your program.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I prefer an active lifestyle, so sport plays an important role in my life. That’s why I am looking forward to participating in bike tours, dancing and gym classes.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? To tell what my colleagues would say about me if they were asked. I always wanted to read people’s minds but never learned how. Everyone is so unique and sees this world from a different perspective, so I can tell how I think people see me, but that might be very different from what they see. I wish I had a superpower and know what they actually think.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I’ve been always working in an international company, but never lived, worked or studied abroad. At one moment, I started feeling that I had reached my career ceiling and to grow further as a manager I needed not just an MBA, but an international MBA. I think that I made the right decision at the right time.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? USC Marshall, Mendoza School of Business

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I considered a few factors: reputation, history, employment reports, and class profile. Apart from that, I did some research on the faculty and talked to second-year students and alumni. Students and alumni feedback impacted my decision more than other factors, because people are willing to provide you with information you may need and will openly discuss both negative and positive aspects of their experience. For me, an MBA is not only about what you study, but also about with whom you study, because you learn from your classmates, not less than from professors. Environment and people make a huge difference. While doing my research, I heard much positive feedback about Olin’s culture and people. Now I am here, and I can tell that they all were right.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I remember a few. One of them is the moment when I decided to leave the job I liked, the city in which I have been living my whole life, my family and friends, favorite restaurants, professional network and my lovely dog to pursue an MBA across the Atlantic Ocean at a place I have never been before. I think that it characterizes me as a goal-oriented person who is not afraid to leave a comfort zone.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? The head of a consulting firm.