Meet Washington Olin’s MBA Class Of 2021

Kendra Kelly      

Washington University, Olin Business School

“The life of the party, the heart of the classroom, and St. Louis’ newest comedian.”

Hometown: King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

Fun Fact About Yourself: I worked for the Obama for America 2008 campaign as a youth vote staffer in St. Louis while enrolled full-time as a student at Georgia State University. My professors graciously let me miss over a month and a half of classes, submit assignments from afar and makeup exams upon my return. It all worked out. We made history and I finished the semester with a 3.8 GPA.

Undergraduate School and Major: Georgia State University, Double Major: Journalism and Political Science

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Experience, Senior Direct Channel Marketing Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I led a complex platform migration that required immense cross-functional collaboration across multiple internal groups. The migration was fraught with challenges from the start, but I learned powerful lessons in leadership, managing up to my executive team and working cross-functionally among members with skills ranging from highly technical to not technical in the least. The experience was a marathon, not a sprint, but the project ultimately ended successfully when our team migrated over 1.3 million SMS subscribers to a new shortcode, retained over 95% of text message opt-ins and stood up a platform that is now utilized to generate more revenue-driving opportunities for the company through advanced SMS marketing strategies. Of all my accomplishments, this is the one I think about most often as it taught me incredible lessons that I will surely draw upon in the future when leading high-impact, cross-functional projects.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Self-assured. I am often in awe of the quiet confidence that radiates from my classmates and often impressed by their ability to leave egos at the door despite the amazing feats they accomplished prior to business school. As a believer in the power of diversity of thought creating rich, eye-opening discussions, I am certain that the high caliber discussions we have in and out of the classroom are amplified by the fact that we are inherently self-assured. This quiet confidence allows our discussions to stem from a place of respect and a desire to learn about and from one another.

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 am upfront about my aspirations— I am working towards becoming a game-changing, glass-ceiling shattering businesswoman. I knew that my vision could not be fully realized without an MBA that provided exposure to doing business internationally. I knew Olin Business School was the program for me when the institution quickly and thoughtfully overhauled their full-time MBA program to be a program “based in St. Louis, but informed by the world.”

So what does this mean, exactly? Well, I began getting to know my classmates in late-June, when our program started in St. Louis with two weeks of classes and orientation. Next, we traveled to Washington, DC, where we took classes at the Brookings Institution on global institutions and values. Then, we ventured to Barcelona where we took classes at ESADE and worked with Spanish wineries to craft strategies to solve their challenges. I am currently in Shanghai, where I am taking classes on business models from a global context and implementing strategy through global operations while working on a retail project. WashU was the only institution that made such a significant investment in ensuring their students received a global experience at the start of their MBA and throughout their time as MBA candidates.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am looking most forward to joining the marketing club. As a marketer with more of a technical bent than most, I am always looking for opportunities to maximize my skills, learn from my peers, dive deep into industry trends, and network with other marketing professionals. Understanding the increasingly close relationship between marketing and technology, I am hoping to form an alliance with the Technology Club that allows regularly scheduled professional development opportunities to further enhance Olin marketers’ tool kits and make us even more valuable post-MBA.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? The most challenging question I was asked during the admissions process was, “Tell us about a failure you experienced.” I initially looked at this question as an opportunity to tell a thinly-veiled success story that was mildly turbulent. It took me some time before I realized that the admissions councils really wanted to hear about the failure—the crash and the burn— and how you rose above the challenge. Most importantly, the admissions councils wanted to understand the lessons I learned from the process that would inform the way I worked moving forward. It took some time before I could realize the power in this question and the unique opportunity it presented to show vulnerability, empathy, leadership, and resilience.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I fell into marketing. I’m so glad I did, but this was not the original plan. Once I realized that I was not cut out to be the next Soledad O’Brien or a broadcast journalist of any kind for that matter, my transferable skills led me to marketing. I used my seven years out of undergrad to learn about business in the scrappiest of ways, but I could not shake the feeling that I was an imposter. I was good at marketing, but did I really know marketing? I could craft and implement high-impact strategies, but did I have a strong business foundation? Anytime I asked myself those questions, I answered both with a hard “No.” Imposter syndrome played a role in my analysis of my abilities, but I couldn’t shake this feeling that if I wanted to be a game-changing, glass-ceiling shattering businesswoman then I would need an MBA from a well-respected and academically rigorous program.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? University of Rochester Simon Business School, Emory University Goizueta Business School, Georgetown University McDonough School of Business and Cornell University Johnson Graduate School of Management

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I had a three-tier approach to assessing fit. I first investigated the class size, study abroad opportunities, industry trek locations, program structure, and the variety of on-campus organizations. The second tier was all about how I felt after my school visits or interactions with current students, alumni and staff. As a Consortium applicant and personal champion of diversity and inclusion, it was imperative that I could really see myself at the institution. I took time outside of organized events to walk around campus, engage with students and faculty and, most importantly, have follow-up discussions after my visits. The final tier was all about understanding whether or not there was financial fit. I had to ask myself if the institution was the fiscally responsible choice and would allow me to maximize my ROI post-MBA.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Working for the Obama campaign was a defining experience that completely changed the course of my life and opened doors I never imagined would open. The campaign showed me the power of delivering the right message, to the right people, at the right time, and through the right channels. I was able to experience the essence of effective marketing daily. I also learned the power of perseverance. Working for the campaign was not easy. I was living in a new state and working full-time for the campaign while also remaining a full-time student and keeping up with my studies in Atlanta. It’s been nearly eleven years since the campaign, and I am still so grateful for the experience.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? I see myself in ten years as a business leader who is known for leveraging the latest marketing technology to bring incredible products to the masses. I also see myself as an ambassador of diversity and inclusion for my employer, where I hope to be working closely with HR and fellow executive leaders to ensure we are creating spaces that openly advocate for diversity of thought in the creation, implementation and assessment of work products. Furthermore, I see myself as a leader who empowers her team to bring their authentic selves to work every day. Finally, I see myself mentoring the next generation of business leaders, especially those who are underrepresented minorities. I am where I am today in large part due to the people who have made time to educate, mentor, and empower me. I look forward to leveraging my success to help the next generation of minority business leaders rise to success.