Ezra Nelson

Yale School of Management

“I’m a black gay Jew from the Midwest who loves math, puzzles and mashed potatoes.”

Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana

Fun Fact About Yourself: I starred as Alex Trebek in my kindergarten’s production of Hanukkah  Jeopardy

Undergraduate School and Major: Brown University, Cognitive Neuroscience & Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Boston Collegiate Charter School – High School Math Teacher

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I coached the school’s robotics team which qualified for the state championships.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Passionate – everyone I have met has been excited to talk about the things they have done or are hoping to do. Moreover, they become equally eager to talk about the passions and pursuits of others. There is a sense that people here care a lot – about the world, about their classmates, about the future. It’s the opposite of apathy.

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 really wanted to be a part of a small close-knit community. As a non-traditional applicant, I was a little worried about getting lost in the shuffle and not necessarily getting the instruction or opportunities that were right for me. Yale’s robust advising program really put me at ease and assured me that there would be support in making big decisions.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? The clubs at SOM look like so much fun. I am excited to check out the education and consulting clubs.

The Yale School of Management is regarded as a purpose-driven program. What is your mission? How will your MBA at Yale help you fulfill that mission? I would like to be a part of rethinking and restructuring our public education system. The charter school where I worked was a remarkable place, but sadly it was also very unique. My mission is to create more great schools like the one where I worked. It would be a dram to start a charter school of my own.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? Tell me about someone you had difficulty working with.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? After working within the public education system it became impossible to ignore or deny that structural changes are necessary. I want to be a part of that conversation and make a meaningful impact on the educational landscape. In order to make societal change, it is necessary to understand the systems and structures that are fundamental to our society. 

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Columbia, MIT, Stanford

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I reached out to other people who had gone from Teach for America into business school to hear about their experiences. There’s nothing like talking to people who went to a school to get a sense for fit. I made most connections with students and alum at Yale, which made me confident the fit was right even if those exact people won’t be on campus when I am.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? It would probably be watching the students who I taught their freshmen as well as their senior year graduate from high school. Not only was I proud of everything they had accomplished, but I was reminded about how much can change in just a few years. Sometimes, life can seem stationary and obstacles permanent, but seeing my students get their diplomas reminded me of the power of growth.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? Opening the first charter school on Mars?