Zoë White

Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College

“A California girl who is always seeking out new experiences, new friends, and new beaches.”

Hometown: Carlsbad, CA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have a birthmark on my back shaped like Pi.

Undergraduate School and Major: Stanford University, B.A. Human Biology

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Manager, Marketing Integration & Operations – Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: One of my biggest career accomplishments so far was being named to Front Office Sports Rising 25, Class of 2019. It was an incredible honor to be recognized as an emerging leader in the sports industry and to connect with such a talented cohort of young sports professionals who I can continue to learn from throughout my career.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Warm. Already, I feel like I have made friendships that will last a lifetime. Everyone I have met so far is so friendly and willing to help one another. They chose Tuck because they wanted to be a part of a supportive community. People at Tuck are genuinely invested in the success of others and it’s inspiring.

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? The tight-knit, collaborative community at Tuck was what ultimately led me to choose this program. I wanted the opportunity to get to know my classmates and professors on a deeper level and to build life-long friendships with the people in my class. Upon visiting Tuck, I knew that it was a place where I would be pushed to be a better version of myself and be supported by those around me.

What aspect of the school’s culture or values resonates most with you and why? One aspect of Tuck’s culture that resonated with me was the focus on confident humility. I think that is crucial to a nonjudgmental and open learning environment. Tuck offers a community where you can simultaneously foster your strengths and feel comfortable admitting the areas where you need improvement. Everyone at Tuck brings their diverse experiences and backgrounds to campus to share. We complement one another, learn from each other, and grow.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? My career background is in sports, so I’m looking forward to joining the Entertainment, Sports & Media Club. I’m also looking forward to learning how to ski this winter!

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? During my admissions interview at Tuck, I was asked, “If I asked your coworkers what your biggest weaknesses are, what would they say?” I had thought a lot about what I believed to be my personal weaknesses. Until that point, I hadn’t spent a lot of time critically examining how others perceived my weaknesses. I think this question is a testament to Tuck and how they push you to continuously self-reflect, practice awareness, and examine yourself from multiple angles in order to fuel personal growth.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? My undergrad degree was in Human Biology. When I pivoted industries to sports marketing, I knew I would eventually want to go back to school and get a more formal business education. I decided to pursue my MBA early on in my career when I still had a flexible lifestyle and was able to easily relocate for two years without too much opportunity cost.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? HBS, Kellogg, Stanford GSB, UCLA Anderson, Wharton

How did you determine your fit at various schools? Culture was the biggest factor I used in determining which school I ultimately wanted to attend. I knew I wanted to be in a place that was collaborative, not competitive, and a place where I could bring my authentic self to the classroom each day. I researched culture by talking to my mentors who had attended business school, reaching out to alums and current students from the schools I was interested in, and visiting various campuses. During the time I was applying to b-school, Tuck published an article about alums who were currently working in the sports industry. It was great timing for me, as I used this as a resource to reach out to some of these alums to get their take on how Tuck positioned them for a successful career in sports. The Tuck alums were so willing to help before I had even been admitted; my interactions with them really helped solidify that Tuck was the place for me.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? A defining moment for me was when I decided to move to Atlanta three years ago for a job with the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena. I had never lived outside of California and I didn’t know anyone in Atlanta. Yet, I knew I had to take advantage of an incredible job opportunity in the industry I loved. Pushing myself out of my comfort zone paid off in a big way. It gave me the confidence to continue to pursue my passions and not let my apprehension towards change hold me back. I believe that experience really helped me feel comfortable moving to a remote place like Hanover, New Hampshire for business school and will allow me to continue to seize new and challenging opportunities in the future too.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? In 10 years, I hope to be leading the marketing efforts for a major professional sports league or team. Throughout my career, I want to work to advance diversity and inclusion efforts throughout the sports world and help more women and minorities advance to leadership roles within the industry. I also hope to be living somewhere near a beach with my family.