Meet Carnegie Mellon Tepper’s MBA Class Of 2021

Noreen M. Fischer

Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business

“Servant leader, lifelong learner and team player fueled by faith, hard work, optimism, and laughter.”

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I can juggle three basketballs!

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business
Major: Finance
Minors: Entrepreneurship, Theology

Most Recent Employer and Job Title:

Employer: J.P. Morgan

Job Title: Private Bank Analyst

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:

Professional Career: Rated “E” (Exceeds): Number one analyst in the Chicago Private Bank, and top 5 percent in the global analyst class of 300+ analysts.

Academic Career:

  1. Selected for the David A. Tepper Scholarship for my upcoming two years at The Tepper School of Business
  2. Receiving the Dean’s Award – Mendoza College of Business. This was the highest award given to a graduating senior ranked in the top 5% who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, academics, and service. Nominated by the Department Chairmen and selected by the Dean’s Office.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Curiosity: Since everyone has come from such diverse careers, backgrounds, and global locations, the spirit of curiosity and eagerness to learn from each other is everywhere!

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? For me, the key factor was that the Tepper School of Business operates at the intersection of business and technology. We live in a business-driven world that is often complex and repeatedly being transformed. Tepper leverages its natural strengths as a technical university to educate the next generation of business leaders. This is evident through the recent addition of the Tepper Quad. This collaborative and innovative center of the campus allows the business school students to access top talent from Carnegie Mellon’s various other disciplines (engineering, robotics, computer science, design, entertainment, and public policy). This sets the Tepper School of Business apart from other business schools. They relentlessly set their students up not only for academic success but career advantages that will transform the way business and technology shape our world.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Graduate Entrepreneurship Club

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? The most challenging question that I encountered was on the written application. The question was as follows: “At Carnegie Mellon, our difference is what we imagine for the world and how we answer its challenges. What impact have you had on the world around you?” I know that I am driven by impact, but this question forced me to take a step back and really evaluate how my path has led to impact in my community and the world around me. This will be important to me going forward. I want to ensure that I align my time and talents with work that will advance my community and give back to others.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Working at J.P. Morgan for three years in the financial services industry was an invaluable experience. That being said, I have always known that pursuing an MBA was a dream of mine. I always strive to continually invest in myself – furthering your education is one of the best ways to do this. Having the opportunity to round out my education at the Tepper School of Business came at a time where I had garnered support from my prior employer and I was ready to return back to my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. Through this program, I will have the opportunity to further develop key business and management skills and leverage a global network of peers, professors, and alumni that will launch me into my future career.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Harvard Business School

How did you determine your fit at various schools?

What factors did you prioritize? – Quality of the education, business school ranking, location, ratio of students-to-faculty, alumni network, and entrepreneurial opportunities.

What tools did you use to evaluate schools? – Online research, in-person visits to campus, testimonials of former students, job placement statistics, and new business opportunities.

How did you research culture? – Conversations with alumni, admission counselors, and current students, and in-person visits to campus.

How did you know it fit your career goals? – Job placement statistics, job opportunities of prior alumni, and entrepreneurial opportunities.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Two defining moments in my life have revolved around tearing each of the ACLs in my knees while playing basketball. Each injury came with a nine-month recovery period that ended up being a blessing in disguise. These moments awarded me the time to take a step back, recharge, focus on what really matters in life, and ultimately take steps towards my larger goals. One of these periods led me on the path to attending the University of Notre Dame for my undergraduate education. The second injury led me on the path to my first full-time job after graduation at J.P. Morgan Chase in Chicago. I love to look at the bright side of things in life, and I truly believe that these injuries were blessings that pointed me in the direction that I was meant to go.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? In ten years, I see myself running my own business here in the Pittsburgh community. Ideally, the business was cofounded with the help of fellow CMU students and is well on its way to having impact locally, across the nation, and abroad!

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