Corey Fowler

Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business

“Curious traveler who loves sharing food and wine with friends, near and far.”

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m a serial hobbyist who loves exploring new interests. I’ve been a competitive swimmer, played the trombone, acted and danced in musicals, sang in a choir, attempted to brew beer, and learned to cook paella and other delicious diverse foods.

Undergraduate School and Major: Penn State University, Industrial Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Arconic (formerly Alcoa) – Analyst, Strategy & Business Initiatives

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: At my previous employer, Covestro (formerly Bayer), I had performed so well in my role that I was selected to participate on a global project team working on a new venture in Germany. I didn’t move to Germany, but I did get to make frequent trips throughout the year and learned so much from working remotely with an international team. While the new responsibility was a lot of work and frustrating (but rewarding) days, it was an incredible feeling to be recognized for my contributions to the company.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Respect. All my classmates have been very willing to hear different perspectives, offer their own perspective, and simply try to get to know each other as people.

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 chose Tepper because I felt that a relatively small program would allow me to build strong relationships, which is one of my strengths and something I truly enjoy doing. I also think this is an incredible learning environment because it encourages more trust and openness.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am most looking forward to getting involved with Out&Allied, the LGBTQ+ club. The people from the club whom I’ve met so far have been extremely welcoming and helpful in making my decision to attend business school. I’m really looking forward to becoming an active part of the club and working to recruit the next year of Tepper MBA students.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? “What do you want to do with your MBA?” This question was not difficult because I didn’t have a plan, but rather because I believe it is so important to not be so rigid in your path that you miss opportunities along the way.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I had a reasonable amount of success in my career before business school but felt that I could be doing so much more with my skills and intrinsic motivation. Also, I wanted to be more well-rounded in my background and learn about business areas that will be crucial in leadership positions such as finance, marketing, accounting, etc. Business school was the best next step to both increase my impact in my career, while also building my skillset in a very robust way.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Penn State University, Smeal

How did you determine your fit at various schools? First and foremost, I knew I wanted a top-rated business school program that had the expertise and recruiting relationships in my area of focus; I leveraged rankings and online articles to assess this factor. Additionally, I wanted to ensure I could relate to my fellow classmates and even a program’s alumni. The only way to do this, in my opinion, was to talk to people and visit campus. I met a lot of people and asked many thoughtful questions. However, in the end, the one or two really strong connections that I forged during campus visits and welcome weekend finalized my decision.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment happened the day I walked across the Penn State graduation stage and became the first person in my family to graduate from college. Until this moment, I didn’t completely appreciate the effort that my family put in to give me the access and independence that ultimately helped me complete my engineering degree. This experience taught me that you are ultimately responsible for your successes and failures in life. However, you also cannot do it all alone. I have always operated with a strong sense of independence, but I’ve grown to appreciate that a team approach is the only way to accomplish the truly great things in life. Another fun fact is that I was able to attend my mom’s college graduation a few years later when she received her bachelor’s degree after being a registered nurse for over 25 years.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? By that time, I hope to have progressed to a point where I can be a strong mentor and leader, while also maintaining a growth mindset. Specifically, I’d like to still be answering tough questions and helping businesses grow, whether that be in a consulting role or internal to a company.