Meet The Texas McCombs MBA Class of 2021

Tyrone Smith

University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business

“If you see me fighting a bear… give the bear a gun.”

Hometown: North Chicago, Illinois / Southampton, Bermuda

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m a 3-time Olympian in Track and Field as a Long Jumper

Undergraduate School and Major: Missouri University of Science and Technology, History and Philosophy of Technology

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Bermuda National Athletics Association- National Team Athlete / Audi Central Houston- Senior Audi Brand Specialist, Audi Sport Brand Ambassador

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: As an Athlete, I would definitely say making the Olympic final at the 2012 London Olympic Games. I had been injured all season long and it took producing my season’s best jump in the qualifying round to move into the final on my last attempt!

For Audi, without a doubt, it was being selected as the only sales rep – non-General Manager or Store owner – to participate in the Product Council at the corporate level. The council is responsible for inventory management, speed of sales analysis, market monitoring, and national product configuration templates and ordering. Imagine when you go to a dealership that has 500 new cars in inventory. Chances are someone did not individually configure each car. As a council member, I was part of the team that analyzed data and configured vehicles for the southern region of the U.S.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Exceptionally Diverse! Honestly, I was a little concerned coming from a non-traditional business background that I would be at a disadvantage to my classmates, but what I have discovered is exceptionally intelligent people from all different backgrounds contributing to the conversation. It has been so refreshing to hear all these valid points and opinions influenced by different experiences.

What makes Austin such a great place to earn an MBA? Austin really provides everything you need to make the best of the MBA experience: World-class professors, a collaborative DNA, access to some of the top companies in the nation and world, the best food, music, outdoor activities, and my personal favorites, a Formula 1 race track home to the U.S Grand Prix and some of the best hill country driving roads in America!

Aside from your classmates and location, 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? There was so much that went into this decision from financial to culture. The major key for my decision was brand. Brand encompasses so much of what’s important in my book. The Texas McCombs brand is world-renowned and respected. The Longhorn Network was assisting me with my application before I was even granted an interview and that spoke volumes to me. I have invested quite a bit in my personal brand over the years and I wanted to attend a program whose brand would help push my resume to the top of the pile. Hook ‘em!!

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m very excited to get involved with the Sports Entertainment and Media Association (SEMA). My goal post-MBA is to work in a marketing or strategy capacity for a team, manufacturer, or supplier in the sports or motorsports industry. It’s a difficult industry to break into so I’m ready to get my collaboration on with my fellow Longhorns!

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? The thing about this question and the word “challenge” is that it’s often interpreted with a negative connotation. As in, what did you find it most difficult to answer? For me, as an athlete and salesman, I thrive off of challenges. Difficult or improbable situations are what have always brought out the best in me and gotten me out of the bed in the morning. For me, the most challenging and exciting question for me was, “Why do you want to get an MBA?”

I absolutely loved answering this because it allowed me to articulate how a long jumping Audi salesman planned to excel in the corporate world. It also gave me an opportunity to visualize what it’s going to take to achieve that goal. As I answered and visualized, my adrenaline started pumping as if I was about to accelerate down the runway… that’s when I knew this journey has the potential to bring out the very best in me.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I’ve been incredibly fortunate getting to live the dream that so many kids have on the playground. For the past 11 years, I have traveled the world competing and being paid to be an athlete. Three Olympics (Hopefully 4 – Tokyo 2020!) and 10 combined World Championships while simultaneously being a full-time sales rep for Audi have kept me plenty busy! However, I have always been the type of person who has a plan. As I approached the last seasons of my career on the track, I wanted to find a new path through which I capitalize on my passion, discipline, and intellect. I decided that it was now time to really prepare for the eventuality of not being a professional athlete. With the plan of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics being my swan song, I would take the knowledge and experience gained from both of my current jobs and build on it with an MBA from a top tier institution.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Emory Goizueta, Rice University-Jones, Wash U- Olin, Berkeley-Haas.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? Like many applicants, I very strategically chose the schools I applied to. All I needed was to have access to coaching so that I could finish my career on a strong note; quick access to an airport for international competitions; and be able to entertain the thought of staying in that city after graduation. After those basic three things were fulfilled, I relied heavily on the alumni network to learn what life was really like on campus and what professional life was like after. I spoke with a few clients of mine who had attended each program. One of my very best friends is a McCombs alumnus and he was there supporting me every step of the way. He invited me to a happy hour with his graduating class and gave me insights on what to expect during the application process so you could say McCombs had a head start!

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? When I was in the fourth grade, my dad – who was a war veteran and an infantry school instructor – was attempting to get out the military but the transition proved really difficult for our family. Money ran short and we were homeless for a few months. At that point, my dad re-enlisted so that his family had a roof over its head and food in the fridge. This ingrained a tough but very valuable lesson at an early age for me: Without a plan, a backup plan, and a backup plan for the backup plan even the toughest, strongest, and smartest of us can be reduced to carrying the remnants of what was a great run in a plastic bag. So, I always have a plan and a strategy and know that no matter how bad or good things are, there is ALWAYS something you can do to improve your position in life and business.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? I see myself helping to grow the brand and formulate the strategy of a major sports or automotive brand. One dream role would be to work for Formula 1, helping to expand their U.S footprint, fanbase, and add races to the calendar! Dream jobs aside, I see myself collaborating across different departments and businesses within a company to drive real growth and change. I want to get marketing on the same page as sales, finance on the same page as operations, and accounting on the same page as… well I don’t know much about accounting so I’ll finish that thought in May 2021.