Sarah Hohenberger 

University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business

“Ex-Coast Guard with a passion for wine, travel, and my cats.”

Hometown: Peachtree City, Georgia

Fun Fact About Yourself: I played rugby in undergrad. I was a starter my senior year, but only because the other girl broke her leg.

Undergraduate School and Major: US Coast Guard Academy, B.S. in Operations Research & Computer Analysis

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: US Coast Guard, Lieutenant, Eastern Pacific Operations Deputy Chief

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I created a training program in which a team of experts from my unit would travel to Coast Guard ships and other units that worked the international maritime security mission. We would give customized training to the entire unit, allowing us to directly interact with the ships’ crews as opposed to just the highest-ranking officers. This developed relationships and instilled trust and confidence between us and the units we served, which paid dividends later during stressful, dark-of-night vessel interdictions.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Genuine. During the first few days of orientation, I was thinking to myself, “Everyone here seems super nice… I wonder how long that will last.” But my class really is full of these fun, great, genuine people who support and look out for one another, and I’m grateful and excited to be a part of it.

Mendoza is known as a purpose-driven MBA program that asks students to “Ask More of Business.” What is your mission and how will Mendoza help you realize it? I’ve always loved optimizing processes and finding the most efficient way to complete anything. During my time in the Coast Guard, I made it my mission to pinpoint inefficiencies and tackle them head-on to increase productivity. As I transition to the civilian world/private sector, I want to continue this in a consulting function, finding areas for improvement and how to implement change for the better.

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? The Business on the Front Lines program and the opportunities to work alongside international organizations was definitely a draw for me. One of the most rewarding parts of my Coast Guard career was seeing the positive impact our work had on partner nations in Central and South America. With the BOTFL program, I can continue those positive international relationships in the civilian sector. I’ve also never gone to a school with a good football team, so that’s really exciting too.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m excited to get involved in the Business on the Front Lines program and see what impact Notre Dame can make on world issues. I’ve also loved being a part of the Military Veterans’ Club; they’ve been invaluable in helping me transition to both civilian and student life again.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? The case question was challenging but memorable. My interviewer asked me to evaluate the best way to transport large amounts of wine from Chile to Chicago, then gave me five minutes to think it over. Luckily, I am pretty familiar with major ports and shipping routes throughout the Americas from my ship-driving years – and I’ve studied wine enough to understand different import methods – so I was able to scrape together a decent answer without having any business background.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I wanted to go back to school after leaving the Coast Guard, but originally, I intended to pursue a Masters in Operations Research (my undergrad degree) or Industrial Engineering. Notre Dame’s MBA/MSBA dual-degree program was a perfect fit for me though, allowing me to continue my technical education and develop my leadership skills and business acumen.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? UC Berkeley Haas, Vanderbilt Owen, Georgia Tech (MSIE program)

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I prioritized schools with a strong veteran community and a technical program, as well as a reputation for giving back. The Mendoza network is also very strong; once I was admitted to the program, there was no shortage of people eager to talk about their experiences and help me come to the right decision for me, even if it hadn’t been Mendoza.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? So far, my defining moment was the day I accepted my appointment to the Coast Guard Academy. That one decision shaped my life for ten years. I developed as an officer and a leader and forged friendships that will last long after we’ve all left the service. My experiences have given me the perspective to take challenges head-on and understand the value of each team member regardless of their title or role on paper.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? Opening a unique bottle of wine from an undervalued, quality wine region in South America after solving a complex business issue for an international company. Then probably buying a case of that wine to bring home and share with friends and family.