Meet the MBA Class of 2022: Maya McWhorter, Georgetown (McDonough)

Maya McWhorter

Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business

“I am purpose-driven and committed to using my influence to make a positive impact on others.”

Hometown: Flossmoor, Illinois

Fun Fact About Yourself: I was born Lindsey, However, my mom changed my name to Maya when I was a few months old because she thought it fit my personality better.

Undergraduate School and Major: Howard University, Supply Chain Management major

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Merisant Company, Logistics and Deductions Consultant

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of the school’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Georgetown’s focus on the intersection of business and policy was a critical factor in me choosing to attend McDonough. I’m looking to pursue a career in human capital and corporate social responsibility, but I have an interest in sustainability as well. McDonough was really the perfect fit after I learned that they have a sustainability certificate that students can work toward to enrich their social impact learning experience.

What excites you most about studying in Washington, DC? I’m most excited to have the opportunity to study in such a diverse city. Having attended Howard University for undergrad, I appreciate the opportunities available by simply being located in a city that houses so many different industries and cultural backgrounds. Being located close to Maryland and Virginia, the opportunities are truly endless. Plus, Washington, DC is just a great place to grow personally and professionally.

What quality best describes your MBA classmates and why? I would describe my MBA classmates as genuine. Through the Consortium, I’ve had the opportunity to create substantial connections with my classmates prior to school starting and everyone is always so supportive. Even with summer recruiting, which is pretty competitive, we are all 100% rooting for each other, constantly sharing resources, providing reminders, and just genuinely interested in getting to know one another. It’s a very refreshing experience, especially considering the virtual landscape that makes relationship building a bit more challenging.

What club or activity excites you most at this school? I am most excited to join the Black MBA Association (BMBAA) at Georgetown. Many of the members were exceedingly helpful and encouraging throughout the application process and even after I was accepted. Lydia Kickham-Dawes, in particular, really became a tremendous resource and friend to me from my very first visit to campus during Diversity Weekend. When I attended the Georgetown Women in Business Weekend, she invited me to the BMBAA happy hour for other DC chapters. Even though I was the only non-student, everyone was so warm and welcoming. The organization has done a tremendous job advocating for current and prospective Black students at McDonough, as well as Black MBA students as a nationwide. I’m looking forward to becoming an active member and eventually leader within the club to continue the necessary work they have been doing for our advancement.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest career accomplishment so far was leveraging contracts to negotiate pricing discounts on our out-of-specification products through quality analysis cross-examination. This resulted in a savings of more than $50k a month. I’ve had some big moments in my career, but this stood out because it was so far out of my scope. I worked heavily in operations and supply chain, and this was a sustainable long-term impact derived from my first commercial negotiation experience.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I always planned for this to be the timeframe when I went back to school, but I reached a point where I was a bit complacent in my career. I wanted to be challenged, sharpen my skills, transition into a role that was more in line with my personal passions, and widen my network. At this point in my career, I’ve been able to learn a lot, but also just enough to know what I definitely do not want to do. I think business school is the perfect opportunity to gain exposure to various career opportunities that many of us don’t even know about, while developing critical hard skills to become a more competitive and well-rounded professional. Most importantly, now more than ever, I want my career to be in line with my personal passions, and I am confident that an MBA will help me achieve that.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I applied to Emory, NYU and the University of Maryland.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? I didn’t necessarily have a most challenging question, but a challenging encounter. The interviewer took a tiered assessment approach by continuing to ask probing questions to follow up on my previous answers. It was essentially a stress test to see if I was confident and that my answers were genuine and not what I thought he wanted to hear.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I determined fit based on location and talking to members of the admissions team and current students to get diverse perspectives on the culture. I also researched the curriculum, primary industries that students go into post grad, and attending on campus events when possible.

What have you been doing to prepare yourself for business school? I’ve been doing the required quantitative prep work through Georgetown, networking with my classmates, and trying to increase my daily reading.

What was your defining moment and how did it prepare you for business school? My defining moment was increasing my GMAT score 110 points in four weeks. Initially, I was nervous about becoming a student again because studying for the test requires a lot of discipline and focus; seeing such an improvement just amplified my determination and set the tone for how I approached interviews and even summer recruiting. That boost of confidence transformed my mindset and prepared me to be more comfortable with situations of intellectual discomfort, especially as it relates to the magnitude of strategic thinking required at the business school level.

DON’T MISS: MEET GEORGETOWN McDONOUGH’S MBA CLASS OF 2022

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