Andre Hollins

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

“I am a caring individual looking to positively influence the lives of others.”

Hometown: Memphis, TN

Fun Fact About Yourself: I played professional basketball in 7 different countries across Europe.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, Marketing 

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: University of Minnesota Men’s Basketball Team, Graduate Assistant 

Aside from your classmates, 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?  I chose to return to Carlson because I had an amazing undergraduate experience. Carlson provided an environment that was very conducive to my learning and professional development. The Full-Time MBA program’s experiential learning opportunities were a big deciding factor in my decision as well. Gaining hands-on, real-world experience will better facilitate my pivot from a professional athletic career to a career in business.

At Carlson, you are part of one of the most dynamic business environments in the country. What has made the Twin Cities such a great place to live and learn for you?  The presence of companies such as Target, General Mills, 3M, Ecolab, Medtronic, and Cargill makes the Twin Cities one of the best business environments in the country. Their ties with Carlson provide invaluable opportunities to learn from the top business leaders in the world. I am also fortunate enough to have met some incredible people during my time here as an undergrad and those relationships have manifested into lifelong friendships. The culture and warmness of the people are what made it such an easy decision to return.

What quality best describes your MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? It is my classmates’ extreme curiosity and willingness to push the envelope. They ask thought-provoking questions that dig deeper into a problem or situation. Carlson MBA students bring the best out of me every single day. I am honored to work and learn alongside such an impressive group.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I would say playing professional basketball overseas would be my biggest accomplishment to date. It is an experience that allowed me to view various parts of the world and develop an appreciation for different places, cultures, and perspectives.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far?  My biggest accomplishment so far is surviving the first semester of the Full-Time MBA program (my peers can attest to that). But seriously, my biggest accomplishment is deciding to pursue an MBA and getting accepted into the program. That decision has led to my acceptance of a summer internship as a Financial Analyst at General Mills.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career?  I decided that I wanted to be fully prepared and develop a stronger business acumen before jumping into a new career field. I know that pursuing an MBA will give me the skills and knowledge necessary for success.

DON’T MISS: MEET MINNESOTA CARLSON’S MBA CLASS OF 2022