Alexandra Goldstein

University of Rochester, Simon Business School

“Forever learning, growing, and listening. Global traveler, leader, and caring educator and friend.”

Hometown: San Diego, California

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have lived in 4 different countries! (New York & California, USA; Melbourne, Australia; Calgary, Canada; Prague, Czech Republic)

Undergraduate School and Major: University of California, Santa Barbara. BA in Psychology and Film & Media Studies

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: English as a Second Language Teacher in Prague, Czech Republic

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment in my career thus far was being an English teacher in Prague. I worked in a first grade class with 6-year-olds, many of whom had little to no English-speaking experience. I found it incredibly rewarding to see their confidence with English grow over time and progress from being too shy to tell me their name to being able to ask me questions using full sentences. I loved having the opportunity to make a lasting impact in these kids’ lives.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? I gain energy from people who surround me. One of the strongest qualities my peers exemplify is that they are all very driven, which motivates me to work hard every day.

Rochester Simon is known for being “unabashedly analytical.” Why does the program’s focus on quantitative analysis and decision-making appeal to you? How do you intend to leverage this approach as a student and professional? As technology continues to advance and change the labor market as we know it, the future of jobs will be more analytical and data-driven. I intend to leverage these skills to position myself as a quantitative thinker and business leader.

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 know the importance of teamwork and surrounding yourself with individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and points of view. At Simon, diversity and teamwork are at the forefront of everything we do. It was important for me to go to a program that cultivates a space in which I am able to learn and grow from an incredibly diverse group of individuals. I know this will make me a more well-rounded team partner and individual.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? This year, I was fortunate enough to be elected by my peers as the first-year representative on the Graduate Business Council. I am already learning so much, and am looking forward to collaborating with other student leaders and the university’s administration to foster an inclusive and positive environment that enables the entire class to succeed.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? If you were offered admission to multiple schools, what would be your deciding factors in choosing among those schools?

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career?  After spending two years living in Prague, immersing myself in a different culture and gaining a more global experience, I decided I was ready to come back to America and join the corporate world. I think it is important for business leaders to have empathy and patience, skills I developed as a teacher. To succeed in the business world, I knew an MBA program would expand my technical skills.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt and Eller College of Management at University of Arizona

How did you determine your fit at various schools? After being in a big undergrad program, I was looking for a smaller, more intimate school experience, where instead of being a cog in a wheel I would be part of a family that looked out for everyone. To evaluate this, I not only looked at class size but I prioritized how welcome the interviewer made me feel during the admissions interview. It is so easy for them to just brush you off as just another person they have to interview as part their job. I knew I would fit in at a school where even the interviewer made me feel valuable and at home.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment was having the courage to move to Prague to be an English teacher — not knowing the language or anyone in that city. It showed me the value of taking risks.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? In 10 years I want to have started my own event planning and management company.

DON’T MISS: MEET ROCHESTER SIMON’S MBA CLASS OF 2022