2021 MBAs To Watch: Lawrence Nault, Cornell University (Johnson)

Lawrence “L.T.” Nault

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University

“Ambitious; hard-working; curious about everything; a caring, reliable friend; good sense of humor.”

Hometown: Orlando, FL

Fun fact about yourself: I am a “double-red” finishing my sixth year on Cornell’s campus, all while being extremely allergic to the cold.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Cornell University, Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Marriott Vacations Worldwide, Senior Analyst – Corporate and Development Finance

Where did you intern during the summer of 2020? Investment Banking Summer Associate, Morgan Stanley, New York, NY

Where will you be working after graduation? Investment Banking Associate, Morgan Stanley

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

  • VP Education, Old Ezra Finance Club
  • Johnson Private Equity and Credit Club
  • Associate Real Estate Council
  • Teaching Assistant, Investment Banking Immersion
  • Teaching Assistant, Intermediate Accounting
  • Giving Captain, Cornell Giving Campaign

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am most proud of my time as Vice President of Education for the Old Ezra Finance Club. In that role, I was in charge of educating our investment banking, investment research and asset management, and corporate finance verticals to prepare our first-year students recruiting for summer internships. Each week, I spent time preparing the material for our career work groups, holding mock interviews, and setting up mock super days to help prepare our first years for recruiting in finance-related roles. I took this position because, as a first year at Johnson, I was so grateful for all the time and effort my second years gave to preparing myself and others while we were recruiting for summer positions. I wanted to give back in the most meaningful way I could. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing your peers, many of whom are career-switchers, succeed in finding their roles in finance.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? On a Friday afternoon, I was called into my VP’s office for an unannounced reason. He told me that the development team was looking at a property in San Francisco, a market we had tried to enter several times. The kicker was that a full valuation was needed by Monday for a presentation to our senior executives. I completed the valuation that weekend and the project was approved that next week. Although I had the opportunity to work on many asset valuations during my time at Marriott, I am most proud of the San Francisco deal because when the group needed an important project completed, I was trusted to deliver.

Why did you choose this business school? The community. I applied to a variety of business schools with strong finance programs. However, as I visited the various campuses and met with students, the key area I looked for was the relationships they developed with their other classmates. Every conversation I had with Johnson students and alumni talked about how close-knit the community was and how involved second years and alumni were with first-year success at Johnson.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? Definitely Sage Social. Every Thursday (pre-COVID), Johnson students and faculty converge at Sage Atrium for food, drinks, and some sort of entertainment (typically hosted by one of the many clubs at Johnson). I love the event because to me it reflects just how close the Johnson community is. No matter your focus or close friend group, everyone is happy to chat and get to know each other. Conversations can go by in a whirlwind; one second, you’re chatting about recruiting, the next you’re having an in-depth discussion on cryptocurrencies and the Johnson Fintech Intensive. I always felt like I left Sage Social with a new relationship and having learned something new about Johnson.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I wish I would have had been able to participate in the various Johnson treks offered, such as the Leadership Expedition to Patagonia or the Korea and Japan Trek. My first year at Johnson was extremely busy and I planned to push participating in treks to my second year, which was obviously impacted by COVID. The trips are fantastic opportunities to connect with your classmates and participate in some amazing experiences, and I would have liked to have gone on at least a few.

What is the biggest myth about your school? The idea that Ithaca is in the middle of nowhere is the biggest myth. It is absolutely true that we are rather isolated in upstate New York, but I think that is one of the big advantages that Johnson enjoys. Seeing your classmates every day in Sage Hall, Collegetown, or the Ithaca Commons (a downtown outdoor mall), paired with the smaller class size, means you have an opportunity to meet everyone in the class. My favorite aspect of Johnson is that I know each of my 280 or so classmates well enough that I could stop and chat with them at a Sage Social or any other location without any hesitation.

What surprised you the most about business school? I was surprised by just how much of a supportive team I joined at Johnson. From my time as an undergraduate and through applying to business school, I felt like joining an elite program was going to be a constant foot race, competing against my fellow classmates, when we all have felt like one big team. Between classmates helping each other through coursework to helping each other prepare for interviews, I always felt like the group took individual successes as group successes.

What is one thing you did during the application process that gave you an edge at the school you chose? I spoke at length about the importance of mentorship and giving back. Johnson is a fantastic business school with its faculty, programs, and resources, but the aspect that sets it apart from other business schools is the culture of giving back. Both second years and alumni are a huge part of students’ time at Johnson in terms of education and recruiting, so admissions looks for examples in applicants’ materials and interviews highlighting past experiences with mentorship.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Kanika Vaidya. I believe she is the quintessential example of the Johnson experience. Coming from a completely non-finance background as a professional tennis player, she worked incredibly hard to develop the finance skills necessary to attain an investment banking internship. After securing a return offer, she immediately took a position to give back to the next Johnson class as Vice President of the Investment Banking vertical of the Old Ezra Finance Club. Anything she puts her mind to, she accomplishes — all while being a fantastic leader and friend along the way.

How disruptive was it to shift to an online or hybrid environment after COVID hit? In terms of classes, besides a three-week shut down to recalibrate, the transition to online classes went smoothly. The biggest disruption has been not seeing my classmates in Sage Hall every day.

Who most influenced your decision to pursue your MBA? Steve Weisz, CEO of Marriott Vacations Worldwide. To my surprise, Steve actually advised me against an MBA the first time I spoke to him. At the time, I hadn’t fully understood why I wanted an MBA and how the degree would help me achieve my career goals. Steve didn’t just rubber stamp my desire to get an MBA. He cared about me and my career enough to challenge me to think about an MBA with greater detail and depth, and to fully understand the implications of taking two years away from my career to return to school. A few years later, once I could fully articulate why I wanted and needed an MBA, I went back to Steve and explained my rationale. After that conversation, Steve fully supported my decision and provided both guidance and a full recommendation for my application.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? First, become a trusted advisor to senior executives in the real estate industry and ultimately lead a major real estate firm as a CFO/CEO.

What made L.T. such an invaluable member of the Class of 2021?

“When I think of L.T., two words come to mind: competent and calm. L.T. was the center of gravity for our investment banking cohort in his first year. He helped lead the way with an efficient and effective recruitment strategy in the fall, which he followed up with a collaborative and inclusive spring semester summer internship prep process. In his second year, L.T. was a key member of a group which dedicated literally thousands of hours to preparing the class of 2022 for their own interview and summer prep processes. I look forward to following what will no doubt be an impressive career ahead for him at Morgan Stanley, and I can’t wait to welcome him back to campus.”

Drew Pascarella
Associate Dean, MBA Programs and Rempe Wilson Distinguished Lecturer of Finance

DON’T MISS: THE FULL LIST OF MBAS TO WATCH IN 2021