Ashley Fields

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

“I’m a passionate, creative, and driven woman.”

Hometown: Whitehouse Station, NJ

Fun Fact About Yourself: In 2020, I took up screenwriting, and I finished my first script earlier this year.

Undergraduate School and Major: The University of Chicago | B.A in Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Associate at Goldman Sachs

What word best describes the Chicago Booth MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far and why? Generous! Despite all their competing priorities and responsibilities, students and alumni are generous with their time and knowledge. I’ve experienced the “pay it forward” culture in many ways even though the MBA program itself just started. It really is a principle that Booth students, alumni, and faculty live by.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Chicago Booth’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Chicago Booth’s flexible curriculum was one of the most attractive aspects for me. Other than the required core courses, Booth students can choose which courses they take and when. That flexibility is especially helpful because you can meet more classmates as well as prioritize activities outside the classroom.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Chicago Booth? I hope I’m able to take the Private Equity/Venture Capital Lab. Students rave about this course, and I’d like to get the opportunity to learn more about venture capital in the near future. From a student club perspective, I can’t wait to be a part of Follies, Booth’s sketch comedy group. I think it will be a great way to be creative and share a lot of laughs with my classmates.

When you think of the Booth philosophy, what is the first word that comes to mind? Why?  The first word that comes to mind is “analytical”. Chicago Booth, and The University of Chicago as whole, teaches students how to think so that we can learn the fundamentals of business and later synthesize what we’ve learned to form new ideas and solutions.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishments were helping to launch two new business lines at Goldman Sachs Asset Management during my time there. Goldman Sachs is an extraordinary company, and my manager gave me a lot of responsibility and autonomy. I collaborated with colleagues all over the world during these product launches, and I was able to see how my contributions impacted clients and the firm.

How did COVID-19 change your perspective on your career and your life in general? After lockdowns began in March 2020, I was terrified that I would never see my family or friends in-person again. That seems like a dramatic statement to make now. At that time, when everything was so uncertain, I thought that a life of isolation would be my future. I made a commitment to myself: If I had the opportunity, I would try activities that I was always interested in but too scared to try, even if they were on Zoom.

I’ve grown enormously since I made that promise. In my career and in life, I’m pushing to take more risks (even if I’m a little uncomfortable). At the same time, I’ve developed a stronger sense of when I need to pivot or re-focus.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? 

After six years in the investment management space, I knew that I was ready to make a career change, but I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do. Business school is the perfect place to explore different career paths for two reasons:

1. During your MBA, you will meet many people with diverse backgrounds, and you can learn about career paths you may not have known existed.

2. MBA programs have Career Services offices, and the faculty help guide you through the process of finding a new role.

After graduation, I would like to work in Technology, Media, & Telecom (TMT) investment banking.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Columbia, Cornell Johnson, and NYU Stern

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Chicago Booth’s MBA program? Try to understand the people and culture of the MBA program you’re applying to. I think that people make the mistake of only focusing on grades, test scores, and rankings before applying to MBA programs, but they don’t try to really connect with the community. Grades and test scores are important, but forming strong relationships is what an MBA is all about. I was blown away by the Masterclass lectures held by Booth professors as well as the passion of the Booth students in information sessions. Booth’s culture excited me, and that genuine excitement came through in my application.

DON’T MISS: MEET CHICAGO BOOTH’S MBA CLASS OF 2023