Oshane Mcrae

The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business

“Eclectic in thought and deed – a city slicker with a soft spot for green things.”

Hometown: Bronx, NY

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I was born in the beautiful island of Jamaica, but I am currently on the longest vacation, having grown up and lived in the United States for 25 years.

Undergraduate School and Major: Vanderbilt University: Environmental Sustainability in Public Policy Studies

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Center for American Progress, Campaign Associate, Gun Violence Prevention

What makes Austin such a great place to earn an MBA? It is a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and the presence of community advocates and political leaders eager to change the world for the better.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Texas McCombs’ MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? It is the Social Innovation Initiative (now the Global Sustainability Leadership Institute) and its mission to create businesses that generate social and environmental benefits really appealed to me, and my interest in becoming a social entrepreneur myself.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Texas McCombs? It would be the Global Sustainability Leadership Institute because of its focus on social entrepreneurship, social impact, and environmental sustainability.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment might not be one thing, but the full body of work so far. I gained a wealth of experience working for a host of organizations that approach finding and implementing solutions to our social issues from different perspectives: local government, federal agencies, national think tanks, advocacy organizations, national associations of local organizations, and private consultants. I think by way of that volume of experience and diversity of work, I’m able to use that to inform this next phase of my career.

How did COVID-19 change your perspective on your career and your life in general? It made me realize how much I enjoy the people part of my work, and how working closely with other human beings has positively impacted my career, whether by learning from people directly or working with other people collaboratively. COVID-19 and the subsequent limitations on socialization – to some degree – took the joy, spontaneity, and dynamism out of the everyday experience of work. I was never planning to work alone, but this experience has reinforced the power of engaging with different kinds of people, and the power of collaboration – both of which I will hopefully be able to emphasize in the future years of my career – especially as I seek to become an entrepreneur.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? I’ve always wanted to design and shepherd pro-social ventures and businesses. I hope the MBA will give me the skills and resources to be able to pursue that goal. Later down the line, I hope to both work for companies seeking to have a positive social impact, and design and start businesses designed to help communities and the environmental as well.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I didn’t apply to any others.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Texas McCombs’ MBA program?  Be honest about your dreams and ambitions – you are unique; do research on the institution to make sure that McCombs is the right place for you and convey that in your application.