Courtney Felinski

Georgia Institute of Technology – Scheller College of Business

“A passionate competitor, queer southerner, and aspiring Chopped Champion.”

Hometown: Magnolia, TX

Fun Fact About Yourself: I played volleyball professionally for five years in six countries: Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, the Philippines, and Cyprus.

Undergraduate School and Major: Georgia Institute of Technology, Science, Technology, and Culture

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: International Volleyball Federation; Professional Volleyball Player

When you think of Georgia Tech, what are the first things that come to mind? How have your experiences with the Scheller MBA and the larger university thus far reinforced or upended these early impressions? We’re a group of critical thinkers and high achievers, but with experiences wildly more diverse than I expected. We have MBAs from all walks of life, and no one is ever afraid to share their perspective. I envisioned a certain type of business student while I was applying: business or engineering experience, with sharp quantitative skills. We have our engineers (it is Georgia Tech, after all), but that is far from the status quo. My unusual background has been celebrated by my cohort and our staff, making me feel like a valued member of the Scheller community from day one.

What has been your favorite part of Atlanta so far? What has made it such a great place to earn an MBA? I always say Atlanta is the biggest small town in America. It’s a place with a wide reach, but still has such a strong sense of community and closeness that’s hard to find. Atlanta shows up for people trying to do big things, so it was the city I knew I wanted to be in for the big move of an MBA.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of the Scheller MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? As someone looking to make a huge career pivot, Scheller’s Jones MBA Career Center was a big plus for me. Our weekly career development workshops have been pivotal in preparing me to confidently take on recruiting season, and have taught me how to make my unique background my biggest asset.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Georgia Tech Scheller? My favorite course so far was Leading People and Organizations. Because of my sports background, leadership and team dynamics are things I could study all day long. I loved kicking off my first semester by getting to see how my prior experiences working in and leading teams fit into a business setting.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In 2017-2018, I played professionally in Switzerland. Our club was in a town with an incredibly loyal and kind fanbase. That year, we won the bronze medal in the Swiss League and made it to the quarterfinals of the European Championships, both historical finishes for our club. We had the whole city behind us every step of the way, making the wins that much sweeter.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: I was recently selected to join the board of Scheller Pride as their first-year representative. As a queer person, it’s incredibly important to me to be involved in inclusivity initiatives at Scheller. Getting to be a part of a club that seeks to highlight and magnify queer stories in a business setting is a huge source of joy for me.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into the Scheller MBA program? Be authentic! Scheller is a community that values personality and diversity of experience. Don’t be afraid to show what you bring to the table as a person, not just a student. At the end of the day, that’s what will set you apart.

DON’T MISS: MEET GEORGIA TECH’S MBA CLASS OF 2023 AT SCHELLER COLLEGE