Meet the MBA Class of 2024: Sofia John, Yale SOM

Sofia John

Yale School of Management

“Sofia – sometimes sarcastic student studying supply chain circularity at SOM.”

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Fun Fact About Yourself: One summer I worked as an au pair in a suburb of Rome

Undergraduate School and Major:

Yale College, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Yale School of the Environment, Industrial Ecology & Green Chemistry (in progress)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: EY-Parthenon, Consultant

The Yale School of Management is regarded as a purpose-driven program. What is your mission? How will your MBA at Yale SOM help you fulfill that mission? My mission is to advance environmental sustainability, specifically around responsible materials management and climate solutions. I believe that businesses can be powerful agents of change. Yale SOM is uniquely geared towards impact and will empower me to be a catalyst for change in organizations.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Yale SOM’s MBA curriculum or programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? SOM’s curriculum has a requirement for global study. This may be satisfied in several ways, including a consulting project with entrepreneurs abroad and visits to business centers in other countries. Working with people from different backgrounds and contexts is critical to effective solutioning.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at Yale SOM? As a dual degree student, I am especially excited for the Business & Environment Club to continue exploring this intersection and to connect with others at SOM who share a passion for sustainability.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I taught high school science through Teach For America. One of my classes consisted primarily of students with limited English proficiency. Preparing for state standardized exams was critical because passing grades were required to graduate. This was particularly challenging because the test was only offered in English. Despite the hurdles, my class worked hard on both mastering science content and key English vocabulary. It made me incredibly proud to see how my students’ efforts paid off.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? I am hoping to use the MBA to help me make a career pivot. As an ecology major, I have long had an interest in the environment. As a consultant, I had the opportunity to work on a case related to environmental sustainability and that experience sparked my interest to pursue sustainability full-time. After school, I hope to advance the circular economy within the private sector.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to prospective MBAs? Why? Net Positive by Paul Polman and Andrew Winston

The book walks through many cases of how businesses can be a force for good. It offers an inspiring take on the role of business and demonstrates that doing good does not have to come at the expense of the bottom line.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Stanford GSB, University of Michigan Ross, Duke Fuqua

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Yale SOM’s MBA program? I recommend taking the time to understand your personal purpose and to workshop essays with people who know you well to ensure that your authentic voice is captured.

DON’T MISS: MEET YALE SOM’S MBA CLASS OF 2024

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