Jordan DeTar

Columbia Business School

“I’m an avid feminist, proud Latina, and aspiring entrepreneur most passionate about advancing women.”

Hometown: Easton, Maryland

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I have a nearly two-year streak on Duolingo and can hold a decent conversation in Norwegian!

Undergraduate School and Major: Vanderbilt University, Major: Human and Organizational Development, Minor: Spanish Language & Corporate Strategy

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: In my last role, I was the Vice President of Partnerships at Sharecare, a digital health company where I was primarily focused on leading product, brand, and partnership initiatives for our suite of behavioral health apps. One of the most exciting parts of my job was supporting the launch of our latest app, focused on stress management, Unwinding by Sharecare. Before that, I was a management consultant at Deloitte.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Columbia Business School’s MBA curriculum programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? For me, a huge draw to CBS was the commitment to expanding diversity and inclusion in business. I was particularly impressed that the Philipps Pathway for Inclusive Leadership programming isn’t merely recommended, it’s required for all students. As a CBS student, I feel confident that my classmates and I will leave Columbia as not only sharper businesspeople but also more inclusive leaders.

What has been your first impression of the Columbia Business School MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best CBS story so far. My post-MBA goal is to start a company in the Parent Tech space that helps to solve one of working moms’ biggest challenges – be it postpartum care, childcare, or another pressing problem. When asked about my post-MBA goal in my CBS interview, I wasn’t sure how it would be received as it’s not a typical response. However, I was met with the most incredible support and enthusiasm. My interviewer happened to be a new dad, and he lit up when I told him my story. I could tell he was genuinely inspired and eager to help. He not only offered to connect me to his CBS alum founder friends but also to chat with his wife – a new mom herself! I left the interview feeling confident that CBS is a place where it’s not only okay to have out-of-the-box goals, but it’s also celebrated. I knew then that CBS was where I wanted to continue my entrepreneurial journey.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Columbia Business School? As an aspiring entrepreneur, I’m most excited about the Entrepreneurial Greenhouse Program, which is a second-year course that prepares students to take their startups full-time after graduation. When researching business schools, it quickly became clear that no other school has such a robust program available to help students get ready for investment. And the best part is that you get to do it alongside your fellow founder classmates – giving you a community of support to make the founder journey feel a little bit less lonely.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: After graduating from college and realizing how few women there were in leadership roles across industries, I took on a volunteer role at Aspire to Her, a newsletter providing career advice to post-graduate women. While we were seeing continuous growth in subscribership, I knew our audience needed more support to gain the tangible skills and connections required to accelerate their careers. I proposed that we bring our newsletter to life and start offering skills-based programs, networking events, and mentorship opportunities. Our CEO loved the idea and asked me to step up as COO to spearhead the effort. That year, Aspire to Her transformed from a content platform into a tangible community, which I’ve been co-running ever since. Today, we’ve touched 8,000+ women and continue to run several annual professional development programs that have resulted in new jobs, promotions, and raises for numerous women in our community. For me, there’s no greater sense of accomplishment than helping other women realize their potential and advance in their careers.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation?  For years, I focused on tackling the issue of the lack of women in leadership by supporting the advancement of early-career women through my efforts at Aspire to Her. During the pandemic, as I witnessed the severe struggle of working mothers, I realized I wanted to shift my focus to helping the women who need it most: working moms. I saw a critical need to build solutions that better support moms at home so they can rise as leaders at work. Intending to become an entrepreneur in the Parent Tech space, I decided to pursue an MBA to round out my business knowledge and fill my gaps in areas like finance and business analytics. Further, I aim to sharpen my leadership skills and spend time ideating and testing business ideas. After graduation, I plan to pursue entrepreneurship full-time by building and running a company that supports moms – be it through tackling postpartum care, childcare, or another high-impact area.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to prospective MBAs? Why?  I just finished Burn Rate by Andy Dunn, the founder of Bonobos (acquired by Walmart), which details his journey building a high-growth startup while living with bipolar disorder. It’s the first business book I’ve read that covers the exhilarating side of building and running a successful business while also acknowledging the detrimental impact that high-pressure roles can have on your life. As highly ambitious people, it’s easy to lose ourselves in our jobs, and this book is a reminder to make sure that while you’re dreaming big and achieving success, you’re also taking care of yourself.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? HBS, Wharton, NYU Stern

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Columbia Business School’s MBA program? Know yourself and know your why. The business school application process is grueling and so much is out of your control, but you own your story. Make sure you know exactly why you want to get an MBA and why it must be at Columbia. And don’t feel like you need to fit into a certain mold – be true to yourself!

DRAFT: MEET COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL’S MBA CLASS OF 2024