Samuel Ederle

Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of Management

“In every part of my life, my goal is to be around good people.”

Hometown: Duxbury, Massachusetts

Fun Fact About Yourself: I appeared in 8/10 Season 2 episodes of HBO’s “Love Life”

Undergraduate School and Major: Wake Forest University, BA in Communications

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Self-Employed Professional Actor

What has been your favorite part of Nashville so far? Why? Nashville has amazing food; it’s mostly barbecue and fried chicken, and I need to stop eating so much of it.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Vanderbilt Owen’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? In my opinion, the Vanderbilt Owen MBA class size is perfect. In the first few months, I think I have had some type of interaction with every member of my class. As a result, everyone I see is a friendly face and I get to spend every day around people I know and like.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Vanderbilt Owen? I have been extremely active in the Owen Strategy and Consulting Club. This club was formed to function as an aid to our recruiting efforts, but it has turned into much more. The OSCC has provided me with outstanding friendships, a large support group, and a clear bridge to get to know 2nd years in the MBA program.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment in my career so far was gaining access to and joining the Screen Actors Guild. Joining the union is a pivotal moment in many actors’ careers, as it legitimizes/recognizes your previous efforts and opens the door to several new opportunities. Although I have moved on from my acting career, I am proud of having achieved that important milestone.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? My biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far was winning the local round of the Deloitte case competition along with my amazing teammates. We competed against 11 other teams here at Owen and, after winning the local round, we were able to travel to Deloitte University to represent our school at the National Competition.  

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to prospective MBAs? Why? I would recommend that prospective MBAs read Atomic Habits by James Clear. This book is self-described as “an easy and proven way to build good habits and break bad ones”. In my observations, the most successful MBA students have been organized, focused, and kind. Atomic Habits helps you improve those first two characteristics, the third one is up to you.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Vanderbilt Owen’s MBA program? My advice would be to try to talk to current students and learn what their experience has been. I had the recent opportunity to get to know MBA students from 17 different schools during a competition and it was great to hear how different all our experiences have been. If you can uniquely and specifically explain why you want to be at Owen and in Nashville, then you have a great shot.

DON’T MISS: MEET VANDERBILT OWEN’S MBA CLASS OF 2024