Angela Botiba

University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management (Dual degree MHA/MBA candidate at School of Public Health and Carlson School of Management)

“Collaborator, methodical thinker, agile problem solver, empathetic leader, innovative, change agent.”

Hometown: Douala, Cameroon

Fun Fact About Yourself: I travel with my chef’s and paring knives. I love to cook, so whenever I am visiting family/friends, I seize any opportunity to take over their kitchen.

Undergraduate School and Major: Skidmore College, Bachelor of Science in Management and Business with a Spanish minor

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: NYU Langone Health, Senior Clinical Analyst

What has been your favorite part of the Twin Cities so far? What has made it such a great place to earn an MBA? Have you heard of running across the Mississippi River in a metropolitan area? I hadn’t until I moved to the Twin Cities. The location of my school was always a key factor in my choice of business schools. I marvel at the robust parks and recreation system here. I happily traded New York City skyscrapers for a cleaner, bike and scooter friendly city that gives me the opportunity to engage uniquely with the outdoors throughout the year. I can focus on my academic journey and still find ways to nurture my existing interests in the art, outdoors, and culture while discovering new interests in Midwest activities (i.e. chasing waterfalls in the spring, taking a day trip to the North Shore, ice fishing, etc.).

Carlson MBA spends a year in hands-on Enterprise programs for Consulting, Branding, Ventures, and Funds. Which program do you intend to enroll in? What excites most about your Enterprise program? I am enrolled in the Carlson Consulting Enterprise (CCE). I am excited about CCE, as I hope it will prepare me for my post-MBA career. Regardless of where I land post-graduation, I look forward to working on projects that expose me to various business challenges. I believe that working with managing directors who come directly from the industries and types of companies I am interested in post-graduation will be most beneficial for my career launch. The CCE experience will allow me to hit the ground running having worked as a consultant engaging clients and helping them think about their challenges in new ways.

Aside from your classmates, experiential learning, and location, what was the key part of the Carlson MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The Carlson School’s cohort-based model was an integral part of my choice. It is amazing how collegial and how invested we are in each other’s success. I learn just as much from my classmates as I did from my professors, if not more. As a former athlete, I thrive on deep collaborations and effective teamwork and I was very fortunate to have the best core team ever. Also, the proximity to Fortune 500 (in some cases, Fortune 5) and the strong relationships the Carlson School has with these companies have given me exposure to different levels of leadership and granted me formal and informal mentorship opportunities with these leaders.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Carlson? I discovered tailgates when I came to Minnesota to start my program in 2021. I was not much of a tailgate goer before business school, despite the strong tailgate culture in Minnesota, but now I am hooked. I surprised myself by attending Carlson School tailgates even when the temperatures were in the 20s. The tailgates, while primarily sponsored by the Sports and Business Club, offer great partnerships with other MBA clubs. More than tailgating, we fundraise, we play, and we watch the game (or not). It’s a great way to bring together first- and second-years, bond outside the classroom, and demonstrate our school spirit.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: A few months after completing my undergraduate studies, I developed an automated process to observe operational performance for approximately 1,000+ clinicians, using a combination of clinical and financial data sources. By the end of my tenure, I managed quality reporting for the performance of 4,000+ providers. My work positively impacted claims reimbursement for all our providers. During that time, my biggest reward was the connections I built with different stakeholders across the organization to achieve meaningful success.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: Being able to balance my academic learning and engage with my peers outside the classroom has been my biggest accomplishment. Just two weeks after starting the program, I recall speaking to close friends, and they pointed out how excited I appeared. The fact was that I was proud of myself for knowing over 60 individuals’ names and sharing an interesting fact about them. My classmates are phenomenal and ambitious individuals who carry their badge of awesomeness proudly. I love that I get to share this journey with them.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? Hosting a pancake and waffle bar brunch with my fellow Forté Ambassador, Megan Grimes. At the Carlson School, all the MBA female candidates are Forté Fellows, and we organize events that bring us all together to sometimes enjoy a meal. These events are designed primarily to share resources and bond over our personal interests. It was fun to see my friends getting excited over pouring batter on a waffle iron or learning how to make French crêpes. Such a trivial act, yet so fun for MBA students whose lives are going 240 miles an hour.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into the Carlson MBA program? Be honest with your ambitions and choose the right fit for you. Choosing to go to business school is a huge investment in time, money, and a commitment to your professional growth. You should come out of it with the business acumen, the network, and as a better person. That’s why it is critical to be intentional about your school search. Connect with current students and most recent alumni to learn about their experiences. Business school is no joke: What gets me up every morning to walk 10 minutes in 10-degree temperatures to class is knowing that (1) I prefer cold over heat; and (2) I am getting the experience, classmates, and professors I chose. Be true to your goals and aspirations!

DON’T MISS: MEET MINNESOTA CARLSON SCHOOL’S MBA CLASS OF 2024