Tim Mamrol

Yale School of Management

“I always land on my feet, even if I don’t stick the landing first try.”

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I fixed up a 1974 Volkswagen Beetle and went on some amazing (albeit cramped) road trips.

Undergraduate School and Major: Temple University, Political Science

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: US Army, Civil Affairs Team Sergeant

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 empower fellow enlisted veterans to pursue higher education and explore professional career options. During my time in the military, it often seemed that the value of higher education was downplayed to enlisted soldiers. Former enlisted service members make up a tiny portion of the veteran presence at top MBA programs and represent a massive, untapped population of driven and talented individuals. I hope to make myself an example showing that enlisted vets can find success through education and not only hang but be truly outstanding in a professional setting.

I look forward to meeting with the Yale SOM Admissions department at scheduled events in the coming weeks to discuss how I can get involved in the recruiting process, especially to help other veterans with similar backgrounds. Throughout my time studying at Yale and in the future as an alumnus, I intend to stay engaged and active in the SOM community and do what I can to give back and help others.

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? A significant advantage of Yale SOM’s Integrated Curriculum is its flexibility, allowing students to take electives at any other college within Yale University. For me, that means being able to tailor my courses specifically to those I find most interesting and that are relevant to my career path. However, the key element of the curriculum that attracted me to Yale SOM was its unique approach to the core courses. Particularly the classes exploring various Organizational Perspectives are what I expect to benefit me the most. Being relatively new to the business world, I believe studying the perspectives examined will give me a solid knowledge base on leadership and decision-making in for-profit organizations.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at Yale SOM? There are so many! As far as social clubs go, I am very interested in WiLD (Wilderness Leadership Development). This past summer, I spent a bunch of time backpacking and visiting national parks, so it seems right up my alley. I will certainly be joining the Veterans Club. Current Yale SOM veterans and alums were very gracious and outgoing in speaking with me in the lead-up to this semester, and they certainly are the type of people you’d want to surround yourself with. I’m also looking forward to getting involved with the consulting and general management clubs to help prepare for internship recruiting and sharpen career-specific skills.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: After having hip surgery following a parachuting injury, my biggest achievement would be recovering, returning to active duty, and deploying to Djibouti with US Army Civil Affairs. Getting back on my feet and having been able to participate in humanitarian missions is my biggest and proudest accomplishment. My team and I were able to create real positive impact through projects such as facilitating the establishment of a Mobile Field Hospital at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our other projects included ensuring villages had clean drinking water, combating malaria, and running English Language Discussion groups and cultural exchanges.

What do you hope to do after graduation? Initially, I plan on working in consulting. Consulting is unique in that it provides opportunities to gain experience tackling challenges faced by a diverse set of clients and industries. Looking further into the future, I plan to take on a position with a business where I can leverage my knowledge of operations, strategy, and leadership gained from my past experience and education. I’d also think I’d like the chance to work internationally again, as my previous work abroad in Africa and Europe was very fulfilling. I’m eager to see more of the world, contribute to the economic development of emerging markets, and connect communities worldwide.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Dartmouth Tuck, Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, University of Penn Wharton

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Yale SOM’s MBA program? Take time to connect with current students through admissions events. The current students I spoke with were knowledgeable and keen on imparting wisdom. Also, carefully review the Yale SOM Admissions website. All the unique elements of the SOM application are clearly explained, alongside a detailed application guide with instructions. Stick to the guide, stay positive, and give it your best shot!

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