Meet the MBA Class of 2025: Mollee Frankel, TCU Neeley

Mollee Frankel

“I am a creative individual with an aptitude for people. I am inherently curious and always want to learn more”

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am an artist. I submitted my art portfolio to all of the undergraduate colleges I applied to for my undergraduate studies.

Undergraduate School and Major: Elon University, BA in Strategic Communications, with minors in Business Administration and Spanish

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: McDermott Will & Emery, Business Development Market Coordinator

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:
I assisted in creating a pitch for a cryptocurrency company that filed for bankruptcy. The law firm I worked for won the pitch and was hired to represent this cryptocurrency company in a case that is still ongoing.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career?
I originally thought I wanted to go to law school. All of my internship and post graduate work experiences have been in the legal world. I am now ready to transition into a career in the business world. My ultimate goal is to leverage my leadership abilities, strategic mindset, and passion for problem-solving to drive organizational growth and success. My artistic background equips me with a unique perspective for approaching challenges. Being a right-brained individual, I thrive on creativity and intuition. When confronted with complex situations, I delve into a myriad of inquiries, ensuring I grasp the full context before crafting a one-of-a-kind solution. I aim to refine and expand upon my knowledge and skills acquired through my undergraduate education and work experiences. The MBA program will provide me with a comprehensive understanding of various business functions, equipping me with the necessary tools to navigate the complexities of supply chain and strategy in the corporate world.

What word best describes the TCU MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far?
Both TCU MBA students and alumni are motivated to broaden their knowledge and succeed. They are involved in everything the school will offer. Alumni also care about the school’s success and your success. They will go out of their way to help you succeed as an MBA student.

Aside from classmates, what was the key part of TCU’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?
My decision to pursue an MBA degree from TCU was carefully crafted. Several people in my network received a degree from TCU and shared their experiences. The salient points emphasized were the caliber of the academics at TCU and the engagement with the professors – they truly care. TCU also offers a robust study abroad program that is unique to any other MBA program. I intend to seize this exciting opportunity in January 2024, as I embark on a two-week journey to Vietnam. During this visit, I’ll have the privilege of exploring various companies, delving deep into their realms of risk management, competitive technologies and supply chain management. This immersive experience will enrich my understanding and contribute significantly to my ongoing concentration studies in supply chain management. Expanding my knowledge and pushing myself out of my comfort zone both nationally and internationally are very important to me.

What is your favorite course as an MBA and/or favorite professor and why?
As someone who does not have a finance background, I learned the most from our initial finance class. Dr. Virginia Traweek did a great job of teaching the course, making it relevant for people with different levels of experience and exposure. Dr. Rami El-Youssef is also a great statistics professor. He truly loves math and cares about his students’ success. He makes himself available outside of the classroom to ensure any questions are answered. Dr. El-Youssef spent two hours not only helping me learn about statistics, but about his culture as well. I can’t emphasize enough how much he cares about his students’ learning and success. I am very impressed with the caliber of professors TCU has to offer. Not only are they intelligent and academically superior, but they genuinely care about me as an individual.

What club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at TCU?
I have found the C-level Confidential events to be incredibly beneficial. We are given the opportunity to network with a top executive from a specific industry for three hours in a small group environment. I had the opportunity to network with Dennis Mullahy, who was the Chief Supply Chain Officer of Macy’s. He gave great insight on the world of supply chain and recommendations for how to make the most out of our MBA career. The most profound insight I obtained from our discussion pertained to the paramount importance of company culture in any setting. I realized that when a company’s values no longer resonate with your own, it may be time to consider moving on. As I continue to refine my post-graduation career path, Dennis’ experience of making a career change was invaluable. Despite our disparate backgrounds – his in engineering and mine in law – we both share the commonality of having undergone significant career transitions.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far?
As someone who did not originally come from a finance background, I was worried I would not have the knowledge to complete my first finance course. After many hours of hard work, studying, and meeting with our professor, I was able to complete my first finance class with an A-.

What surprised you the most about business school?
The Neeley School admits a small cohort of students in order to provide an intentional, customized experience for each student. Initially, I anticipated a predominantly business-oriented student body, but to my surprise, I discovered a diverse mix of professionals hailing from fields such as health care, engineering and more. These varied backgrounds have enriched our classroom dialogues and learning experiences. I’ve had the privilege of delving into the intricacies of managing a medical laboratory, optimizing hotel operations, and uncovering the supply chain intricacies behind the Girl Scout cookies. This diversity encourages critical thinking and provides a more holistic understanding of the business world, making our educational experience at the Neeley School both comprehensive and thought-provoking.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list post your MBA?
I want to serve in a leadership position in my future career. I know the Neeley Business School is equipping me with the skills necessary to pursue this goal. I also hope to have the opportunity to use my knowledge and skills to give back to my future company in some capacity.

DON’T MISS MEET TCU NEELEY’S MBA CLASS OF 2025