Lindsey Chrismon

Harvard Business School

“I refuse to live an uninteresting life; I will always seek adventure and challenges.”

Hometown: Nashville, TN

Fun Fact About Yourself: I play the drums. I performed a drum set solo for my fifth-grade talent show and have been playing ever since.

Undergraduate School and Major: United States Military Academy at West Point, Class of 2014. I majored in American politics.

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: AH-6 Little Bird helicopter pilot for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment out of Fort Campbell, KY.

Tell us your best Harvard Business School story so far. The tradition of “Roasts and Toasts” delivered by the students at the culmination of the semester turns out to be an amusing event. I didn’t know this was an HBS tradition until about a week out from finals. What I was most surprised at was how funny and creative some of my section-mates are! I never knew roasting our professors would be such an entertaining show!

What makes the case method an attractive way to learn how to become a better manager? The effectiveness of the case method stems from its ability to contextualize textbook concepts. By embedding academic concepts within real-world scenarios, it transcends mere textbook learning. This approach enables us to grasp not just the theoretical aspects of a concept but also its practical application, measurement, and interpretation within the realm of business.

Aside from your classmates and cases, what was the key part of Harvard Business School’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Harvard’s Innovation Lab significantly influenced my choice to go for HBS. My husband and I are building a B2B marketplace named myHome , and the wealth of resources and mentorship at the iLab is astounding. Harvard’s entrepreneurial community is vast, with members at various points in their development and launch journeys. Regardless of your project’s phase, there’s always someone within this network ready to assist.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at Harvard Business School? Second semester RC year, each student takes a course called FIELD Global Immersion. At the beginning of the course, you are paired with a company to solve a business challenge in an assigned country (I am hoping for either Rwanda or Taiwan). At the end of the course, you spend one week fully immersed in the country, working alongside locals on your project.

When you think of Harvard Business School, what is the first word that comes to mind? Why? Network. Harvard’s network is unparalleled.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I am the first female in US Army history to pilot the AH-6M Little Bird helicopter for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. I assessed to be a Night Stalker in 2018 after flying Apache helicopters for about three years. The assessment process to fly for the 160th S.O.A.R. is brutal, both mentally and physically. They test your ability to make critical decisions under insurmountable stress while also testing your piloting competencies. Flying for the regiment was the most humbling and elating experience of my career. I owe a lot to the unit, and I cannot wait to pay it forward one day in the future.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? Deciding that I want to pursue entrepreneurship has been a very rewarding breakthrough. Business school is a place that encourages students to seek new opportunities, test new waters, and pivot into different careers. I am excited to pave my own path.

What do after graduation (at this point)? My goals all involve the success of myHome. I want this product to be in the hands of every homeowner across the country.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Harvard Business School’s MBA Program? I know everyone says this, but it’s incredibly important to be your authentic self. Take the time to reflect on what you truly want out of the experience and be honest in your pursuit.

DON’T MISS: MEET HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL’S MBA CLASS OF 2025