Leen Ajlouni

Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth

“Calm, compassionate leader with an ability for recognizing potential and bringing out the best in others.”

Hometown: Amman, Jordan

Fun Fact About Yourself: I learned how to play the piano at a young age, and at 8-years-old, received the highest score in the world on a piano examination administered by a top music conservatory in London.

Undergraduate School and Major: Smith College, General Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: North Coast Ventures, Senior Investment Associate

What has been your first impression of the Tuck MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best Tuck story so far. The pace at which I’ve made strong and long-lasting relationships here has been remarkable. I can’t believe it’s only been a little over a month since I arrived on campus and met my classmates for the first time. We’ve already been discussing plans for visiting each other’s hometowns, investing in each other’s future businesses, and organizing our own Tuck reunions all over the world. My first impression of Tuck was that this will be the place where I’ll make lifelong friendships, and it truly started with the very first person I randomly sat next to on day one of Tuck Launch who is now one of my closest friends.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Dartmouth Tuck’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I had the advantage of receiving a teaser of what it feels like to be at Tuck six years ago, when I participated in Tuck’s Business Bridge program as a rising college senior. I stayed in touch with several staff and faculty members who would nudge me every now-and-then to ask if I was ready to apply to business schools. Tuck is the kind of place that will never forget you. I couldn’t picture myself somewhere where I was one of hundreds of students in my class who would long be forgotten after my two years ended. The small class size was especially important to me as I made my decision to come here, but I attribute the unique close-knit fabric of Tuck to much more than the small class size. I think it’s the nature of the people who choose to come here who make it a place that you’ll forever remember and be remembered by.

What excites you the most about coming to live in Hanover? What is the one activity you can’t wait to do? Not many people choose to go to business school somewhere far away from a major city, but being tucked away for the two years was especially important for me. I wanted a place where I can be fully immersed into the MBA experience and in an environment conducive to much self-reflection. If that sounds appealing to you, Hanover is the place to be. I couldn’t be more excited to explore the Upper Valley—from the Appalachian Trail to the Connecticut River—and the unique outdoor activities it has to offer throughout all four seasons.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Dartmouth Tuck? I’m very excited about Tuck’s Global Insight Expeditions (GIX), which bring together students and faculty in experiential courses that take place around the world. Not only do I look forward to participating in that course, but one of my goals is to help plan an expedition to my home-country, Jordan. Jordan has a strategic location in the Middle East and is currently going through an interesting “homegrown” economic reform to introduce new investment climate legislation, which can offer interesting learnings for the Tuck community. The idea of hosting my Tuck classmates in my home country couldn’t excite me more and I can’t wait to bring it to life soon enough.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I spent most of my career in early-stage startup investing and had the privilege of listening to hundreds of elevator pitches from smart and accomplished entrepreneurs around the world. Being on the receiving end has taught me much about what it takes to tell clear, concise, and compelling stories that resonate to and influence others. Over the past couple of years, I’ve become enthusiastic about coaching entrepreneurs on how they can become better storytellers. My biggest accomplishment in my career so far has been voluntarily working with entrepreneurs on practicing their pitches and improving their pitch decks through the art of storytelling. I can’t describe the amount of joy it brings me when one of these entrepreneurs tells me how working on their storytelling skills helped them raise more funds, sell to more clients, or attract greater talent.

What do you hope to do after graduation (at this point)? I aspire to lead a Fortune 100 company and take it to the top of Fortune’s “Best Companies to Work For” list. I am driven to learn what it takes to create great and compelling workplace cultures and build sustainable organizations. To become an effective future executive, I hope to go into management consulting after Tuck to gain a deep understanding of various industries and business functions, which is crucial for executives who must take informed decisions that affect all aspects of an organization.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? HBS, Stanford GSB, Wharton, Yale SOM, Northwestern Kellogg, Chicago Booth

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Dartmouth Tuck’s MBA program? Remember that it’s a two-way street. Get to know each school you’re considering applying to on a deep personal level. Talk to students and alumni and analyze how you feel following these conversations. There’s no better way to know whether a school is the right fit for you than engaging with those who make up its fabric. Make a list of what matters most for you and ask questions to help you figure out the best fit. Do your due diligence, but I’d say, rely on your intuition above all else with your final decision. Pick the place that just feels right.

DON’T MISS: MEET DARTMOUTH TUCK’S MBA CLASS OF 2025