Megan Manno

Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of Management

“I am an ambitious, analytical, and highly collaborative woman who believes honesty and kindness matter.”

Hometown: Houma, Louisiana

Fun Fact About Yourself:

Professional: I participated in the bell-ringing ceremony at the Nasdaq!

Personal: I am an avid hiker and was within 10 feet of a grizzly bear in Alaska – still “bearly” can believe that happened!

Undergraduate School and Major: Louisiana State University; Accounting

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Oracle; Center of Excellence (Pre-Sales) ERP Solutions Engineer

What has been your favorite part of Nashville so far? Why? I have played the violin since I was 8 years old, and my years of lessons and practice have given me a true appreciation for music. Nashville has so many budding artists and an absolutely thriving music scene that is second-to-none. Beyond music, Nashville has experienced tremendous growth across a multitude of industries, and the feeling of excitement, ambition, and community that comes from being in this booming city is palpable.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Vanderbilt Owen’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I was initially drawn to and still appreciate the smaller class size. With 160 students comprising the Class of 2025, we have been able to bond and to get to know about each other beyond name, hometown, and career aspirations. Given the class size, course sections are smaller, which allows for strong engagement. Yet, balancing the smaller overall class size are countless opportunities for both professional and personal growth supported by passionate faculty, dedicated staff, and involved alumni.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Vanderbilt Owen? I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of and serving on the First Year Board of the Owen Strategy and Consulting Club. Prior to joining the club, I had never formally practiced casing, so I have enjoyed the challenge of being given new prompts and exploring creative avenues to problem-solving. I have also enjoyed the social aspect of the club; joining together to learn about casing has been very much a bonding experience. Additionally, performing practice cases with my classmates and seeing each other’s growth since starting the process has been incredibly fulfilling.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Earning my Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Project Management Professional (PMP) credentials is my biggest career accomplishment to date.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: I look at two events as my biggest accomplishments as an MBA student so far. First, I treasured the opportunity to compete in the Deloitte Case Competitions. The local competition was held amongst first-year Owen MBA students. I recall the 12 Owen teams being huddled in the team rooms in the wee hours of the morning. While we were all sleep deprived and anxious for our presentations, there were bonds formed in being in the experience together. My team was fortunate to win the Vanderbilt local competition and to proceed to the Deloitte National Case Competition to compete against 15 other teams from across the country. Taking place at Deloitte University, the competition itself was an incredible experience. The experience was made even more memorable considering that our team took home 4th place nationally! This year, I was also elected by my peers to serve on the Honor Council to exercise judgment that is sound, respectful, and objective in the event of disciplinary hearings. My integrity is a value that I hold dear, so I was incredibly honored to be selected.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? There are so many memories that can bring a smile to my face when I reflect upon them, but I especially try to take stock of and be grateful for the smaller moments in life. While this memory may seem mundane, it reinforced my sense of belonging to this tight-knit community. About a month into Mod 1, I was walking into the graduate school building, and I recall knowing and being able to say hello to each person I passed in the hallway. Graduate school is such a unique time in life to explore new career opportunities, to learn and grow in new ways, and to live in a new city. To be able to embrace the MBA experience alongside people who genuinely care and want you to succeed as much as you want success for them is incredibly special.

DON’T MISS: MEET VANDERBILT OWEN’S MBA CLASS OF 2025/