Missy Keesler

University of Rochester, Simon Business School

“Optimist driven by a passion to learn and connect with others.”

Hometown: Owego, NY

Fun fact about yourself: I have three grandparents in their 90s—I am so grateful for time I never imagined I would have with them!

Undergraduate School and Degree:

• Ithaca College – B.S. in Clinical Health Studies, Minor in Sport and Exercise Psychology
• Ithaca College – Doctorate of Physical Therapy

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Walter Reed Military Medical Center via GiaCare, Inc. – Physical Therapist

Where did you intern during the summer of 2023? Cognizant, Remote

Where will you be working after graduation? Cognizant, MBA Senior Consultant

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• Simon Women’s Alliance Scholar
• Forté Fellow
• Recipient of 2023 Dean’s Leadership Award
• Recipient of Simon Business School’s South Africa Immersion Scholarship
• Benet Career Peer for Simon’s Benet Career Management Center for 2023-24 academic year
• VP of Marketing and Alumni Relations for Simon Consulting Club for 2023-24 academic year
• First-year representative for Simon Consulting Club for 2022-2023 academic year
• Event Ambassador for Simon’s Admissions & Programs Office
• Received 2nd place in UNC Healthcare Case Competition
• Recipient of alumni-sponsored consulting project, outside of academic curriculum

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I serve as a Benet Career Peer at Simon’s Jay S. and Jeanne Benet Career Management Center, acting as a peer resource for students at Simon Business School who are navigating their career journeys. My role involves assisting students in various aspects of their career development, such as reviewing résumés, conducting mock interviews, and facilitating networking opportunities. Transitioning from my previous role as a physical therapist, this position allows me to merge my passion for helping others with my aspirations for personal and professional growth. Through this role, I have had the privilege of connecting with students from our first-year MBA class and various master’s programs, broadening my network and fostering meaningful relationships within the academic community. I find great fulfillment in bridging the gap between faculty and students, and I take pleasure in sharing my own experiences to guide individuals as they embark on their career paths.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? During my time working as a physical therapist at George Washington University Hospital in downtown Washington, D.C., I had the opportunity to build a critical resource—founding a support group for people in the community who have experienced limb loss. The group met monthly, connecting with local and national resources in the limb loss community. Beyond building a connection and sharing resources with community members, I learned a few important lessons:

1. Management of People – I built a team of therapists, vendors, and speakers to believe in the group.

2. Project Management – We had to ensure that the program had not only short-term goals of monthly meetings but were working towards a long-term goal of achieving a hospital-wide certification.

3. Presentation Skills – I learned how to continue a presentation no matter what happens to technology, speakers, and community members’ participation.

Overall, this experience combined my passion for identifying and sharing resources to support individuals on their own paths and my commitment to fostering inclusive communities and facilitating meaningful connections.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Simon for its community and its reputation for fostering analytical thinking. Prior to my commitment, I had many conversations with alumni, learning and understanding their experiences and observing how the community strengthened their MBA experience and positively shaped their careers. One question I often receive is from potential students is, “Is the hype about the community real?” – and my answer is “YES! Yes, it is.” As for analytical thinking, I knew I had limited exposure to data analytics, primarily within clinical settings; I recognized it as a personal weakness. I’ve always been inclined to confront and improve upon my weaknesses and saw that Simon’s strength in analytics would balance out my experience. Upon joining Simon, despite the cliché, I knew that I had made the right choice.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? New Venture Development. This class is part of the entrepreneurial track, and helps students learn how to develop a business or “new venture.” Professor Dennis Kessler focuses on real-life experiences, sourced from his own businesses in the community. He brings his community into the class by having a local speaker talk about their successes and struggles in their entrepreneurial experiences. Many of the speakers are alumni who have had significant learning experience and love giving back by sharing their passion they learned from this very class. While it’s a three-hour evening class, it goes by quickly each time.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? We end our MBA orientation with a day of service, consisting of learning about Rochester’s diverse socioeconomic history then spending the afternoon volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. Like many cities in the United States, Rochester has a deep history that Simon does not shy away from teaching us from the start. Our day of service during orientation ties in with a lesson about the local community and giving back. We then spend the afternoon building several houses and bonding as a team—a life-changing experience.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why?
At the start of my MBA, I was focused on the fact that I am a “non-traditional” student, trying to prove to myself I can do it. I chose to engage only in professional clubs, such as Simon Consulting Club. If I could give my former self advice, it would be to try more diverse clubs. Try Outdoor Adventure Club. Try Chess Club (learn how to play chess first) or try the Simon Gaming Club.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? My MBA at Simon is my second time going to graduate school in Rochester. This time—moving back from four years in Washington, D.C.—I knew I was choosing Rochester for its local community. I love exploring the local parks with my fiancé and dog (Rosie) and finding trails off the beaten path. I love waking up on Saturday mornings, going to the Rochester Farmer’s Market prior to a CrossFit class. I love being near to my fiancé’s family—enjoying the time to be close to them before moving away for career aspirations. And most of all, Go Bills!

What surprised you the most about business school? That it was possible to do—and not only do but succeed. Imposter syndrome is often mentioned in business school and I have very much experienced it, comparing myself to classmates, alumni, and students at other schools. But each class and experience proved that we are all in it together—not to compare each other’s journeys but live our own and support each other through it.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Terrell Smith. Terrell is hardworking, humble, and the go-to person for many of our classmates who need a hand or uplifting. Something many may not know is Terrell chooses to take 1–2 extra classes each semester because he knows business school is an opportunity. Beyond the classroom, he is leading our community. He is a first year MBA coach, leading a small group of 1st year MBA students at Simon with through their core class group work. He is a VP of finance and operations for Simon’s Black Student Alliance and is VP for Simon’s Meliora Fund for Simon’s Finance & Investment Club. He does all this, while staying humble and supporting his wife, as she starts her own career and business. Terrell truly brightens every room he is in, and I am amazed the amount of work he manages to fit in a 24-hour period.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

 1. Professional Development: Opting to transition from a role as a physical therapist to pursuing a full-time MBA exemplifies my commitment to personal and professional growth. My goal is to continue the momentum of investing in myself, by working towards PMP certification and continue the path for career advancement.

2. Mentorship: I aspire to offer guidance and support to prospective non-traditional MBA students contemplating their own career transitions. Through mentorship, I aim to empower individuals navigating similar paths, providing insights and resources to facilitate their journey towards fulfilling career pivots.

What made Missy such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024?

“On behalf of the leadership team at the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School, I am delighted to highlight some of the many accomplishments and contributions that Missy Keesler has made during her MBA experience. Missy joined Simon after a successful career as board-certified physical therapist with a desire to make a career pivot to consulting post-MBA. After a successful summer internship in the Health Sciences Consulting Group at Cognizant, Missy will join Cognizant as a senior consultant at the conclusion of her degree.

At Simon, Missy consistently exemplifies a “Pay it forward” mindset through her involvement in a variety of co-curricular activities. Missy serves as an Admissions Event Ambassador, hosting and engaging prospective students during on-campus events. She was part of the Simon student team that took second place at the UNC Healthcare Case Competition in 2023. Missy is currently a Benet Career Peer and provides 1:1 internship and job search advice, coaching, and support to her MBA and MS classmates. She also holds a leadership role as VP of marketing and alumni relations for the Simon Consulting Club. Additionally, Missy traveled with 20 of her classmates to South Africa for a two-week international immersion to study small businesses and learn more about global entrepreneurship.

Missy is an exemplary Simon MBA student who leaves a strong and lasting impact on her classmates. Her peers consistently speak to her “positive attitude and ability to balance a lot of competing priorities.”  Missy is one of the first to volunteer when assistance is needed, despite often having a very full plate of existing commitments. In addition to all of Missy’s school-related co-curricular activities, she somehow finds time to stay active through Cross Fit and completed a half-marathon during her MBA program. She was recognized as one of only three members of the Class of 2024 for a Dean’s Leadership Award at the conclusion of the first year of her MBA program.  The Poets & Quants “MBAs To Watch” recognition is a wonderful way to further recognize Missy’s many contributions and her success during the Simon MBA. I urge the selection committee to give Missy every consideration—she is incredibly deserving of this honor!”

Rebekah Lewin
Senior Assistant Dean, Admissions & Programs

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2024