Kellogg Chronicles: Embracing Culture Add, Not Culture Fit

When I first considered applying to business school, I often heard: “You’re not the typical background for an MBA student—that might make admissions uneasy.” I was coming from two Series A tech startups in North Carolina – one in manufacturing and the other in senior living. I quickly realized I was an outlier among candidates from prestigious consulting firms, household tech names, and world-renowned financial institutions. My unconventional background didn’t fit the traditional MBA mold, which left me questioning if I even had a fighting chance in the admissions process.

Talking with students from other MBA programs only deepened my concerns. They suggested that my startup background might signal a poor ‘corporate culture fit’ to company recruiters, urging me to conform to a more traditional business school image. This left me questioning whether I was truly the right fit for an MBA program. Should I buy a gray Patagonia vest? Start calling slide presentations “decks”?

Before my first call with Shashwat Sinha (Kellogg ’22), I was bracing for the usual advice from conversations with other MBA schools: switch jobs to a more typical pre-MBA role, tone down the startup talk, and present myself like a polished, buttoned-up employee. I had previously been told to avoid mentioning MVPs, sticky notes, and sprints, and even to suppress my natural style of using humor at work. However, this call was different. Shashwat encouraged me to highlight how my startup experience could add a fresh perspective that most MBA applicants couldn’t offer. He emphasized that Kellogg was enthusiastic about backgrounds like mine, listing programs like The Garage (an innovation space for Northwestern students) and Venture Lab designed to harness and expand the strengths of entrepreneurial minds. This conversation flipped my mindset—I realized my background wasn’t a liability, but an asset. Kellogg didn’t want me to downplay my experience working at a four-person startup; they encouraged me to lead with it, fully embracing what set me apart.

For those coming from unconventional backgrounds, I recommend leading with the unique journey that has shaped you. Previously, my workday included anything from speaking with C-suite executives to packing boxes of product in a hot garage. This wide range of responsibilities gave me a comprehensive view of the customer journey and the ability to communicate with stakeholders across a wide range of disciplines. In my admissions essays and interviews, I highlighted elements of my startup experience that were highly valued in a modern MBA – being scrappy, adaptive, and resourceful…in short, being entrepreneurial.

LEANING INTO CULTURE ADD AT KELLOGG’S CULTURE CAMP

One of my earliest and most memorable experiences at Kellogg was participating in Culture Camp, a program where incoming students shared their heritage and learned how cultural competency can drive better collaboration. It was here that I truly began to see Kellogg’s concept of “culture add,” rather than “culture fit.”

The highlight of Culture Camp for me was the Open Mic night, where students were encouraged to perform anything that felt personal to them. I was blown away by the courage my classmates brought to the stage. Some performed beautifully arranged songs from their home countries, showcasing their cultural roots with pride. Others, who openly admitted they weren’t dancers, gave it their all and had the time of their lives on stage. This wasn’t a talent show – it was everyone’s debut to Kellogg. Contributions of all kinds, no matter how polished or raw, were celebrated. Emboldened by classmates’ bravery, I decided to take my own leap and try something I’d never done before: standup comedy.

The second I stepped on stage, I quickly realized why standup comedians practice as much as they do. I couldn’t see a thing beyond the bright lights, but I felt every set of eyes locked on me. As I choked down nervousness, I mumbled out an opening joke about the three certainties in life: death, taxes, and meeting someone from my homeland, New Jersey. To my shock – an actual laugh! Sure, New Jersey was an easy target, but this early reception encouraged me to lean into the experience. In real time, I scrapped some of my prepared, generic jokes and began talking about my personal, sometimes embarrassing, stories: introducing skeptical 80-year-olds to the wonders of smart home technology, or coming out to my parents as a Dungeons and Dragons player. The more personal I got, the more I connected with the audience.

To call my performance a “tight five” would be an overstatement, but the night set the tone for my MBA journey. There was a rush when I realized that being vulnerable didn’t make me weaker – it made me more impactful. By sharing real stories, I wasn’t just delivering a performance, I was contributing to the culture of Kellogg in a way that only I could. Every performer that night stepped way outside their comfort zone, contributing a part of themselves that they likely never expected to share in a “business environment.” In doing so, they made Culture Camp real, raw, and unforgettable.

This experience wasn’t just about diversity or inclusivity – it was about authenticity. It showed me how powerful it can be when people bring their full selves to the table. Embracing my ‘culture add’ at Kellogg reshaped how I approach leadership. No masks, no filters—just real people driving the kind of innovation you can’t get any other way.

BRINGING STORIES TO LIFE IN SPECIAL K!

Another quintessential Kellogg experience was participating in Special K!, a 2.5-hour business school-themed musical featuring an original script and a live student orchestra. When I initially told family and friends that I was considering auditioning for Special K!, I was met with apprehension. They warned me that it was “unprofessional”, that it would hurt my networking and career opportunities. “Business school simply isn’t the time for that,” I was told.

Following my instincts, and with some much-needed encouragement from friends, I auditioned and joined the cast of the 45th Revue. Special K! proved to be a rare gem in the business world where art, creativity, and fun were not only accepted but celebrated. It was more than just a musical; it was a powerful exercise in holding up a mirror to the Kellogg community. Through satire and storytelling, we explored the quirks, challenges, and triumphs of business school life. The show became a platform for reflecting on our collective experiences—to laugh at the absurdities, cheer the successes, and question the status quo.

One of the most impactful aspects of Special K! was the creative influence each actor had over their character. Many script changes were personally driven, as actors reimagined their roles to better reflect real stories. I played a character named DJ, short for “Diversity Junkie.” DJ was meant to be comic relief, poking fun at the awkward ways people sometimes try to engage with international students—he was fascinated by every culture but only at a superficial level. His interactions were well-meaning but cringeworthy, reducing complex identities to stereotypes or fun facts. It was as if he was trying to fill up his international student Pokedex—checking off countries as collectibles without caring to understand them. At first, DJ’s cluelessness and shallow curiosity were played for laughs, but I saw an opportunity to dig deeper and make the character say something more.

I worked with the writers and directors to highlight the core issue – DJ wasn’t just clueless, he was dismissive. He never asked questions; he was more interested in “catching them all” than in forming genuine connections. I drew from real-life mannerisms I’ve experienced from people who had shown a lack of curiosity and disregard for the person behind the custom. I wanted to capture that frustrating feeling of cultural “drive-bys,” where someone engages just enough to feel like they’ve “experienced” something, but never goes deeper. This was a frustration many international students at Kellogg shared: feeling like their identities were boiled down to stereotypes or casual conversations about food and travel.

As a result, DJ became a character who embodied inauthentic engagement. One of the most pivotal moments in the show was when another character finally called DJ out, ending with the line: “My culture is NOT your accessory.” This line, which I had worked to add, resonated with the audience because it spoke to a broader truth about cultural engagement—genuine interest matters, and it’s not enough to skim the surface.

After the show, several people came up to me, concerned that they might be a “DJ” themselves. It sparked some great conversations about how easy it is to fall into the trap of surface interaction, even with the best intentions. These lessons from Special K! extended far beyond the stage—calling attention to how we show up as leaders, colleagues, and community members.

Being part of Special K! reinforced that business success and personal expression are not mutually exclusive but deeply interconnected. It taught me that leadership requires the ability to reflect, to question, and to inspire others by bringing our own stories and values to the ensemble. Not to mention, learning to perform and improvise on stage did wonders for my ability to speak in meetings and think on my feet!

ADVICE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS: FINDING YOUR ADD

My journey at Kellogg has been a reassurance that I don’t have to strip away parts of myself to succeed in corporate America. Some of the best advice I received at Kellogg was from Dr. Victoria Medvec, who said, “Don’t waste all your time trying to work on your weaknesses; you’ll end up average at everything. Instead, fix your critical weaknesses and spend the rest of your time turning your strengths into superpowers.” This advice shifted my focus from trying to fit a mold of standard competency to honing my unique contributions, positioning myself as an “add” not just at Kellogg, but in every role I take on.

For prospective students trying to find their voice in their application, my advice is simple: reflect deeply on your strengths and how they can become your superpowers. In the competitive world of business, it’s not enough to just fit in; Think about your experiences, skills, and passions. What do you bring to the table that no one else can? And how does that set you up to make a real impact on a diverse team?

For me, one of my superpowers is turning complex challenges into collaborative solutions by bringing people together—and throwing in some humor to make sure we’re all on the same page. While I used to worry that this made me “unprofessional”, I now recognize that it’s exactly what allows me to best drive change as a leader. Kellogg encouraged me to lead with my whole self— whether it was leveraging my entrepreneurial background to solve real-world problems, incorporating my personal stories into a stand-up comedy routine, or reimagining my character in Special K! to reflect a deeper message about authentic cultural engagement. The embrace of different skills and styles is what makes Kellogg truly special. It’s a community that thrives on the diverse contributions of its members, each adding their voice to the collective experience.

As you consider your MBA journey, look for a school that values your contributions, not just your ability to fit in. Embrace what makes you different, because your “add” could be exactly what your future school, company, or community needs. It’s not about fitting into someone else’s script; it’s about stepping into the spotlight and showing how your role can transform the entire production.

Bio

Rob Vogel is a full-time student at the Kellogg School of Management with a background in startups and mechanical/ aerospace engineering. This Fall, he is participating in Kellogg’s experiential learning Venture Lab, joining High Alpha’s venture team investing in B2B SaaS startups. Post graduation, Rob is interested in Tech product management and recently completed a summer internship as a Senior Technical Product Manager for Amazon’s Alexa AI. Rob loves to combine his engineering, startup, and MBA perspectives to create breakthrough customer experiences from emerging technologies.

Rob is a Writer and Creative Director for the upcoming 46th Revue of Special K! and serves as a VP of Corporate Engagement for the Kellogg Tech Club. Rob was also co-leader for a KWEST trip to South Africa, introducing 24 incoming Kellogg students to the start of their Kellogg journey. He is joined in Evanston by his fiancé, who is starting her 1st year in the Kellogg 2Y program.