Whitney Ziesing

New York University, Stern School of Business

“California-native, outdoor lover, and tech and finance enthusiast.”

Hometown: Marin County, CA

Fun Fact About Yourself: Growing up, I was on a competitive ski team in Lake Tahoe, CA. Now living in New York City, I still try my best to get up to the mountains!

Undergraduate School and Major: UC Berkeley, Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Apple, Apple Pay Partnerships

What excites you the most about living in New York City and how do you see it enhancing your learning experience? I love the global feel of New York City. From meeting new friends in my book club to recently moving to Brooklyn, there is something different to discover each day. New York City is a global hub for business, and I could not think of a better locale in which to learn. With so many companies headquartered in the city, I am excited about the opportunity to recruit and interview in-person and for the chance to meet NYC-based professional mentors.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of NYU Stern’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Stern has an extensive FinTech program that I did not see in any other MBA program. They offer dozens of courses on the financial sector and digital currencies, a growing FinTech Association, and professors with unmatched industry experience. I look forward to expanding my background in finance and payments to discover my next step.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at NYU Stern (and why)? I am excited for the elective Programming in Python my first semester. Having worked closely with engineers in previous roles, I look forward to building on my conceptual understanding of programming with more hands-on experience. This skill set will allow me to go deeper in the future on concepts or companies that I otherwise would have only scratched the surface on. As an added bonus, my brother-in-law is also enrolled in the course as an MBA2!

What does EQ (Emotional Intelligence) mean to you and when have you seen its value in your career? EQ is all about working in teams. I enjoy identifying common goals and highlighting individuals’ strengths to align on the best path forward. Everyone brings a unique skillset to the table, and I believe that the best outcomes transpire when people are empowered to share their perspectives.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I managed Apple’s entire Mac sales forecast, across all global sales regions and channels. It was incredibly rewarding to be on the team when Apple launched its first MacBook with custom Apple silicon.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2026? I am a quick problem-solver. I love crossword puzzles, trivia, and word jumbles. In the classroom and workplace, I am quick on my feet and enjoy solving problems from new angles. I look forward to bringing this quality to the Class of 2026 and tackling complex challenges together.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into NYU Stern’s MBA program? Enjoy the interview and feel confident! They want you to succeed, and you have already proven on paper you deserve to be a Sternie.

DON’T MISS: MEET NYU STERN’S MBA CLASS OF 2026