Eliza Weaver

MIT, Sloan School of Management

“Entrepreneurial software engineer turned product manager, community builder, and ultramarathon runner.”

Hometown: Winnetka, IL

Fun Fact About Yourself: In college, I led backpacking trips for incoming freshman. On one trip in the Green Mountains in Vermont, my group rescued an injured hiker who credits us with saving his life.

Undergraduate School and Major: Cornell University, Computer Science

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Workday, Product Manager

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of MIT Sloan’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I chose MIT Sloan for its unparalleled focus on technical entrepreneurship. Since launching a startup in college that failed to achieve profitability, I’m driven to build a successful new company. The MIT delta v accelerator stands out for its extensive programming, support and connections, surpassing similar programs at other schools. For instance, I spoke with a Sloan delta v alumnus who founded Livvi, a company that matches women with female friend groups. During delta v, Livvi was matched with a mock board that included a former member of Bumble’s board—a connection that would have been nearly impossible without MIT’s network.

Additionally, attending a school with a strong entrepreneurship community is crucial to me, as entrepreneurship can often be a solitary journey. The statistic that “55% of CEOs in the 2022 delta v cohort were female” speaks volumes about the support MIT offers to female entrepreneurs, reinforcing my belief in the inclusive and empowering environment at Sloan.

Action Learning Labs are one of MIT Sloan’s biggest attractions. Which lab interests you most? How does it fit with your interests? I’m most excited about the Global Entrepreneurial Lab (G-Lab). G-Lab offers a unique experience to solve real-world problems for companies across the globe in emerging and frontier markets. I’m fascinated and impressed by the problems Sloan students have solved for businesses in Indonesia, Kenya, and beyond. As a future business leader, the opportunity to connect and experiment with experienced business leaders is invaluable. The chance to work directly with companies in different countries is a rare opportunity that I am unlikely to encounter outside of Sloan.

When you think of MIT, what are the first things that come to mind? How have your experiences with the Sloan program thus far reinforced or upended these early impressions? When I think of MIT, I think of the top institution for technology and entrepreneurship. My experiences with the Sloan program have reinforced this impression and highlighted additional strengths, particularly the “Sloanies helping Sloanies” mentality. The Sloan Women in Management group’s interview prep sessions for women were particularly impressive, making me feel immediately welcomed and supported by the Sloan community.

What excites you about earning an MBA in the Boston area? Besides having access to technical talent at MIT and Harvard, I’m excited to live in another walkable city (I’m moving from San Francisco) with a strong running community. I’m hoping to run the Boston Marathon in 2026. I’m also hoping to hike the 48 4,000-foot peaks in New Hampshire.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2026? I thrive on working with others and building community. This passion helped me grow Cornell’s Women in Computing organization and launch Workday’s running club. I’ve already organized multiple meetups for Sloanies in San Francisco and am excited to join SWIM and Sloan & Steady Runners this year!

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Last year, I was challenged to deliver a new API product to customers within six months after the product had been stalled for 3+ years. I learned quickly: I met with customers to understand their pain points, engineers to determine technical limitations, and sales to learn how to monetize the product. I then influenced dozens of other Workday teams to collaborate on the product, coordinating 100+ engineers across 25+ teams. I then presented the new product to an audience of 200+ at Workday’s Developer conference. I was rated the 2nd highest Workday speaker at the conference.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into MIT Sloan’s MBA program? Talk to current Sloanies and alumni to gain insights beyond the website. Identify your interests—such as entrepreneurship, clubs, or specific classes—and ask students to connect you with their peers involved in those areas. Their firsthand experiences will demonstrate your thorough research and show that Sloan is the right fit for you. Also, start studying for the GMAT/GRE early and remember that retaking the test is perfectly fine if needed.

DON’T MISS: MEET MIT SLOAN’S MBA CLASS OF 2026