Henry Long

Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management

“Software engineer fascinated by the business applications of emerging technology. Homemade Chex Mix expert.”

Hometown: Des Moines, IA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve performed improv comedy every week for over a decade.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Notre Dame, Computer Science

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Blizzard Entertainment, Senior Technical Producer

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Northwestern Kellogg’s MBA curriculum or programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The MBAi program immediately stood out to me as a one-of-a-kind opportunity. It’s a dual degree program with the School of Engineering with a focus in artificial intelligence—a chance to leverage my technical experience and dive deep into the areas of study I’m most interested in. AI and emerging technologies move quickly. With multiple programs that work with the School of Engineering, Kellogg is uniquely well equipped to provide an updated and top-notch academic experience.

What makes Chicago such a great place to earn an MBA? I never thought I’d return to the Midwest after years on the west coast, but now after being in Chicago I’m wondering if I’ll ever leave again! The unique culture Kellogg has developed is tied to its proximity to the city but being a distinctly smaller community outside of downtown. The city itself offers a diversity of industry that perfectly complements a learning environment—there’s a strong presence for technology, consulting, and finance, but no one industry that dominates. That makes it a great place to explore and learn about all industries in equal measure.

Kellogg is known for a team-driven culture. What quality do you bring as a teammate and why will it be so important to the success of MBA class? The ability to stay cool and adapt under pressure. My years of improv have taught me how to handle unexpected circumstances without veering off course. Every team, especially one working in a fast-paced environment like an MBA classroom, needs to be able to roll with any changes and keep looking forward with a good attitude!

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Northwestern Kellogg? I’ll soon be going on Kellogg’s Mystery KWEST (Kellogg’s Worldwide Exploration Student Trip). On the “mystery” trip, we don’t know what country we’re going to until we get to the airport. It requires buying into an out-of-the- box idea, a leap of faith and putting trust in our Kellogg student leaders, and hopefully creating a memorable once in a lifetime experience. In short, it encapsulates everything that makes Kellogg special.

What has been your first impression of the Kellogg MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best Kellogg story so far. Everyone is kind! People talk about “Kellogg Nice,” but I think it goes one step further to a genuine kindness and desire to get to know each other. Every time I talk with someone, they recommend another person I should talk to — and my favorite interactions have involved meeting someone and realizing each of us have been told 20+ times about each other!

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I was the technical director for the animation department at DreamWorks Animation when the pandemic hit. After creating over 30 movies in a studio over 25 years, the entire team had to transition to creating a movie from home while in the middle of production. Figuring out all the technical implications of that transition and fixing technical issues for animators from home on the fly was a difficult series of tasks that took the entire team’s focus. I’m proud that we finished the movie on time, from home!

Looking ahead two years, what would make your MBA experience successful? Success to me is forming meaningful connections with classmates, developing a better understanding of AI’s business applications, and creating lifelong memories by taking advantage of all of Kellogg’s amazing opportunities.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Anderson, Haas, Sloan, Stanford GSB, Stern

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Northwestern Kellogg’s MBA program? Speak with students and alumni and find out what program is the right fit for you! I never would’ve considered the MBAi program until hearing about it firsthand. Finding the right program makes the application process easier because you know why that program is perfect for you.

DON’T MISS: MEET NORTHWESTERN KELLOGG’S MBA CLASS OF 2026