Jesse Correa

Indiana University, Kelley School of Business

“Experienced, dedicated team leader who embraces challenges and values the details.”

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have sampled over 1,700 DIFFERENT beers from all over the world!

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Illinois at Chicago; Accounting

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: United States Army – Battalion Operations Officer

In the second half of the year, you will be completing an Academy devoted to areas like Marketing, Finance, Operations, Digital Enterprises and more. Which Academy interests you the most and why? The Academy that interests me the most is the Consulting Academy. As a former service member, I have always been drawn to problem-solving and making lasting impacts across multiple functions and teams. I believe the Consulting Academy will not only enhance my ability to accelerate problem-solving and tackle complex challenges within organizations, but also provide me with the skills needed to create enduring change.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Indiana Kelley’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The decisive factor that drew me to Indiana Kelley’s MBA program was its distinctive offerings, particularly two standout programs:

1. The 1Kelley Consulting program, which pairs MBA students with undergraduate students to work closely with women- and minority-owned businesses in the local area to help those businesses strive and grow.
2. The Global Business and Social Enterprise (GLOBASE) program, which offers teams the opportunity to work hands-on with small- to medium-sized businesses that are pivotal to their local economies.

These programs set Kelley apart from others I researched. Kelley’s commitment to empowering the local community and underserved businesses deeply resonated with my values and aspirations.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Indiana Kelley? The activity that excited me the most at Indiana Kelley is the Mini 500! Who doesn’t want to race their classmates and program faculty on tricycles around a makeshift track?!

Looking at your recruitment, what was the moment when you realized Indiana Kelley was the right program for you? Why? The moment I realized Indiana Kelley was the perfect program for me occurred during the Diversity Weekend. Prior to my arrival, I had participated in several virtual events hosted by current students to familiarize myself with the program and ensure it aligned with my goals. When I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of students who recognized me and took the initiative to connect throughout the weekend. Their warm welcome immediately made me feel at ease on campus and engaged with the community. It’s these small yet meaningful gestures that confirmed Kelley as the ideal place for me to grow both personally and professionally.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment was transforming an underperforming team of 117 personnel into the highest-performing team within the organization. I developed a plan and built strong rapport to secure buy-in from team members. A defining moment for me was when, upon transitioning out of the position, many team members expressed gratitude for the positive direction the organization had taken. It is heartening to know that individuals from that team still reach out for advice and stay in touch nearly four years later.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2026? Why? A unique quality that will enable me to make a significant contribution to the Class of 2026 is my ability to be the voice of reason. I can make decisions devoid of emotion while keeping stress levels low within the group. Business school emphasizes teamwork, making it crucial to maintain healthy relationships within teams. My skill in defusing potential conflicts before they escalate will help our team foster a tightly-knit community, enabling each member to thrive.

DON’T MISS: MEET INDIANA KELLEY’S MBA CLASS OF 2026