Aster Chmielewski

Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business

“Intrigued and enthused by problems, people, places, and things; fast talker; yinzer.”

Hometown: Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

Fun Fact About Yourself: After a 13-year hiatus, I have started re-taking tumbling (gymnastics) classes!

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Pittsburgh, B.S. in Industrial Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Deloitte Consulting, Senior Cloud Engineering Consultant

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Carnegie Mellon’s MBA curriculum and programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I chose the MBA program at Carnegie Mellon University because of its heavy emphasis on innovative technology and its practical applications. After business school, I plan to return to technology consulting, focusing on the pharmaceutical industry. Specifically, I plan to work in the specialized field of cell and gene therapy – a cutting-edge approach that essentially reprograms human cells and genes to treat cancers and rare diseases. Throughout my career, I have worked closely with technology, but I want to use my time at the Tepper school to deepen my understanding of complex technological challenges and develop the business acumen needed to lead in solving these problems. I was confident that Carnegie Mellon University will equip me with the ability to navigate and address complex technological challenges, enabling me to lead effectively in a rapidly evolving industry.

Also, I chose the Tepper school because it is in the best city in the world.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Carnegie Mellon? I’m excited to participate on a Global Trek! At Carnegie Mellon University, Global Treks are short study abroad experiences that take place over spring break. These experiences offer an opportunity to gain first-hand insights into international business practices and emerging trends, while also building connections with Tepper classmates. I did similar short trips during my undergrad, and I found the trips to be very impactful in enriching my perspective and broadening my understanding of our interconnected world.

The Tepper MBA is known for intensive one-on-one coaching and personal development. What area do you hope to strengthen during your two years in business school and why? During my time at the Tepper School, I want to focus on transitioning from an individual contributor to a leader who can effectively influence organizations; I aim to enhance my ability to understand the broader picture, develop strategic visions, and communicate these visions through compelling narratives. After my two years at the Tepper school, I hope to become a more effective and confident leader who can align technical insights with organizational goals and drive impactful changes.

The Tepper MBA is also known for being highly data-driven Why does the program’s focus on quantitative analysis and decision-making appeal to you? How have you been able to leverage this approach in your career so far? The Tepper school’s strong focus on quantitative analysis and data-driven decision-making was a significant factor in my choice of MBA program. During my undergraduate studies in Industrial Engineering, my courses in operations research, probability, and simulation modeling introduced me to the transformative power of data. These classes served as my first introduction to process optimization and data-driven decision-making, while some of my other curriculum introduced me to the importance of human centered design. As a consultant, I combined these learnings when developing software solutions that mitigated the technological pain points of the patient journey, solidifying my passion for combining data with a human touch.

The Tepper school focuses on quantitative analysis excites me because it offers the opportunity to strengthen my technical toolbox and evolve from analyzing data insights to becoming a leader who can actionize those insights and drive organizational change. I am eager to build on these skills and explore how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence can drive innovation and enable me to create even more impactful solutions for patients.

Looking at your recruitment, what was the moment when you realized Tepper was the right program for you? Why? It was definitely Welcome Weekend last spring! I was really on the fence about whether “now” was the right time to go to business school, if ever. After I attended Welcome Weekend, talked with the current and prospective students, and spent some time on campus, I knew that “now” was the right time, MBA was the right path, and the Tepper school was the right school. It was a major relief to feel so confident in my decision!

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment is contributing to the development and availability of life-saving patient treatments. Though my part was one piece of a much larger effort to create and deliver these treatments, I am deeply grateful to know that my work played a part in improving patient lives. This experience instilled in me a profound sense of purpose and fulfillment early in my career.

DON’T MISS: MEET CARNEGIE MELLON TEPPER’S MBA CLASS OF 2026