Meet the MBA Class of 2026: Uyeol Jeon, University of Chicago (Booth) by: Jeff Schmitt on February 04, 2025 | 115 Views February 4, 2025 Copy Link Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email Share on LinkedIn Share on WhatsApp Share on Reddit Uyeol Jeon University of Chicago, Booth School of Business “Analytical mind, creative soul; curious and open-minded.” Hometown: Ansan, South Korea Fun Fact About Yourself: Worked as a line producer for TV movie <Blackout> Undergraduate School and Major: Yonsei University, International Studies Most Recent Employer and Job Title: SLL (Employer), Associate, Strategic Planning & Analysis (Job Title) Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Chicago Booth’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Chicago Booth’s scientific and analytical approach to education was the key factor in my decision. In the Media & Entertainment industry, we often rely on heuristics and rough estimations due to the intangible nature of our assets, such as storytelling quality and talent. As I encountered more ambiguous business problems, I increasingly recognized the need for scientific disciplines in problem-solving. Booth’s programming, based on The Chicago Approach, offers exactly this rigorous foundation, making it the perfect fit for my educational goals. The Booth 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? My role, Strategic Planning & Analysis Associate, combines strategy and FP&A (financial planning and analysis). It often requires me to persuade internal stakeholders using data-backed suggestions. Thus, I understand the power of data-driven decision-making. While I’ve become comfortable with ambiguity, I’ve had limited opportunities to conduct ‘highly’ data-driven analyses due to insufficient datasets or vague business frameworks. Booth’s focus on quantitative analysis appeals to me because it will help me hone in on these critical skills, better preparing me for future challenges in my career. What course, club or activity excites you the most at Chicago Booth? Finance Courses. I’ve heard great feedback from rising 2nd year students about both the professors and the class content. What has been your first impression of the Booth MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best Booth story so far. Approachable and genuine. Every Boothie I’ve reached out to has been open to conversation, offering honest and insightful answers. A particularly memorable experience occurred shortly after my admission. An AFG (Armed Forces Group) member called to congratulate me and connected me with other Korean AFG members. This swift and supportive response showed the strong sense of community at Booth. What makes Chicago such a great place to earn an MBA? Chicago seems to have a lot to offer in terms of career opportunities and cultural activities, making it an excellent choice for MBA students. I’ve already noticed that Chicago possesses the benefits of a major metropolitan area without the overwhelming chaos often associated with large cities. Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I oversaw a cross-functional project to revamp an ROI framework for the company’s productions. This initiative involved interviewing various departments, collaborating on expense attribution methodologies, and establishing a process for quarterly ROI reviews. This resulted in a ten percent increase in production ROI through more efficient resource allocation. Describe the best memory of your life. Why does that moment resonate with you? An impromptu family trip to Japan. We were watching a travel TV show and spontaneously decided to go to Japan. This decision was quite out of character for our family, as we’re typically meticulous planners. Despite the lack of preparation, or perhaps because of it, we had a great time. This experience resonates with me because it demonstrated our collective growth and ability to embrace a more flexible, ‘go-with-the-flow’ attitude. What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Chicago Booth’s MBA program? My advice would be to focus on why Booth is the ideal choice among top MBA programs at this particular juncture for your specific life and career journey. DON’T MISS: MEET CHICAGO BOOTH’S MBA CLASS OF 2026