Tiffany Bauman

Columbia Business School

“Recent Houston transplant, hungry to learn, but even hungrier for NYC pizza.”

Hometown: Houston, TX

Fun Fact About Yourself: Back-to-back Hoboken flag football champion

Undergraduate School and Major:  Rice University – B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Project Manager at ExxonMobil

What makes New York City such a great place to earn an MBA? New York City is a great place to earn an MBA because innovation and opportunity are always within reach.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Columbia Business School’s MBA curriculum programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? One aspect that drew me was the vast array of electives available. The ability to tailor my education and explore different areas – whether it’s finance, strategy, or entrepreneurship – gives me the flexibility to shape my learning around my evolving interests and career goals.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Columbia Business School? The opportunity I’m most excited about is being selected as a Three Cairns Fellow through the Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change. This fellowship focuses on projects at the intersection of climate change and business and aligns well with my passion for sustainability and creating impact. My team will spend the next year evaluating the potential of geothermal energy as a renewable alternative.

Looking at your recruitment, what was the moment when you realized Columbia Business School was the right program for you? Why? Before starting at Columbia Business School, I reached out to a handful of current students to learn more about their experiences and the opportunities available. I knew CBS was the right program for me, not because of the number of opportunities I felt like I could pursue, but because of the people I spoke with. They were all incredibly ambitious, approachable, and eager to offer advice to help me succeed. This collaborative and supportive mindset is the type of environment I want to be a part of and the kind of people I want to surround myself with.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment in my career so far has been pursuing my MBA. I had a wonderful four years at ExxonMobil where I gained valuable technical experience, developed leadership skills, and honed my ability to think critically and problem-solve. Now, I’m excited to expand my skill set and deepen my understanding of business and financial aspects of decision-making, positioning myself to drive impact in a broader strategic context.

What do you hope to do after graduation? I hope to be at the intersection of business and innovation, in a role where I’m constantly learning and ultimately making a meaningful impact.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Columbia Business School’s MBA program? Columbia Business School is a melting pot of different cultures, ideas, and perspectives. CBS does a great job of bringing in students with differing experiences and viewpoints, and I’ve truly learned the most from the discussions I’ve had in class. My advice to prospective students is to reflect on what makes you unique and how your own experiences and perspectives can add something special to CBS.

DON’T MISS: MEET COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL’S MBA CLASS OF 2026