Lauren Dasher

“Community-oriented strategic thinker with a passion for innovation that serves people and preserves our planet”

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve lived in five countries and four states!

Undergraduate School and Major: University of California – Santa Barbara; B.A. in Sociology and a Minor in Education

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: The Epstein School, Elementary Teacher

What has been your favorite part of Atlanta so far? What has made it such a great place to earn an MBA?

I have a lot of ATL Pride and appreciation for our city’s entrepreneurial spirit. I love living in the “City in the Forest”, watching the development of public spaces like the Atlanta Beltline improve Atlantans’ quality of life and provide experiences that feel unique to our city. The music, food, green spaces, innovation and educational opportunities, and sense of community I’ve developed with family and friends since moving here in 2022 has truly made it feel like home. The MBA community feels very close-knit and supportive, and there are a lot of great values-driven companies to connect with in our city!

Aside from your classmates and location, what was one key part of the Scheller MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?

One aspect that really spoke to me was the opportunity to get involved with Georgia Tech’s Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business. I believe that business innovation can truly drive positive change, and I wanted to gain more technical knowledge and experience so that I can promote sustainable operations in any future role. I am currently a fellow through the center and am working on an implementation and analysis project with a partner organization piloting an AI waste auditing tool.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Georgia Tech? 

I have really enjoyed being a graduate research assistant for the MBA Admissions and Recruiting team. Our team is values-driven, joyful, and excellent at what they do, and I have learned so much from them. I’ve also enjoyed getting to lead events such as Women’s Coffee Chats, facilitate communication with prospective and admitted students, and co-coordinate our Ambassadors Program with my second-year counterpart. Scheller’s community is incredibly special, and it’s been very meaningful to witness and be a part of the care that goes into recruiting every class!

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:

My biggest professional accomplishment so far is building fulfilling relationships with my students and colleagues as an educator and demonstrating resilience in the classroom. Prior to getting my MBA, I taught third grade at an international school in Nagoya, Japan, and first grade at an independent school in Atlanta, Georgia, for two years each. When events from Covid-19 to global conflicts and personal challenges disrupt our lives, students and educators feel it in their classrooms. I took my work as an educator very seriously and wanted to ensure that no matter what, I was there for my community.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far:

My biggest accomplishment during the program so far has been improving my confidence with prioritization. By nature, I want to do everything and do it well. However, I’ve learned that it’s acceptable and necessary to prioritize certain aspects of my life over others according to what needs the most attention at that time. At certain times, it’s building connections that will support my professional development and community, while at others, it’s studying for a test, putting long hours into a project, taking care of my physical health, or spending quality time with loved ones. Balance remains the goal, but that doesn’t necessarily mean distributing effort towards all of my commitments and goals equally every day.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far?

My best memories at Scheller are all the informal interactions I get to have with my classmates and Scheller faculty and staff every day. These interactions are the essence of our close-knit community and bring me a lot of joy!