Steven Kish

Stanford Graduate School of Business

“I aspire to create customer experiences of the future and inspire the people behind them.”

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohi

Fun Fact About Yourself: My first job was coaching a swim team (which is where I get my competitive side)

Undergraduate School and Major:

Undergraduate School: WashU (Washington University in St. Louis)

Majors: Economics & Finance

Most Recent Employer and Job Title:

Employer: McKinsey & Company

Job Title: Senior Business Analyst, Office of the Chief People Officer

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Stanford GSB’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I was really drawn to Stanford’s emphasis on values-based leadership. During my time at McKinsey, I’ve seen my clients face tough decisions that don’t have clear “right answers.” I wanted to go to an MBA program that would help me define my values and build confidence and consistency in my decision-making to prepare me to navigate hard decisions throughout my career.

The GSB curriculum has already given me a ton of meaningful opportunities to explore my personal leadership style and values. During the first quarter, all first-year MBA students take Leading with Values, a course in which we discuss ethical dilemmas, learn about different moral philosophies, and articulate our own values. Now, I’m building on that work in a course called Freedom, Democracy, and Capitalism. This course gives students the opportunity to explore our values from a civics perspective as we prepare to become leaders in a world in which business and government challenges are only becoming more intertwined. I’m excited to continue to refine my values throughout my time at Stanford.

What has been the most important thing that you’ve learned at Stanford GSB so far? I am awe-struck by the power of a group that is committed to developing and investing in each other. The GSB fosters that experience starting in the first quarter through the Leadership Laboratory (“Lead Labs”) course. In Lead Labs, first-year MBA students are grouped into squads of 6 with a second-year MBA Arbuckle Leadership Fellow who coaches the squad. When I look back on my GSB experience so far, I think I’ve learned the most from my squad mates and their experiences which are so vastly different from mine and one another. For example, one of my squad mates came to the GSB from a military background and another came to the GSB after running his own company. I always learned the most in moments when our leadership styles or thought processes would come into conflict with one another.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Stanford GSB? I have become completely addicted to pickleball since I started at Stanford! While I am lucky to be able to be outside on the pickleball court year-round in the California sun, my favorite part has been the memorable moments and conversations I’ve had while connecting with my classmates on the court.

What quality best describes your MBA classmates you’ve met so far? Give an example why this is true. Despite jam-packed schedules, my classmates have a deeply inspiring commitment to one another. At Stanford, we often say that it is important to remember to “run your own race” – to not get too caught up in choosing the same courses or activities as your friends but rather make your own decisions about how you spend your time based on your goals. Stanford MBA students manage to do that while remaining deeply invested in building a vibrant community that enriches our time at this special place.

One of the ways we show our commitment to one another is the time-honored GSB tradition of TALK. TALK is a weekly event in which students (TALKers) share 20-30-minute personal life stories with each other; it’s a bit of a sacred time on the calendar and each TALK has huge turnout both from TALKers’ friends as well as classmates who don’t know the TALKer very well. When I first arrived at the Stanford GSB, every moment on campus felt surreal. Now, when I’m getting lost in the day-to-day shuffle of classes and the GSB starts to feel ordinary, hearing my classmates tell their extraordinary stories at TALK reminds me of what a special community we have here at Stanford.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Leading an effort to dream up the future of feedback at McKinsey & Company. After my first 2 years at McKinsey, I had the opportunity to join our Chief People Officer’s team for a year to support her in shaping McKinsey’s people and culture priorities. I am especially proud of the work we did to encourage McKinsey teams around the world to prioritize giving rich feedback and investing in one another’s growth. If people are like plants, feedback is like water – without it, we don’t grow.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? Recommitting to my personal health and defining the habits that will set me up for long-term success. Beyond the learning I do in the classroom and from my peers, being an MBA student affords me the opportunity to exert a little bit more control over the pace of my life and how I spend my time than I had while I was working in consulting. For me, that’s meant prioritizing lots of exercise, consistent sleep, and intentional time with friends – and saying “no” a lot more often.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? Last quarter, a group of classmates and I took a day trip to Napa to check out some of my favorite things – food and wine! While that day stands out, I have thoroughly enjoyed every chance I’ve gotten to explore the nature, activities, and cuisine that Northern California has to offer. I grew up in Ohio so it is still a bit surreal to see some of the amazing nature out here on the west coast – I have been really enjoying hiking and cycling in the area.

What advice would you give to a prospective applicant looking to join the Stanford GSB Class of 2026? It sounds cliché but share the most honest version of yourself that you can on your application. The Stanford application challenges you to reflect deeply on what motivates you and why you want to come to the GSB. The more you tailor your application to whatever it is that you think the GSB wants to hear, the more you risk losing your true voice in the process. Be yourself!

DON’T MISS: MEET THE STANFORD GSB MBA CLASS OF 2026