McKenna Joy Tey

“Joyful dreamer invested in dynamic relationships, innovative solutions, creative movement, and living life fully”

Hometown: Denver, Colorado

Fun Fact About Yourself: I collect tobacco pipes from every country I visit—23 and counting.

Undergraduate School and Major:
• University of Texas at Austin
• BA; International Relations and Global Studies Major

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Roam, CRM Consultant and Architect

What makes Seattle such a great place to earn an MBA?

Seattle has it all: a lively city close to mountains, lakes, and the Pacific Ocean (GO PNW). It has easy access to skiing, skating, traveling, and hiking, which makes it an ideal place to live, and it has been my home for the past five years. Additionally, Seattle is the headquarters for top global companies, offering abundant opportunities for growth and learning. The city’s vibrant and multicultural community is important to me, as I want to be surrounded by people with unique experiences. The University of Washington is a cornerstone of the Seattle community, and Foster provides an excellent environment in which I can build upon my diverse background.

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

The close-knit community at Foster is truly unmatched. From admissions to the folks in my first year of classes, everyone has been kind, intelligent, warm, and empathetic. Each Foster student, faculty member, and alumnus embodies a down-to-earth approach and a genuine desire to help others thrive.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Washington Foster?

The Foster MBA Whistler Ski Trip! It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with classmates, second years, evening students, and their partners. After a quick drive to Canada, whether on the mountain or in Whistler Village, we all enjoyed quality time getting to know one another on a personal level outside of the classroom.

Washington Foster operates off a philosophy of We>Me. Give us an example of how you’ve seen that among your classmates so far.

During our fall quarter finance class, a fellow classmate (shout out to them, you know who you are) led a review session that helped everyone learn complex concepts and grow together.
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:
I was the lead product manager at an education technology company, Coding Dojo. I’m most proud of my upward progression at the company. Starting as an entry-level hire and pioneering the inception of an entire department, I scaled it from just myself to a team of 12. Shortly after, I got promoted to product manager, owning an initiative that led to a 50% increase in customer retention that year. The experience of building a plane while flying it fueled my drive to pursue an upward trajectory.

Describe your biggest achievement in the MBA program so far:

Being elected as class representative. Growing up with a diverse educational background—partially home-schooled, being a transfer student, and studying abroad in Taiwan for a year—I always wanted to be part of the typical “high school life” that I saw in the media. After creating lasting memories at orientation, in case competitions, and in daily life with my small, tight-knit cohort at Foster, I’ve realized the connections I’ve made during my MBA are my greatest achievements. I can’t wait to celebrate all our successes at graduation.

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

I’ve loved my time at Foster, especially the collection of all the little moments. The day-to-day interactions with friends and classmates—saying hi in the hallways, laughing about something silly, eating lunch together, planning our next trip—each warm interaction livens up the experience.

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