William B. Howie

“Lover of Math, Old Books, and Opera. Relentlessly positive and always friendly” 

Hometown: Seattle, Washington

Undergraduate School and Major: Williams College – BA in Mathematics and Classics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Gellert Health – Administrative Specialist

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

As a native Seattleite, I am grateful to be pursuing my MBA in my home city. I am excited to continue my career surrounded by the innovative businesses and natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

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?

As MBA students, we are asked to split our priorities between academics and recruiting through much of our experience in the program. One aspect of Foster’s MBA programming that stood out to me was its dedication to providing an excellent academic experience. As a student with a non-business undergraduate background, the education I am receiving during my MBA is critical for me to achieve my goals, and I have been more than satisfied with the quality of the professors and courses that Foster offers.

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

My favorite course at Foster has been my Corporate Finance course taught by Thomas Gilbert. Professor Gilbert is an amazing teacher for a fascinating course, which he made all the more interesting for me and my peers through his engaging lecturing style. Among the most memorable things I learned in the class was that to generate financial gains, I need to “Have Skill!”

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

My classmates at Foster have consistently demonstrated the practice and value of We > Me. Though we are engaged in a highly competitive recruiting process throughout our time in the program, I have consistently seen my peers work to help each other practice for interviews, succeed academically in courses they are struggling with, and form genuine connections with each other.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:

For the past four years, I worked at a startup in Phoenix, Arizona, called Gellert Health. The accomplishment in my career that I am proudest of is being an integral part of a team that has helped more than a thousand of Arizona’s most vulnerable to get access to healthcare. In the world of business, it is often difficult to see one’s work have a direct impact on the lives of people in the community around us, and I am grateful that I was able to see the impact that my work was having on the lives of people around me. As I move forward in my career, I hope that wherever I am, I will be able to maintain this direct connection between my own responsibilities, and the benefits that I am able to provide to others.

Describe your biggest achievement in the MBA program so far:

My proudest achievement in the MBA program so far was being selected as “Leader of the Quarter” by my classmates for the first quarter of the program. In my life, I strive to help others where and when I am able. For many of my classmates with non-quantitative backgrounds, our fall quarter accounting and finance classes were an unwelcome struggle. I helped my classmates advance their understanding throughout the quarter and ran a two-hour review session before our finals. I was honored to be recognized as a leader by my peers, whom I have come to deeply like and respect through our time together.

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

My best memory as an MBA so far has been the time I’ve spent with my cohort, both in class and outside. I have greatly enjoyed the opportunity to get to know such a talented, pleasant, and generous group of people, and I am looking forward to the next year and a half together in our MBA program and the many years beyond!

© Copyright 2025 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.