Johnny Leara

Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of Management

“Curious, driven, and mindful – focused on creating a lasting impact in both business and life.”

Hometown:
Birmingham, AL

Fun Fact About Yourself:
I’m part of a big Greek family and proposed to my fiancé on the beautiful Greek island of Milos.

Undergraduate School and Major: Auburn University, Electrical Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title:
Southern Company, Energy Management Systems Engineer II

What has been your favorite part of Nashville so far? Why?
Exploring the city’s vibrant music scene with my classmates – live local country music never gets old. Catching a performance by a fantastic country music band with my classmates is the perfect activity to end a week of hard work.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Vanderbilt Owen’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?
The Mod schedule, outstanding faculty, and the flexibility to tailor my coursework to my career goals were key factors in choosing Owen. The 8-week structure is perfect because it offers the chance to take many different elective courses. I love how easily I can customize my MBA experience, including selecting a concentration that aligns with my interests.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Vanderbilt Owen?
The Marketing Management course was a highlight for me. As someone with an engineering background, I enjoyed seeing how marketing ties together many areas of business. It was my first marketing class, and it expanded my understanding of business strategy.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:
At Southern Company, I was part of a team responsible for ensuring smooth performance of computer systems used by electric grid operations. On one project, I analyzed data and updated an important calculation used by operators in the control center. The correction reduced faulty alarms, improving efficiency for the operators. I was proud to contribute to a team with such a vital role in keeping the power grid safe and reliable for everyone.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far:
Mod 1 of the first year at Owen is known to be the most challenging part of the MBA. Balancing five courses, recruiting for internships, and transitioning back to school was difficult. I’m proud to have ended Mod 1 with a 4.0 GPA, which felt like a big accomplishment.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? The Owen Holiday party was a perfect end to the first two Mods. I was glad that my fiancé was able to attend the party. She lives in Birmingham, so I was excited to introduce her to my classmates. We all had a wonderful time celebrating the end to a great fall at Owen.

DON’T MISS: MEET VANDERBILT OWEN’S MBA CLASS OF 2026

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