Andrew (Andy) Yim

Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

“Husband, cat dad, veteran, and aspiring entrepreneur chasing dreams while living life to the fullest.”

Hometown: River Edge, New Jersey

Fun Fact About Yourself: My first “job” was at my parents’ Italian deli, which they owned for 14 years. I started to help with wrapping the sandwiches or be on the cash register over the summer, but what I valued the most out of this was my love for Italian cuisine. I tell people I may not look it, but there’s a little Italian in my blood.

Undergraduate School and Major: I graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2017, and majored in Systems Design and Management.

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Battalion Fire Support Officer at the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (US Army)

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the Wharton School’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? At Wharton, the combination of elite faculty and staff, a strong alumni network, and diverse academic programming and events means you can create your own adventure. A possible day here at Wharton might include taking a class on entrepreneurship or negotiations, attending a talk by renowned business leaders at lunch, then grabbing a bite or drink with classmates before an Authors@Wharton event with Adam Grant –which just highlights that no two days here will be alike. As a first-generation college graduate and the only child from South Korean immigrants, it’s incredibly important to me to make the most of my time here and leverage every resource to ultimately achieve my goal of becoming a successful entrepreneur, and I believe Wharton is the school to help me reach this feat.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at the Wharton School? This might be cheating, but I’m equally excited about two offerings at Wharton, both within the McNulty Leadership Program. The first is the MBA Leadership Ventures, where I’ll be tested on my ability to lead a team in unfamiliar environments like Patagonia or Antarctica, while facing challenges that can only be solved through teamwork and resilience. The second is the Golub Capital Nonprofit Board Fellows Program, which offers a seat as a non-voting member of a nonprofit board within the greater Philadelphia area. I would love to give back to the Philadelphia community while also seeing how successful boards operate.

When you think of the Wharton School, what is the first word that comes to mind? Why? Opportunity. I cannot think of a better place to jumpstart an MBA candidate’s career than at Wharton because there truly is something for everyone. Whether it is a specific class, event, or club, Wharton offers countless ways to support you in pursuing your goals and dreams.

What makes Philadelphia a great place to earn an MBA? My wife and I were already excited to move to Philadelphia, but the city has exceeded all our expectations. I love how walkable it is and how underrated the food scene here is as well. It also doesn’t hurt that the city is full of passionate sports fans to make the weekends even more fun throughout the year – Go Birds!

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I was selected as the Battalion Fire Support Officer and was a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) at the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. To be able to say that I was a part of this historic unit is truly an honor, and I am extremely proud and grateful to say that I was a Nightstalker. NSDQ.

What is your biggest passion – and how has it helped you make an impact? My biggest passion is traveling! I love to be able to learn more about new cultures, visit historical sites, and taste the local cuisine. It allowed me to connect with my soldiers at a deeper level or relate to new professional connections, but most importantly showed me to see life from different perspectives.

What do you hope to do after graduation (at this point)? I hope to pursue my dream to become an entrepreneur within the veterinary care industry.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into the Wharton School’s MBA program? Do not self-select yourself out of applying! The applicant pool at any school will be competitive, especially at Wharton, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply. You won’t know the answer if you don’t apply. As Wayne Gretzky (or Michael Scott) once said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”.

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