Amalia Roth

Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management

“Thoughtful, driven leader passionate about healthcare innovation, exploring new places, and spending time outdoors.”

Hometown: Palo Alto, California

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love to hike and have completed several treks, including the 200-mile coast-to-coast trail across England, which I hiked with my sister after I graduated from college. It was an amazing experience!

Undergraduate School and Major: Bowdoin College, Major in Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Phreesia, Go-to-Market Manager (Consumer Digital Solutions)

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

Prior to Kellogg, I spent several years working in life sciences strategy consulting followed by a role at a health technology company. I am passionate about healthcare and intend to stay in the industry post-MBA. Thus, one of the key reasons I chose Kellogg is its robust healthcare program. The Healthcare at Kellogg (HCAK) Pathway offers a wide range of courses that will deepen my knowledge of the healthcare industry beyond life sciences. Additionally, I am excited to get involved in the Healthcare Club and the Kellogg Business of Healthcare Conference, both of which provide valuable opportunities to engage with classmates and industry leaders on topics across the healthcare ecosystem.

What makes Chicago such a great place to earn an MBA? While I didn’t have the opportunity to explore Chicago much prior to Kellogg, what I love about Kellogg is that it offers the best of both worlds. Kellogg is located in Evanston which provides a tight-knit community feel, while being just a short distance from Chicago’s city life. Chicago offers access to career and networking opportunities across industries, a great food scene, and an array of arts and culture. I am looking forward to exploring Chicago more during my time at Kellogg!

Kellogg is known for a team-driven culture. What quality do you bring as a teammate and why will it be so important to the success of MBA class? Two key qualities that I bring as a teammate are adaptability and inclusivity. During my time in consulting, I worked with a variety of diverse teams where each individual brought different backgrounds, knowledge, skills, and working styles. I am able to adapt my working style and embrace different roles within the team—sometimes stepping up as a leader, other times supporting behind the scenes—to ensure the team can collectively succeed. I also strive to create an inclusive environment by recognizing each teammate’s strengths and encouraging them to contribute in ways that feel authentic to them. I believe these qualities will help foster a collaborative environment at Kellogg.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Northwestern Kellogg? I am particularly excited about the Venture Capital Lab. I am interested in exploring a career in venture capital, specifically within healthcare, and the Venture Capital Lab offers the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with a venture capital firm during the academic year. Given I had no venture capital experience prior to Kellogg, the Venture Capital Lab offers a great way for me to build connections with venture capital firms, explore the field, and assess whether I want to pursue venture capital post-MBA.

What has been your first impression of the Kellogg MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best Kellogg story so far. The Kellogg students and alumni I have interacted with are kind, genuine, driven, and eager to help. I spoke to many Kellogg students and alumni during the application process and as I was making my decision to attend Kellogg. Every interaction has been incredibly positive and helped confirm that Kellogg is the right fit for me. Often, the individuals I spoke to went out of their way to connect me with others who have similar backgrounds and interests. As I prepared to start my first year, I have stayed in touch with several of the students and alumni I initially talked to, and they’ve continued to offer support, answer additional questions, and provide advice. Their generosity and sincerity reaffirm the strength of the Kellogg community.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far. My time in life sciences strategy consulting was formative both professionally and personally. One of my biggest accomplishments was being entrusted with leading some of the firm’s most challenging projects, including several projects with the client team responsible for the Hemophilia portfolio at a major Fortune 500 biopharmaceutical company. I earned their trust through a combination of professionalism, strong command of the material, and consistent high-quality work.

Following a successful initial project, the client selected me to lead three additional projects for their Hemophilia portfolio. These projects established a strong partnership between my firm and the client’s team, delivered impactful results, and contributed significantly to the firm’s revenue. Additionally, it was a privilege to collaborate with incredibly smart, kind, and hard-working colleagues. The work was intellectually stimulating and had meaningful implications for both the client and the patients they serve.

Looking ahead two years, what would make your MBA experience successful? My MBA experience will be successful by developing meaningful relationships with my classmates that last beyond Kellogg, refining my leadership skills, and exploring career paths to better determine which one excites me most and fits best fit with my knowledge and skills. For example, I am excited to take the Personal Leadership Insights course, which will help me further uncover my strengths, areas of improvement, values, and purpose so that I can grow as a leader. Additionally, outside of the classroom, small group dinners are part of Kellogg’s culture and are a great way to get to know classmates on a deeper level. Attending a small group dinner during Day at Kellogg (DAK) was one of the highlights for me and I am looking forward to both hosting and attending many more!

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Northwestern Kellogg’s MBA program? My advice would be to connect with a variety of current students and alumni during the application process. That way, you can hear more about their experiences and understand in greater depth Kellogg’s offerings that align with your interests. This will help you determine whether Kellogg is the right fit and enable you to clearly convey why Kellogg is the right business school for you and what you will contribute to the community. Additionally, it is important to be your authentic self. Kellogg values a whole-person approach and wants to understand your unique story—your values, personal journey, and goals. Embracing your individuality will help you stand out and convey an authentic narrative.

DON’T MISS: MEET NORTHWESTERN KELLOGG’S MBA CLASS OF 2027

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