Meet the MBA Class of 2027: Isabelle Callaghan, MIT (Sloan)

Isabelle Callaghan

MIT, Sloan School of Management

“Curious, driven, and community-minded Canadian passionate about the outdoors, adventures and building a sustainable future.”

Hometown: Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am the proud owner of a 20-year-old sourdough starter.

Undergraduate School and Major: Queen’s University, Bachelor of Applied Science, Computer Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Deep Sky Climate, Project Manager

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of MIT Sloan’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? MIT Sloan’s focus on sustainability and its belief that business can be a powerful avenue for climate impact was a decisive factor in my choice. The school offers unmatched resources in this space, from courses like Climate and Energy Ventures to its Sustainability Certificate, which combines business fundamentals with deep, practical engagement in climate innovation. I’m entering MIT Sloan knowing this will be my focus post-graduation. I wanted a program where I could gain a generalist business education while building specialized expertise in climate solutions, and MIT Sloan’s curriculum ensures I can develop both breadth and depth across the pillars of sustainability and business, equipping me to drive lasting impact in the field.

Action Learning Labs are one of MIT Sloan’s biggest attractions. Which lab interests you most? How does it fit with your interests? The Sustainable Business Lab (S-Lab) excites me because it bridges academic rigor with real-world impact, turning sustainability challenges into viable business opportunities. This aligns with my belief that enterprises can be powerful engines for climate action. I’m particularly drawn to its interdisciplinary, action-learning model, where MBAs collaborate with peers from engineering, policy, and science backgrounds. Climate solutions demand this kind of cross-sector expertise to create outcomes that are both technically sound and commercially viable, increasing the likelihood of lasting impact.

This intersection is exactly where I aim to operate after graduation, and developing these cross-disciplinary relationships at MIT Sloan is invaluable. S-Lab also directly supports my long-term goal of launching a climate venture by allowing me to test solutions to solve real-world sustainability challenges in collaboration with cross-disciplinary peers. It also embodies the kind of Sloan experience I value–that of immersive, hands-on learning–which will deepen my sustainability expertise while sharpening my generalist business skills. I will be well prepared to lead impactful, scalable climate initiatives after graduation.

When you think of MIT, what are the first things that come to mind? How have your experiences with the Sloan program thus far reinforced or upended these early impressions? The first things that come to mind are inclusivity, diversity of thought, intellectual curiosity, and rigor. Each of these themes was reinforced during AdMit day through the conversations I had with other incoming students.

I interacted with an array of Sloan students with different backgrounds, upbringings, and post-MBA aspirations. Despite these differences, each exchange was marked by genuine interest and openness. I was welcomed into conversations without hesitation. During what could have been a day of awkward introductions, I instead felt like I had stepped into an established community.

What struck me as well was peoples’ passion. Both incoming and current students spoke freely about their motivations, aspirations, and academic interests. This earnest intellectual curiosity and unabashed aspirations was both refreshing and inspiring.

What excites you about earning an MBA in the Boston area? What excites me most about earning an MBA in the Boston area is the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem that surrounds it. The concentration of world-class academic institutions – and the innovation hubs, accelerators, and startups they have inspired – creates a unique environment for collaboration and discovery. Organizations like The Engine and Greentown Labs exemplify the region’s ability to translate cutting-edge research into real-world impact, and I’m eager to immerse myself in that network.

On a personal level, studying in Boston is also somewhat of a homecoming. I have never lived near my American family members, who largely reside in the New England region, so this will be my first opportunity to spend meaningful time with them. Along with developing my professional network, I’m looking forward to creating a personal community, one that will make my time in Boston even more meaningful.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2027? I have been lucky in my short career to have experienced two very different opportunities, first at McKinsey & Co. and then leading to a climate tech start-ups pilot facility project. I see this dual experience in strategy and end-to-end capital project delivery as the unique quality I will bring to the Class of 2027. Early in my career at McKinsey, I gained exposure to strategic problem-solving across industries. I then transitioned to leading the building of a Direct Air Capture pilot facility from start to finish – a rare opportunity, as capital projects are often paused, delayed, or cancelled before completion.

I see this combination of strategic insight and hands-on execution as particularly relevant at MIT Sloan, where the ecosystem is rich with hard-tech start-ups aiming to move from lab to pilot scale. I’m excited to contribute my learnings to help founders anticipate challenges, avoid common pitfalls, and successfully deploy their technology in the real world.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest career accomplishment so far is leading a key Deep Sky Alpha project, a cross-technology, direct air capture (DAC) facility. With a core internal team of just three people, we brought the project from concept to commissioning in under two years – a timeline some external parties told us was impossible for a first-of-a-kind capital project.

The technical and operational complexity was immense. I oversaw site selection, permitting, engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning while coordinating dozens of contractors and technology partners across multiple countries. But what makes this my greatest achievement is not just the complexity and final outcome, it was the obstacles I managed to overcome along the way. Over the course of the project, we had to cut millions from the budget, relocate the project to a new province, and completely change the complex execution plan to accommodate major equipment delivery delays. Each hurdle forced us to adapt quickly, find creative solutions, and keep the project on course without compromising our goals.

During my final weeks, walking the site felt surreal. We had delivered a state-of-the-art DAC testing facility against all odds, proving what’s possible with relentless problem-solving, teamwork, and vision.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into MIT Sloan’s MBA program? Don’t jump straight into the application. Take the time to find your story, the one that captures a defining moment in your career, a challenge you overcame, or an experience that shaped you in a lasting way.

Ask yourself: what is a story only you can tell? Write down as many ideas as you can, then narrow them down. Once you’ve exhausted your list and feel confident you’ve found the one that best reflects who you are, then start the application.

This is especially important when applying to MIT Sloan, where you have limited space to tell a single story. Don’t rush it. Wait until you’re certain the story you’ve chosen is the one that will truly resonate – give the admissions team a glimpse of the unique perspective you’ll bring to the class.

DON’T MISS: MEET MIT SLOAN’S MBA CLASS OF 2027

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