Haley Hammond

Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management

“Healthcare strategist at heart, HR people-person by nature—building community, impact, and joy.”

Hometown: Oak Park, IL

Fun fact about yourself: I am a potter. Wheel throwing has been a hobby of mine since I was in elementary school.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Miami University Bachelor of Arts, Double Major in Social Justice Studies and Latin American Studies

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? I served as the Director of People Development & DEIB, HRBP at M1 Finance

Where did you intern during the summer of 2025? I interned at UnitedHealth Group focusing on Medicaid Consumer Experience.

Where will you be working after graduation? UnitedHealth Group, ULE Associate

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• Ex-Officio Board Member at Howard Brown Health, Golub Capital Board Fellows
• Chief of Staff, Black Management Association
• Head of Marketing, Kellogg Business of Healthcare Conference
• Consultant, Kellogg Impact Consulting Club
• First-Year Director of Marketing, Healthcare Club
• Healthcare Ecosystem Leaders Fellowship
• Forte Fellow
• Consortium Fellow
• ASCEND Fellow

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? When I think about my time at Kellogg, I am extremely proud to have served on the executive team for two student conferences. Being able to contribute directly to the learning culture has been incredibly rewarding. First, I had the opportunity to moderate a panel during the 39th Annual Black Management Association Conference. As moderator, I tapped into my pre-Kellogg career experiences to drive a meaningful conversation with industry leaders around the changing dynamics that surround DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) in the workplace. I also had the opportunity to lead marketing for the Kellogg Business of Healthcare Conference this year. It is the largest student-run conference at Kellogg, and we sold out with over 450+ attendees. While the preparation for the conferences was challenging at times, it was inspiring to see students, alumni and industry professionals connect at two of the most impactful events at Kellogg.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am most proud of the work I did at M1. During my time there, I created a comprehensive learning and development strategy that included management training, individualized development plans, and an improved performance review process. I worked directly with our executive leadership team to prepare for a period of rapid growth and ensure we had the right structure in place to help employees thrive. I’ve held other roles with similar responsibilities, but this was my first time building something of this scale from the ground up. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and ultimately led me to pursue my MBA.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Kellogg because of its well-rounded approach to developing leaders, particularly in my field of interest: healthcare.

I knew that by coming to Kellogg I wouldn’t just learn concepts in the classroom but would also have several opportunities to apply those learnings in real time. Healthcare at Kellogg includes incredible classes, impressive conference lineups, endless experiential learning opportunities and cross-program collaboration. Kellogg also offers curated development programs like the Healthcare Deep Dive, where pop-up classes are combined with lectures from industry leaders and networking opportunities. Kellogg just launched the inaugural cohort of the new Healthcare Ecosystem Leaders Fellowship. The fellowship includes mentorship, alumni engagement, targeted coursework, and thought leadership with guest lecturers.

When evaluating MBA programs, I wanted a program that would not just introduce me to the healthcare industry, but also allow me to gain real experience and build meaningful connections as I made this career transition. Healthcare at Kellogg made that decision clear.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? While it’s hard to choose just one out of many incredible professors I’ve had at Kellogg, I would say my favorite is Professor Shana Carroll. What stands out most is how genuinely invested she is in her students. After reading my response to the start-of-quarter “get to know you” survey, she emailed me personally to invite me to office hours to talk more about my previous career. That small gesture turned into meaningful conversations about my long-term goals and how I think about leadership. She also truly practices what she teaches. During one office-hours conversation, we discussed a common challenge students face when stepping into new leadership roles. The very next week, she adapted a classroom exercise to help us build that exact skill. Watching her modify the curriculum in real time to meet our needs was powerful. From day one, she created a classroom environment that felt both rigorous and safe — one that encouraged participation, healthy debate, and thoughtful reflection. She’s an expert communicator, an adaptive teacher, and a leader who models the behaviors she teaches.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite MBA course was Strategic Communication for Organizations with Professor Shana Carroll. If I could recommend one class to every Kellogg student, regardless of industry or function, it would be this one. No matter what path you pursue, strong communication is foundational to strong leadership. What made the course exceptional was how practical it was. While the class was lecture-based and grounded in clear frameworks, it was incredibly applicable. The fieldwork assignments pushed us to immediately apply what we were learning in real-world settings — whether in club leadership, internships, or team projects. We also had the flexibility to choose “mastery assignments” that aligned with our individual development goals, recognizing that each of us wanted to strengthen different aspects of our communication skills. The team-based structure was also intentional. Working with the same small group throughout the quarter mirrored real workplace dynamics and allowed us to build trust, give candid feedback, and grow together.

Most importantly, the course provided tools I could use immediately at Kellogg, right after graduation, and as I step into larger leadership roles over time. It wasn’t just a class; it was leadership training in action.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Looking back, I would have attended more Lunch and Learns — especially earlier, and even on topics outside my core interests. They’re an efficient way to explore new industries, learn directly from practitioners, and test curiosity without committing to a full course. Some of the most valuable sessions I attended were ones I almost skipped. This past fall, I attended a Lunch and Learn about Effective Capital Structures hosted by the Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Club. This discussion provided an interesting opportunity to apply skills from my finance class outside of the cases that were discussed in class. I’ve also been consistently impressed by the students who moderate these conversations — it’s a powerful reminder of the talent and thoughtfulness within the Kellogg community. If I could do it again, I’d lean into that curiosity sooner.

What was the most impactful case study you had in business school and what was the biggest lesson you learned from it? The most impactful case study I experienced wasn’t a traditional written case; it was a live consulting project in Growth Strategy Practicum. My team partnered with a real company to solve a real strategic challenge. We were given the business problem, key contacts, and initial context. We then spent the quarter conducting customer interviews, researching the market, meeting with executive leadership, and ultimately developing a go-to-market strategy for a new product. A few months after the course ended, the company used our work to support the product’s launch. The biggest lesson I took away is that strategy only works when it integrates real customer behavior with operational reality. At every stage, our job was to reconcile the tensions between customer truth, financial viability, and disciplined focus. That experience made strategy feel less theoretical and far more accountable.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? My favorite thing is the proximity to Lake Michigan. During the warmer months, walking the quick five minutes to the lake became a regular part of my daily routine. Looking out over the blue water, you can see the Chicago skyline to the right and the Kellogg Global Hub to the left — it is the perfect opportunity to relax and reflect. Even during the winter, I’ll brave the Chicago cold just for that view!

What business leader do you admire most? I admire Nia Batts and Sophia Bush because they intentionally align their business decisions with their values. Through their work with Union Heritage, they invest in companies that expand economic opportunities and address overlooked markets while still pursuing strong financial returns. Earlier in their partnership, they co-founded Detroit Blows, which paired a consumer business with a mission to support local women entrepreneurs. What I admire most is that they demonstrate that values and profit don’t have to be in tension. Instead, they treat impact, equity, and community investment as part of a strong business strategy. Their approach reinforces my belief that businesses can create meaningful social impact while building sustainable, high-performing companies.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? One way Kellogg has integrated AI into the curriculum is through the Digital Health for the Entrepreneur course. At the beginning of the quarter, we were assigned a company and each week analyzed a different dimension of the business. The first step of every assignment was to use AI to conduct the initial research. Then, we critically evaluated the output to identify what the AI captured accurately, what it oversimplified or missed, and how we would strengthen the analysis. This structure made AI feel less like a shortcut and more like a tool to be managed thoughtfully. I learned how powerful it can be for accelerating research and synthesizing information, but also how essential human judgment is in pressure-testing assumptions, adding nuance, and filling gaps. The biggest insight was that AI works best as a collaborator, not a replacement, and that knowing its limitations is just as important as leveraging its strengths.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? The MBA classmate I admire most is Faithe Hill because of her consistent and purposeful contribution to the Kellogg community. Faithe holds several leadership roles, and there is one consistent throughline: community. She is VP of Signature Events for the Black Management Association where she plans and executes some of the most beloved events that bring the entire Kellogg student body together. She also serves on the executive board for the Golub Capital Board Fellows program, where she leads events and initiatives that create opportunities for Fellows to connect across classes and build lasting connections. Whether in extracurricular, academic, or professional settings, Faithe is the person you want on your team. She brings organization, execution, and a drive to learn and grow to every group she works with. She truly embodies what it means to be a Kellogg leader.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1. Hold an executive level position at a women’s health company

2. Serve on the board of an organization expanding access and opportunities for Black women to thrive

What made Haley such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?

“I’ve had the great pleasure of getting to know Haley this year as a student in my Strategic Communication for Organizations course. I was immediately impressed by Haley – both inside and outside of the classroom.

Haley has great insights and instincts for the intersection of strategy and communication. She sees the big picture, asks incisive questions, and thinks hard about the implications for people inside and outside an organization. She’s the kind of person that an executive should immediately pluck out of their organization and appoint her as their Chief of Staff.

In our classroom, Haley was masterful at elevating the discussion whether it was asking a challenging question or sharing a perspective. Her own work overseeing communication strategy and aligning middle management at a previous organization turned into live case studies that enriched learning for the entire class.

I personally could speak with Haley for hours. Her enthusiasm for learning and the depth and breadth of her insights, even though still early in her career, are rich, genuine and contagious. I can’t wait to watch where Haley’s career goes – I’m fully confident that at the forefront will be meaningful impact on people. She’s the kind of people-focused leader we are going to need as AI transforms the world of work.”

Shana Carroll
Clinical Professor of Management & Organizations

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