Joanell Leggett

“Empathetic, detail-driven leader who inspires growth and builds inclusive spaces where people thrive”

Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love live theater and have seen nearly 15 shows on Broadway!

Undergraduate School and Major: University of St. Thomas: Business Administration – Human Resources Management

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Mortenson, Human Resources Generalist

What makes Seattle such a great place to earn an MBA?

What truly sets Seattle apart for me is how seamlessly the city and the University of Washington are integrated. You are surrounded by top global companies with strong ties to the school, creating constant opportunities to learn from industry leaders and apply what we are studying in real time.

Coming from the Midwest, I am still amazed by the mountains and how green Seattle stays year-round! There are so many outdoor activities to explore; one of my personal favorites has been taking the ferry to discover nearby islands and cities. I have also enjoyed wandering through the countless farmers’ markets, bookstores, and coffee shops in and around the area.

Seattle offers a little bit of everything. It is a global business hub with a deep connection to nature and has been a great backdrop for my MBA experience.

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

The flexibility of Foster’s MBA program was one major reason I chose the school. I appreciated the ability to truly customize my academic experience to align with my personal and professional goals. For me, this means using my second year to intentionally shape my degree by choosing electives that strengthen my leadership skills, broaden my business acumen, and support my interests in HR.

I am also planning to take advantage of classes outside the Foster School of Business to round out my technical skills through other departments, such as the School of Public Policy and Governance. This flexibility has encouraged me to take chances on courses I might not have considered before and expand beyond the knowledge and experience I brought into the program.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Washington Foster?

Surprisingly, one of my favorite courses so far has been financial accounting with Professor Elizabeth Blankespoor. I returned to business school to build new skills and broaden my business acumen, and this class delivered. It went beyond theory and tailored the content to what matters most in the MBA experience, giving us practical, real-world takeaways. This included learning how to read and interpret financial statements, skills I know I will carry into any role or industry. Professor Blankespoor also connected concepts to current events, inspiring me to stay engaged and consistently find ways to apply what we learn to real business situations.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:

One of the biggest accomplishments in my career so far has been supporting a large team of HR business partners as the sole HR generalist. I coached leaders on management best practices, helping them gain the confidence to give meaningful feedback and support their employees’ growth. At the same time, I streamlined processes across the HR business partner team, breaking down silos and creating more consistent ways of working. This allowed the team to operate more smoothly and stay aligned while learning from each other’s experiences. The longer I was with the company, the more I noticed leaders putting into practice what they had learned. Seeing others grow and knowing I played a role in both their development and the team’s efficiency was incredibly rewarding.

Describe your biggest achievement in the MBA program so far:

At the end of the fall quarter, my classmates and I competed in an internal case competition. The experience was intimidating at first, as we were in the final stretch of the quarter with just one week to pull together content from every core class, write a paper, and present our recommendations. My team’s goal was simple: submit strong, thoughtful work and meet all our deliverables. When we learned we had made it into the finals, we were genuinely shocked!

Presenting to our entire cohort and faculty was both nerve-wracking and rewarding. It reflected the dedication and collaboration my team and I built throughout the quarter. Looking back, it’s a moment I’m proud of and a reminder of how much can be accomplished when you dive in fully, even in unfamiliar territory. Although we didn’t place first, achieving this so early in my MBA journey reinforced the value of embracing challenges and stepping outside your comfort zone.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far?

One of my favorite MBA memories was company trek week during the fall quarter. Foster’s Career Management Team thoughtfully organized career treks across multiple industries, and I had the opportunity to visit three companies spanning three different sectors. During the treks, we met industry leaders with diverse backgrounds, learned about their career paths, and gained insight into their functional areas. Connecting in person with alumni added even more value and made future networking feel less intimidating.

Beyond professional exposure, it was also a fun way to explore different parts of Seattle and deepen connections with my peers outside of the classroom. One standout moment was an impromptu lunch with classmates right outside Seattle’s Lake Union during our first company visit. It was simple and unexpected, which reminded me that some of the most meaningful experiences happen in between the planned ones.

DON’T MISS MEET THE WASHINGTON FOSTER MBA CLASS OF 2027

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