Mai Richards

“‘Mai Mai’ to my niece. Metalhead. Motorcycle enthusiast”

Hometown: Spearfish, South Dakota

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am training for a 400+ mile run across South Dakota to honor the fallen.

Undergraduate School and Major: College of Education & Human Development, University of Minnesota

Major: Business & Marketing Education

Minor: Management (Minnesota Carlson)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Operations Associate, Life Time Inc.

What has been your favorite part of the Twin Cities so far? What has made it such a great place to earn an MBA?

I value how livable the Twin Cities are. I grew up between Spearfish, South Dakota and the Twin Cities, so having access to opportunity without losing a sense of space matters to me. The neighborhoods, parks, and pace make it easier to stay grounded while taking on the demands of an MBA.

Carlson MBAs spend a year in hands-on Enterprise programs for Consulting, Branding, Ventures, and Funds. Which program do you intend to enroll in? What excites you most about your Enterprise program?

I plan to enroll in the Ventures Enterprise program. I’ve spent much of my career being the person others look to for direction, so what excites me most about Ventures is the chance to be new again and learn from curiosity instead of experience. Becoming an aunt to my twin sister’s daughter reminded me what it feels like to see things for the first time, and that’s the energy I want to bring into this work within the Ventures program.

Aside from your classmates, experiential learning, and location, what was the key part of the Carlson MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?

What mattered most to me was the continuity of the Carlson curriculum. I completed my last two years of high school through Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) at the University of Minnesota and went on to complete my undergraduate degree there as well. Over time, I came to trust the way I learn within that academic environment. While I was considering programs abroad, Carlson offered the right timing and momentum as I stepped into the MBA.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:

My biggest career accomplishment has been earning trust early and sustaining it over time. At a young age, I was given responsibility for highly visible operations and growing teams in environments where many peers had far more experience. What I value most is having built credibility through consistency and hard work, and learning that being respected has always mattered more to me than being liked.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far:

My biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far has been how I’ve shown up, both for myself and for others. One of the harder adjustments has been continuing to undo my perfectionism, something I’ve worked on over time and now see more clearly in this environment. I’m proud that I’ve maintained strong study habits, taken care of my health, and stayed consistent in my training alongside the demands of the MBA. I’ve also found a lot of meaning in supporting classmates who may not have had the same academic structure before by studying alongside them, tutoring when needed, and helping others find their footing. More than anything, learning to move forward with purpose, even when things feel uncertain, has mattered more to me than any single milestone in the first semester.

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

Some of my best memories as an MBA student have come from small, one-on-one moments. Connecting with professors who genuinely care about how we learn has been meaningful, but what has stood out most has been building relationships within my cohort. Working alongside classmates, supporting one another through uncertainty, and talking honestly about what comes next has reminded me that this experience is as much about people as it is about outcomes. There is something grounding about struggling together, helping one another find direction, and realizing that purpose often comes from connection.

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