Ryann Engholm

“Lifelong learner, passionate about servant leadership and driving strategic, system-level improvements in the healthcare space”

Hometown: Bloomington, MN

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have been competing in triathlons for almost 15 years.

Undergraduate School and Major: Central College, IA: B.A. in Exercise Science – Health Promotion emphasis

University of Minnesota, MN: Master of Occupational Therapy

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Acute Care Occupational Therapist, Mayo Clinic

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

My favorite aspect of the Twin Cities is being close to family, especially our two young nephews. There is also no shortage of fun activities in the area all year long, which includes spending time on the lakes, trails, breweries, and visiting the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

Carlson MBA’s 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 chose the Carlson Consulting Enterprise, and I am very excited to be able to learn from such a great group of professionals. I am really looking forward to jumping right into the hands-on learning challenges that await. I am especially excited to work on projects that improve healthcare systems and patient outcomes, building a solid foundation to lead in this space.

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?

I knew Carlson was the best fit for me because of the deep integration with the Twin Cities healthcare and medical device/tech ecosystem. The ability to tailor my education and experiential learning opportunities through the Medical Industry Leadership Institute (MILI) specialization made Carlson the clear choice.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:

I would have to say my proudest accomplishment is consistently investing in my growth, from earning my Master of Occupational Therapy to now pursuing my MBA. Combining this with my diversity of experience and leadership background positions me to influence strategy and improve outcomes for all in the healthcare space.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far:

Being chosen to represent the Carlson Class of 2027 as a Forté Fellow and attending their conference in Denver this past June was a highlight. In addition, attending the Reaching Out MBA (ROMBA) conference in September, and being chosen to lead on the boards for both the MILI Student Association and Compass have been distinct privileges to support key communities within Carlson.

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

My best memories of the Carlson MBA so far center on the multitude of community-building events available to us. There seems to be something for everyone—from community meals to game night-themed TAPS (Thursdays After Professional Studies) social events. These experiences have fostered a close-knit, supportive class culture.

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