Meet The Minnesota Carlson MBA Class Of 2027

The MBA students at the Minnesota Carlson School of Management may have drastically different backgrounds, but they share a remarkably similar ambition.

Looking at the Class of 2027, you might find a former Army officer working alongside a pediatric nurse, a physician discussing healthcare innovation with an aspiring investor, or students from across the Midwest collaborating with classmates from around the world.

What connects these students is their shared curiosity and a desire to grow into leaders capable of making a meaningful impact. Whether they’re pursuing healthcare, consulting, finance, or strategy, Carlson students consistently describe the program as a place to build connections and grow alongside others.

THE CONNECTION TO THE TWIN CITIES

One of Carlson’s major strengths is its deep connection to the surrounding business community.

Day in and day out, students are interacting directly with companies, executives, alumni, and organizations throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul.

That exposure gives MBAs a preview into the professional world they hope to enter while helping them build valuable relationships along the way.

MBA Julia Connly, a Saint Paul native who describes herself as “a tech-savvy food, healthcare and sports enthusiast who always finds time to hit the trails,” says Carlson’s programming has helped her better understand the business landscape around her.

“I have gained valuable knowledge around the types of projects that are happening across many different industries,” she says. “Plus I met many talented leaders, and feel that this will prepare me well for my future career.”

Students choose Carlson for many different reasons. Connly chose this school for the many opportunities to attend events with local companies, she says.

Originally from Modasa, India, Nupur Kothari came to Carlson after working as a Medical Director and Physician at Unity Hospital.

WHY CARLSON WAS THE RIGHT FIT

Kothari is an extremely passionate healthcare professional who cares about connecting medicine to industry, and Carlson’s Medical Industry Leadership Institute (MILI) stood out immediately to her.

“I wanted a program that was going to help me more deeply understand the medical industry and how to innovate within it,” Kothari says. “With Carlson’s Medical Industry Leadership Institute (MILI), there was no better choice for my MBA.”

The opportunity to learn from healthcare leaders and alumni has already been invaluable to her. “I have already learned so much through MILI’s network of medical industry alums and the high quality, informative programs,” she says.

For MBA Fue Xiong, “The key part of the Carlson MBA curriculum that led me to choose the program was its recognition as one of the most Military Friendly MBA programs,” he says.

Originally from Thailand and now living in St. Paul, Xiong describes himself as grounded, curious, and ambitious, driven by service, growth, and building things that matter. As he transitions from technical military work into broader leadership roles, Xiong says Carlson’s focus on ethical leadership and strategic decision-making has helped sharpen his values.

“Carlson’s approach validates my background while challenging me to sharpen it through value-creation, strategic thinking, and decisioning,” he explains.

A LOCATION WITH ‘RARE BALANCE’

Within the Twin Cities, Carlson students have direct access to Fortune 500 companies, healthcare systems, startups, and an active alumni network.  Students say that balance between professional opportunity and personal connection is one of the region’s biggest advantages.

For Xiong, Minneapolis-St. Paul represents both opportunity and home. “Since arriving in the United States in 2004, I have lived in and explored the Twin Cities, and my favorite part has been witnessing its growth into a more vibrant and culturally diverse community,” Xiong says.

From Prescott, Wisconsin, Mikyla Simones is one who laughs easily, lives on a horse farm, and follows curiosity wherever food, service, and travel lead.

“The Twin Cities strike a rare balance: world-class healthcare and corporate innovation paired with a genuinely collaborative, grounded community,” Simones says.

For Simones, the ability to learn from organizations like Medtronic, Mayo Clinic, and Boston Scientific while still finding time to recharge outdoors makes the experience feel both energizing and sustainable. “It’s a place where big ideas feel accessible, relationships feel real, and the learning extends well beyond the classroom,” she says.

Carlson MBA Manushi Patel is a Woodbury native and former pediatric nurse pursuing both an MBA and MHA. For her, its the accessibility of the Twin Cities has made the MBA feel immediately practical.

Patel is passionate about translating frontline care experience into strategic healthcare leadership.

At Carlson, “It’s easy to go from class to a healthcare leadership event or an alumni conversation and actually see how what we’re learning applies in the real world.”

THE POWER OF ENTERPRISE LEARNING

Carlson’s Enterprise Programs give students the opportunity to work on hands-on projects in consulting, branding, ventures, and investment management while still in school.

For many students, this is one of the most transformative parts of their MBA journey because they are connecting classroom learning to real business challenges.

Patel is enrolled in the Carlson Consulting Enterprise (CCE), where she is developing consulting and communication skills while broadening her perspective outside healthcare.

“What excites me most is the opportunity to apply classroom concepts to real client engagements while developing structured problem-solving and executive communication skills,” Patel says.

Jay Peterson, who grew up in Ely, Minnesota, is an MBA whose rooted in Midwestern values. He says the Funds Enterprise was one of the main reasons he chose Carlson.

Peterson says the opportunity to manage real capital alongside classmates and experienced mentors has made the experience especially exciting.

“I’m especially excited to deepen that knowledge by managing real capital in a team-based setting with professional oversight and guidance,” he explains.

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT SHAPED THEIR JOURNEY

Many Carlson students entered the program with significant leadership experience already behind them — experiences that continue shaping how they approach business school today.

For Peterson, one of the defining moments of his career was during his final year serving in the Army.

“Despite having no prior experience in Army medical or recruiting, I was asked to lead a 16-person team and quickly develop and execute a strategic plan to address recruiting shortfalls,” Peterson says.

A lifelong learner from passionate about driving improvements in the healthcare space, MBA Ryann Engholm says his greatest accomplishment has been continually investing in his own growth.

“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,” Engholm says.

A Bloomington native, Engholm says combining clinical expertise with business leadership is part of his broader goal to improve healthcare systems on a larger scale.

DEFINING MOMENTS DURING THEIR MBA

While many students arrived at Carlson with impressive professional experience, several say some of their most meaningful milestones have happened during their time in their MBA.

For Engholm, being selected as a Forté Fellow representing the Carlson Class of 2027 became one of those moments.

“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,” he shares.

MBA Kyle Blank from Alexandria, Minnesota, says his biggest accomplishment was simply deciding to take the leap into business school.

Blank describes himself as a kind and thoughtful leader who cultivates the best in others through empathy, drive, and collaboration.

“Making the decision to change careers and return to school required stepping away from a path where I was comfortable and confident,” Blank says.

Fully committing to the MBA experience has helped him challenge assumptions, build new skills, and engage more intentionally with classmates and opportunities around him.

THE MOMENTS THEY WILL REMEMBER THE MOST

When students reflect on their favorite MBA memories, many point not to the classroom, but to the relationships formed along the way. The late nights, stressful group projects, and moments of support between classmates often become the experiences that stick with them most.

For Blank, one standout memory was Friendsgiving, where first- and second-year students gathered together outside class.

“My best MBA memory so far has been how close our first- and second-year classes have gotten,” Blank says.

That party reminded him how connected the Carlson community is and how much students learn from one another beyond academics alone.

MBA Jordan Lenway from Austin, Minnesota, says many of his favorite memories was during the stressful moments of first-year MBA life.

Lenway describes himself as data-driven and people leader.

“It may seem minuscule, but many of my favorite memories go back to the long hours of studying, project work, and joking about the stresses of first year MBA problems with my fellow classmates,” he says.“There is something special about misery with good company!”

A motorcycle enthusiast and self-described metalhead from Spearfish, South Dakota, MBA Mai Richards, says her favorite memories have often come from one-on-one moments with classmates and professors.

“There is something grounding about struggling together, helping one another find direction, and realizing that purpose often comes from connection,” she says.

Next page: An interview with Minnesota Carlson’s assistant dean of the MBA program

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