Tommy Sommer

Kelley School of Business at Indiana University

“From epileptic to baseball pro: competitive, team-first, relentlessly analytical. I turn adversity into advantage.”

Hometown: Carmel, IN

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am a German American dual citizen.

Undergraduate School and Major: Indiana University Kelley School of Business, Major: Finance

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Professional Baseball Player (Pitcher), Chicago White Sox

In the second half of the year, you will be completing an Academy devoted to areas like Marketing, Finance, Operations, Digital Enterprises and more. Which Academy interests you the most and why? The Strategic Finance Academy interests me most because it aligns with my strengths and long-term goals in P&A (Financial Planning & Analysis). I’m analytical, thrive in team settings, and find energy in solving complex problems collaboratively. I take pride in being someone my team can rely on when challenges arise. More than that, I’m driven by the opportunity to work internally. Solving real business problems from the inside out, not just as an external advisor, provides a level of fulfillment I seek. It’s more personal, more impactful, and where I see myself making a difference.

At the beginning of the school year, you will be completing Me, Inc., where you will engage in reflections and exercises to build your personal brand? In one sentence, describe your personal brand and how will it add value to the classmates and future employers? I’m a resilient, team-driven strategist with a professional baseball background and a sharp analytical mind. My skills have been honed through years of competing in high-leverage situations—where preparation, adaptability, and clear decision-making mean everything. Whether on the field or in the boardroom, I bring focus, trust, and a commitment to high performance. I thrive under pressure, simplify the complex, and believe the best solutions come when sharp minds work together.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Indiana Kelley’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Kelley’s first semester Core experience was the key factor that drew me to the program. Coming from a sports background, I thrive in team environments, and the Core mirrors that dynamic by fostering immediate collaboration. It’s more than just a curriculum—it’s a way to build meaningful bonds from day one. Starting the two-year MBA journey alongside a dedicated team not only builds community but sets the tone for the collaborative learning ahead. Just as important, the Core provides structured exposure to several disciplines: finance, marketing, leadership, and strategy. I was not completely sure what avenue I wanted to take. This allows us to discover our strengths and interests early.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Indiana Kelley? As a former four-year letterman in baseball, I will be assisting the baseball program part-time as a member of their Alumni Board of Directors and an assistant coach working with player personnel and analytical development team. I will look to participate in other activities within the MBA program exclusively, but this is a unique angle at Indiana University that I am excited to pursue.

Looking at your recruitment, what was the moment when you realized Indiana Kelley was the right program for you? Why? As a lifelong Hoosier, Indiana University has a soft spot in my heart. However, going through the recruiting process, I wanted to find a great fit, regardless of my loyalties. The moment that I realized Indiana University was the right choice was after I networked with two current second-year members of the program. The woman was a schoolteacher and camp counselor. The man was a Special Operations military veteran. As a former athlete also navigating the business landscape for the first time, I felt welcomed by people that were taking the road less traveled. They reiterated the emphasis on personal growth Kelley puts on our development, specifically through Me, Inc. As someone coming from a unique background, that was a selling point for me.

What has been your biggest achievement in your career? The greatest achievement of my professional career was getting drafted into Major League Baseball. As an amateur player, being drafted is the ultimate goal from the time you are eight- or nine-years-old. As I grew up in the game, I idolized people from Indiana that played college baseball and ultimately got drafted. They were the trailblazers who allowed me to believe that path was possible for myself. In today’s age of evolving technology, timelines shorten, and people’s goal horizon follows. For me, I had been fixated on playing professional baseball for eight years. My passion for the sport inspired me to do everything I could to pursue it as far as I could go. I woke up early to train, I stayed up late to watch baseball on TV. Baseball consumed my life and became my identity. To hear my name called in the MLB draft was the culmination of eight years of so much work, stress, and emotion that I will always cherish the accomplishment of that goal.

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