Joshua Soulliere

Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business

“An inquisitive soul, driven to climb all of life’s mountains.”

Hometown: Corning, New York

Fun Fact About Yourself: In May, I recently finished my first half-marathon in under 2 hours. (Ok, it was 1:58:17, but that still counts!)

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Pittsburgh, B.S. in Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: LEAF Commercial Capital, Senior Business Intelligence Analyst

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Carnegie Mellon’s MBA curriculum and programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The program’s proactive emphasis on implementing AI in business is what most attracted me to Carnegie Mellon. Ethically implementing Artificial Intelligence in business is a key initiative within the school’s strategic plan, and it is an active part of the program’s curriculum. We are already beginning to see how this technology is reshaping the world we live in and how we operate businesses within it. These changes are only the small beginnings of a many larger transformations to come. That is why it is important to me to adapt to the ever-changing environment by learning the skills and ethical implications of this new wave of innovation. With Carnegie Mellon’s programming, I feel best equipped to do so.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Carnegie Mellon? I am most excited for Tepper Outdoor Adventure Club. I love being out in nature. Whether it is hiking, cycling, or kayaking, creating the space to be a part of creation is restoring.

The Tepper MBA is known for intensive one-on-one coaching and personal development. What area do you hope to strengthen during your two years in business school and why? I am looking to broaden my horizons. Being logistically minded with an emphasis on long-term planning, I tend to map out all potential roadblocks and requirements of opportunities. While this tendency has helped with prepping for projects and time management, it may limit the opportunities that I consider. Knowing that growth comes from the experience of leaving one’s comfort zone, I want to broaden my horizons to all opportunities as I progress through the program.

The Tepper MBA is also known for being highly data-driven Why does the program’s focus on quantitative analysis and decision-making appeal to you? How have been able to leverage this approach in your career so far? Coming from a business intelligence background, I experienced the value of quantitative decision-making in action. Data, when properly collected, cleaned, and presented, can provide an understandable framework to the most complex problems. In my career, I have used quantitative analysis to provide key portfolio benchmarks and actionable intelligence to executives. Quantitative analysis is appealing as a powerful tool and a cornerstone of informed decision-making.

When you think of Carnegie Mellon University, what is the first word that comes to mind? Why? Visionary. Whether it is arts, business, or science, Carnegie Mellon has a storied history of visionaries looking to shape the world around them.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment in my career was winning the LEAF Champion Award for outstanding service and commitment. Within the third quarter of 2023, I helped trailblaze risk reporting for a successful securitization issuance, presented a personally redeveloped portfolio analysis tool to executives, and spearheaded business intelligence system testing for an upcoming platform conversion. Each one of projects presented a unique mountain of obstacles, but the reward of striving through every challenge was incredibly fulfilling.

DON’T MISS: MEET CARNEGIE MELLON TEPPER’S MBA CLASS OF 2027

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