Rachel Hagani

Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business

“Curious, engaged, and energized; driven to build med tech solutions that have an impact.”

Hometown: Woodbridge, Connecticut

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love designing and knitting my own clothing- sweaters, mittens, and everything in between.

Undergraduate School and Major: Carnegie Mellon University, Mechanical Engineering (BS) and Biomedical Engineering (MS)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Medtronic, Research & Development Engineer (New Product Development)

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? I’m pursuing an MBA to complement my engineering foundation with strong business and strategic capabilities. Because I aim to apply these skills in a highly technical industry such as med tech, it was essential that my MBA program reflect a deep commitment to technology, innovation, and data-driven decision-making.

Carnegie Mellon stood out to me for its uniquely tech-focused MBA, analytically rigorous curriculum, and strong emphasis on entrepreneurship. The program’s integration of business and technology – from its focus on AI and digital transformation to its support for startup ventures – aligns perfectly with my career goals. It offers the ideal environment for someone like me who wants to bridge engineering with business to drive impactful innovation.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Carnegie Mellon? I’m most excited to join the Tepper School Racquet Club. I’ve been an avid squash player since middle school. Although I have taken a two-year hiatus, I’m eager to get back on the court. The club’s blend of fun and friendly competition will be the perfect way to reconnect with a sport I love while building community with fellow students. I’m looking forward to sharpening my skills, meeting people from across disciplines, and balancing academics with something active and energizing.

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? Coming from an engineering background, I’m confident in my technical and analytical skills, but I recognize that to lead effectively in the med tech industry, I need to further develop my leadership presence and strategic communication abilities. Through one-on-one coaching, I hope to strengthen my ability to communicate complex ideas clearly to diverse stakeholders, from engineers to investors to clinicians, and to lead cross-functional teams with empathy and influence. As I transition from a technical contributor to a business leader, I see these skills as essential for driving innovation and impact.

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 you been able to leverage this approach in your career so far? The Tepper School’s data-driven approach to business education aligns perfectly with both my technical background and professional aspirations. Throughout my engineering career, I have consistently relied on quantitative analysis to guide decision-making, largely through the process of designing prototypes, implementing test procedures, analyzing performance data, and refining designs based on empirical results. This methodical, evidence-based thinking has become second nature to me. Applying the same analytical rigor to strategic business decisions feels like a natural progression, and it’s precisely what draws me to Tepper’s emphasis on data and analytics in leadership.

When you think of Carnegie Mellon University, what is the first word that comes to mind? Why? When I think of Carnegie Mellon University, the first word that comes to mind is passion. During my time as an undergrad student at CMU, I was constantly inspired by the deep enthusiasm and drive of those around me – peers, professors, and friends. It was in this environment that my own passion for med tech was sparked and nurtured. CMU challenged me to grow not only academically and professionally but also personally, and that growth was fueled by the shared sense of purpose and curiosity that defines the CMU community.  I am eager to be immersed in this environment once again, where I can learn from a driven and diverse cohort, nurture my existing passions, and discover new ones.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: One of the most rewarding accomplishments in my career to date was contributing to the successful initiation of a first-in-human clinical trial for a Class III implantable medical device. As a key member of the R&D team, I had developed deep expertise in the device’s design and procedural use, which positioned me to take on a frontline role in supporting its clinical deployment.

To ensure safe and effective trial execution, I led the training for the first 10 interventional physicians participating in the FDA Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) study. I conducted hands-on sessions focused on device handling, procedural nuances, and real-time troubleshooting strategies. Seeing those physicians confidently deploy a product I had helped bring from concept to launch was incredibly fulfilling. Beyond the technical achievement, the experience underscored the human impact of medical device pursuits- watching the first patients benefit from the device brought a powerful sense of purpose and reaffirmed my passion for med tech innovation.

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

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