Joel Ickovics

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

“Born In Belgium, raised in Israel and served in the IDF Special Forces, passionate about Age Tech.”

Hometown: Tel Aviv | Israel

Undergraduate School and Major: Tel Aviv University | Bsc. in Industrial Engineering and Management

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Wix.com | Senior Business Analyst

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Chicago Booth’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?

Apart from my peers and the location, what drew me to Chicago Booth’s MBA was the focus on integrating analytical excellence and open-minded exploration. This strongly resonated with my academic interests and my aspiration to cultivate a versatile business foundation within a dynamic atmosphere.

The Booth 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? Having three years of experience as a Business Analyst prior to joining Booth, I highly value a data-driven approach to achieve meaningful results. The Booth MBA’s data-driven approach resonates with my passion for both analytics and business, providing an avenue to refine my skills and strategically apply them to informed decision-making in the business world.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Chicago? The course that excites me most at Chicago Booth is the New Venture Challenge. It’s a primary reason for my choice to attend Booth, as I believe this accelerator program is unparalleled and offers a unique platform to cultivate and establish sustainable businesses.

What has been your first impression of the Booth MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best Booth story so far. During my research into various MBA programs, Booth stood out significantly when speaking to current students and alumni. The strong sense of support and willingness to help that I encountered during these interactions were important factors in my decision-making, as having a supportive community was a top priority for me when choosing my MBA.

What makes Chicago such a great place to earn an MBA? Chicago’s dynamic business landscape, top-tier faculty, and collaborative community make it an ideal place to pursue an MBA.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: It was employing a data-driven approach to help millions of small and medium-sized businesses establish a compelling online presence, optimize their SEO strategies, and create tailored online marketing plans to drive significant business growth.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Wharton, Kellogg

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Chicago Booth’s MBA program?  My advice for potential applicants to Chicago Booth’s MBA program is to showcase your authentic self, highlighting how your experiences align with Booth’s values. Engage with current students and alumni to understand the community better and tailor your application to show your enthusiasm for learning and career growth.