Master’s in Management: Lacey Mendelson, Notre Dame University (Mendoza)

Student Name: Lacey Mendelson

Graduate Business School: University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business

Describe yourself in 15 words: Empathetic, committed, authentic, hard working, intellectually curious, animal lover, kind, outgoing, family oriented, innovative, reader.

Master’s Graduation Class: 2019.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Michigan, Communication and Media Studies. 

Current Employer and Job Title: Google, Account Manager Associate.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: The pandemic has significantly altered the way we work. Finding innovative ways to support my team and clients while we are all remote has been extremely rewarding.   

Describe your biggest accomplishment as a graduate student: My biggest accomplishment as a graduate student was taking on the role of Teaching Assistant. Through this role, I had the opportunity to meet and work with freshmen and sophomores. Not only was I able to help guide them through the coursework, but I also was able to provide them with perspective from someone who had recently been in their shoes. 

What was the key factor that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Notre Dame’s culture of giving back to the community resonates with me (for example – community service was a part of orientation). Notre Dame’s network is also one of the strongest I’ve been a part of. 

What led you to choose a Master’s in Management over an MBA? Many MBA programs prefer applicants with some work experience. I preferred to enter the program immediately following my Bachelor of Arts degree. In doing so, I gained the valuable business foundation to confidently enter my next role.

What has been your favorite course and how has it helped you in your career? I found Principles of Management to be very helpful, no matter which field you enter. One piece of advice I still carry with me is to read! Whether it is the New York Times daily briefing, the Wall Street Journal, or the Morning Brew – read about what’s going on in the world and in your industry every day. 

What role did your school play in helping you to land your first job out of the program? From the moment the program begins, the faculty does everything they can to prepare each student for the recruitment process. Before the recruiting process begins, all of the students are guided in preparing a strong resume, reworking their LinkedIn profile, and encouraged to begin networking. The faculty also helps students build strong interview skills. I felt very prepared for recruiting events where top companies attend from various industries once the fall semester began.

How did your classmates enhance the value of your business school experience? One of my favorite aspects of the program was how unique everyone was. People came from all different backgrounds with different undergraduate experiences. This enriched my learning greatly.

Who was your favorite faculty member and how did this person enrich your learning? Professor Mike Montalbano had a huge impact on my experience. His course and lectures drew extensively from his previous career experiences. He started classes with activities that made you think critically about the business world. He also took personal interest in everyone’s thoughts and goals for their career.

What is your best advice to an applicant hoping to get into your school’s graduate Master’s program? I would recommend reaching out to a current or past student to get a sense of their experience in the program to help determine if it’s the right fit for you! 

What was your best memory from your Master’s program? The football team went undefeated while I was there!

DON’T MISS: MEET THE MASTERS OF MANAGEMENT