Julia Boserup

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

“Former professional athlete with drive, ambition, a sense of humor, and an intellectual curiosity.”

Hometown: Newport Beach, CA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am a dual citizen of the United States and Denmark

Undergraduate School and Major: Penn State University – Psychology and Finance

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Employer: Women’s Tennis Association (WTA)

Titles:

Professional Tennis Player 

For the past ten years, I competed in professional tournaments worldwide including Wimbledon, the US Open, French Open, and Australian Open.

WTA Player Council Representative

I was elected by my peers as one of eight representatives on the Player Council, which reports to and elects the WTA Board. I represent the interests of players ranked between 50 and 100. In this role, I work closely with the WTA Board on all business aspects of the sports. These projects included prize money distribution, tournament selection, evaluating sponsor bids, and advocating for better player policies.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I reached the third round of Wimbledon in 2016 and achieved a career-high ranking of number 80 in the world. During my career, I won three international tournament titles in singles, and two in doubles.

On the Player Council, I was instrumental in designing a new maternity leave policy for professional tennis players and increasing prize money for a broader range of players.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? I have been impressed by the pay-it-forward culture at Booth. From the day I was admitted, I have felt like a part of a community that supports and challenges each other. My classmates are funny, kind, and extremely smart!

What makes Chicago such a great place to earn an MBA degree? I am new to Chicago and have loved it so far. For a big city, it is extremely manageable and there are so many things to do and neat areas to explore. Most Booth students live downtown and campus is a quick train ride away.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? I was drawn to Booth’s analytical approach to solving business problems. It is important to me that I build a solid foundation of business skills on which I can build for the rest of my career and Booth felt like the best fit for me.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? My goal is to join a consulting firm, so I look forward to interacting with my classmates in the Management Consulting Group. On the lighter side, I plan to test my improv skills in “Follies” and explore Chicago with the Epicurean Club.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? There isn’t one specific question that stands out to me. I felt that across the admissions process, Booth stood out as a program that asked questions designed to find out about my personality and how I go about making decisions. It was both challenging and productive in that it caused me to reflect on myself and ultimately helped me realize that Booth was the best fit for me.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I loved representing my peers on the WTA Player Council – it was fascinating to see what was happening behind the scenes and I enjoyed problem-solving on the business side of our sport. I saw the potential to combine my perspective as a pro athlete with strong business knowledge, so when I got injured last year and could no longer compete on the tennis court, I knew that an MBA would be a great next step.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I also applied to Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, and Berkeley.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? During the application process, I attended information sessions, webinars, and reached out to alumni and current students at my target schools. I asked a lot of questions about culture and tried to understand what set each school apart. My campus visits for interviews were the most helpful in ultimately determining my best fit. Everything clicked when I visited Booth for my interview. I connected well with the current students I met and felt at home right away.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? When I was twelve years old, I moved across the country to train at the US national training center. From a young age, I was exposed to the highest levels of competition and learned the value of persistence in the face of both wins and losses. My journey has shaped who I am today, and I am excited to apply the skills and experiences that I have gained to a career in business.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? The great part about an MBA is that it can lead you down many different paths. After graduation, I hope to join a management consulting firm and make an impact on businesses across different industries. Later in my career, it would be rewarding to combine my business skills with my experience as a pro athlete, through a leadership position in the sports world.