Meet NYU Stern’s MBA Class Of 2023

Team project meeting

10 REASONS TO CONSIDER NYU STERN MBA

1) New York City: “I see Stern’s location in New York City as an opportunity in the classroom. Some of the world’s most successful business leaders live and work just a couple minutes commute away, making it easy for them to come in regularly as guest speakers. This proximity also gives students the ability to consistently network with employers and future colleagues to get a feel for different company cultures before graduation.”
Javier Araujo O’Neill (’23)

2) Stern Speaks: “My favorite tradition at Stern is listening to students tell their personal stories at Stern Speaks and then walking over to Stern Social every Thursday (pre-COVID). Stern Speaks is an event where students volunteer to talk about their personal lives and stories in front of a filled lecture hall. I found that these stories would usually be very emotional and force me to think about my classmates and my own life in a different light. This would be followed by a fun and easy-going night of socializing, where I was able to make new friends and build relationships with existing ones. The stark contrast between these back-to-back events, from very serious to easy-going, always reminded me of the depth and breadth of relationships you can build at Stern.”
Krithik Tirupapuliyur (’21)

3) EQ + IQ: “To me, EQ is about both understanding and seeking out the incredible value that comes from ensuring others feel heard, understood, valued, and represented. It has been the foundation of so many of the authentic, trusted, client and colleague relationships I have formed in my career. I strongly believe that leaders should work constantly to strengthen those “EQ” muscles. It’s not just because it’s the “right thing to do,” but because again-and-again, I have seen it lead to stronger solutions and happier, more creative, more inspired teams.”
Sarah Mathison (‘23)

“Here at Stern, where I’m earning my MBA, IQ + EQ (intelligence and emotional quotients) is a core value. Sternies are living testaments to these qualities. Not only does the entire application require a minimum of 2 EQ endorsements, your essays and interviews need to showcase them as well. Stern also has a smaller cohort (our class size is 320). This creates a more tight-knit community; you’re not just another face nor number. Being in the most diverse city in the world, it attracts people who crave diversity or embody it. EQ is not something that’s desired at Stern, it’s necessary.”
Phan Hoang (’22)

Street view of New York University NYU in Greenwich Village Manhattan.

4) Doing Business In: “I am most excited about the Doing Business in (DBi) courses. DBi courses afford students the opportunity to spend 1-2 weeks in different countries taking classes and conducting corporate and cultural visits. They are great opportunities to learn how business is conducted in different countries.”
Emily Kaelber (’23)

5) World Class Faculty: “One of the key parts of NYU Stern’s programming that appealed to me was its world class education, specifically heralded by people such as Aswath Damodaran. I read some of his lectures and notes that are available online. I was struck not only by his knowledge of the financial landscape, but also the passion with which he teaches his courses. I knew that I wanted to be a part of a program that prides itself in education, and that is Stern to me.”
Dominic Kang (’23)

6) Veterans Support: NYU Stern’s Fertitta Veterans Program was a key part of my decision to attend NYU. This unique opportunity helps military veterans in their transition to business school by allowing them to start classes and explore different career paths through a summer intensive before the rest of the class starts in the fall.
Emily Kaelber (’23)

7) Experiential Learning: “I have always learned best by doing: the faster I get to start applying new knowledge, tackling messy exceptions, and having a hands-on impact, the better. While many schools lean into the theme of “experiential learning” in their programs, I believe it simply doesn’t get more hands-on, in a more collaborative model, than Stern. Whether it’s the experiential learning courses, DBi study abroad opportunities, Stern Solutions, or more – I felt that Stern had the ingredients I need, in the style I learn from best, to design the career I hope for.”
Sarah Mathison (‘23)

8) Follies: “Every year, students put on a series of skits about life at NYU Stern called Follies. Normally, this is in-person, but due to COVID, we had to transition to a virtual format this year. Many of us had organized zoom watch parties, so even though I was alone, it was as if I was watching everything with my friends. For the first time in weeks, I laughed without worrying if the supermarket will be empty again tomorrow, or if my mom would be able to stay safe during the pandemic. This is why Follies was my favorite tradition at Stern.”
Katarina Ernestus (’21)

9) Leadership Fellow: “The Leadership Fellows program, part of Stern’s Change: Studio programming, brings students together on a journey to harness their leadership strengths and hone their skills in “Daring, Dreaming, and Driving Change” – all while learning as much from veteran leaders as from fellow classmates. I am so excited to hopefully participate in such a meaningful leadership development program that is both highly collaborative and deeply introspective all at once.”
Sarah Mathison (‘23)

10) Entertainment: “NYU Stern offers a wide range of courses that focus on the entertainment space which was crucial for me. The path for an MBA in entertainment does not feel as straightforward as in other industries, so I wanted to ensure that I can hone skills applicable to my target industry.”
Lance Banks (’23)

Wall Street has always gotten most of its MBAs from a handful of elite schools.

ADMISSIONS ADVICE TO FUTURE APPLICANTS

“It’s going to sound cliché, but I can’t stress it enough: be yourself. NYU Stern has a unique essay called the Pick Six, which asks the applicant to choose six images that best represent themselves. I remember really having a hard time with this essay because I was trying to choose the six images that would impress the admissions committee. However, I slowly realized that this essay wasn’t about trying to impress someone – it was about explaining who I was and am. It takes self-awareness to do so, and I think that’s what you need to show throughout the process. You have to realize that you bring something to the table, and knowing who you are and being yourself is the best way to do so.”
Dominic Kang (’23)

Use the process to be truly introspective about both the big and little things in work and life that engage and drive you, give you energy, and make you who you are. In turn, hare those things candidly and enthusiastically in both your application and interviews. Stern’s unique “Pick Six” personal expression essay is very special because you can convey anything you want to, truly in your own words (and images!). Then, with admission, you know that this program sees a place for your whole self in this amazing community as exactly who you are, and who you aspire to be!
Sarah Mathison (‘23)

How did COVID change how the Class of 2023 approached life? What do class members hope to do after graduation? What are their secrets for landing an acceptance letter from NYU Stern? Click on the links below to get answers like these from incoming first-years. 

MBA Student Hometown Undergrad Alma Mater Last Employer
Javier Araujo O’Neill Miami, FL Florida International University J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
Lance Banks Dallas, TX Yale University Superfly
Brittany Fidalgo Lake Mary, FL Brown University Morris Adjmi Architects
Emily Kaelber Wallkill, NY United States Military Academy Facebook
Dominic Kang Westborough, MA CUNY Baruch QS Investors
Sarah Mathison San Diego, CA UCLA Mercer
Gustavo Valverde Rezende Juiz de Fora, Brazil UFJF (Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora) Anga&Din4mo
Saskia van Rheenen Hilversum, The Netherlands Utrecht University Nike

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