Meet the MBA Class of 2022: Albany Mulholland, MIT (Sloan)

Albany Mulholland

MIT, Sloan School of Management

A miner seeking his next adventure.”

Hometown: Cheltenham, England

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have a thing for horses.

Undergraduate School and Major: Harvard College, Mechanical and Material Sciences and Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: First Quantum Minerals, Mine Optimization Engineer

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the school’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Having left Boston 8 years ago, when I graduated from college, I wanted to return. In addition to the location, as someone who enjoys practical work and with an interest in engineering, Sloan’s rigorous, STEM designated MBA program made the course particularly attractive.

When you think of MIT, what are the first things that come to mind? How have your experiences with the Sloan program thus far reinforced or upended these early impressions? Engineering, technology, and innovation are the first things that come to mind when I think of MIT. I am yet to start the program but have already received numerous emails about opportunities to be involved with start-ups and collaborate on projects with other graduate students across the university. I have no doubt that once the semester is underway there will be even more exciting projects to be a part of.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? With the pandemic in full swing, I’m yet to physically meet any of my classmates. There has, however, been lots of communication on Slack admit groups and I’ve been struck by how helpful and supportive the current and incoming students have been.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Making a successful transition from the Army to the mining industry was probably my biggest accomplishment so far in my career. In leaving the military, I had to find new motivation and learn to value working in a commercial environment. At first, I found the move unsettling but as I developed relationships and gained experience, I became excited about my work, the daily challenges and the long-term goals.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Having graduated from college eight years ago, I felt that if I didn’t study for an MBA now it would be too late. Furthermore, over the course of my career so far, I have gained military and technical engineering experience but my exposure to business decision-making has been limited. By studying for an MBA now it will compliment my other experiences and open up new opportunities.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? HBS.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? I’m not sure it was the most difficult question, but a tricky one I remember receiving from Dawna Levenson, Assistant Dean of Admissions, was this: “Where should I go for dinner tonight?”

What was the most impact factor in choosing a business school? How did you evaluate fit according to that factor? Recommendations from people I trust and gut instinct were how I chose Sloan. I used to work closely with a Sloanie and she was very influential in my decision to apply. In addition, I felt that with my engineering background and Sloan’s reputation for having a rigorous MBA program, it would be a good fit.

What was your defining moment and how did it prepare you for business school? At 13, I won a bursary to attend Gordonstoun School, in the North of Scotland. I firmly believe that this was the seminal moment in my life that broadened my horizons and provided a whole host of new opportunities. Without this happening, I doubt I would have applied to study in the United States.

What is your favorite company and what could business students learn from studying it? I am currently following a gold and copper mining company called Solgold. The company holds the rights to many extremely prospective mining concessions in Ecuador that have the potential to contain the next tier 1 copper-gold deposit. What makes the company interesting is that it is relatively small, given the assets it has, but it has an ambitious board of directors who have big expansion plans for the company. Business students could learn much about first mover advantage, risk management, project finance and the importance of copper supply as the world moves towards electrification from Solgold.

DON’T MISS: Meet MIT Sloan’s MBA Class Of 2022

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