Meet The MBA Class of 2022: Lazar Lazarov, University of Minnesota (Carlson)

Lazar Lazarov

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

“An international with one foot in the West and the other in the East.”

Hometown: Dobrich, Bulgaria

Fun Fact About Yourself: Moved 6 times in the last 7 years, 3 times across country borders.

Undergraduate School and Major: Newcastle University, United Kingdom; Major: Computer Science

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: BEST Foundation, Executive Director

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? By far, it was the four Enterprise programs: Consulting, Brands, Ventures, and Funds. As I only had two years of work between my undergraduate degree and my MBA, I wanted this opportunity to get incredible work experience as part of my program.

At Carlson, you are part of one of the most dynamic business environments in the country. What has made the Twin Cities such a great place to live and learn for you? The Twin Cities have been a revelation, combining one of the highest concentrations of Fortune 500 companies in the US with the Midwestern charm I’d heard so much about before moving to the States.

What quality best describes your MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Humility. Everyone is here to learn from the faculty and each other. They aren’t afraid to be honest about it, and that makes them so amazing to work with.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In my first year as Executive Director of the BEST Foundation in Bulgaria, I was in charge of organizing the largest international public speaking tournament we’d held. We had students from over 30 high schools across 7 countries in Eastern Europe. Check out this short video of the event to see what BEST is all about!

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? Aside from academic success, I have been incredibly lucky to get a chance to represent my international classmates on the Board of our MBA Association. I have been advocating for and assisting with projects such as adding a STEM designation to our MBA degrees, including international students in our DE&I plan, and ensuring the welfare of those who could not join us in the Twin Cities this year due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I was with the BEST Foundation for 6 years. Towards the end, I was running out of fresh ideas on how to bring us closer to our vision. Obtaining a formal business education is equipping me with a skill set that would allow me to imagine new and exciting ways to help organizations reach their goals.

DON’T MISS: MEET MINNESOTA CARLSON’S MBA CLASS OF 2022

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