Marina Klecha

Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of Management

“A fierce, globe-trotting, outgoing, driven, caring, inclusive, Mexican-Italian woman ecstatic to become a business leader.”

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve lived in the country of Georgia (საქართველო/Sakartvelo), but I have yet to visit the state with the same namesake (it is on my 2022 bucket list though!).

Undergraduate School and Major:

• School: University of California, Davis
• Majors: International Relations & Spanish

Most Recent Employer and Job Title:

• Associate Director of Recruitment & Programing, Admit.me Access
• Management & Communications Specialist Peace Corps Response Volunteer, Peace Corps Georgia

What has been your favorite part of Nashville so far? Why? The food! As a Los Angeles native, I was worried about moving away from the melting pot of food and cultures located on the west coast, but the Nashville food scene is booming. In my short time since moving here this fall, I have had some of the best donuts, tacos, pho and – of course – hot chicken ever! Living in Nashville has allowed me to immerse myself in both my schoolwork and the many offerings that a diverse metropolitan city can provide.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Vanderbilt Owen’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I elected Vanderbilt for my MBA for numerous reasons. Not only is the Owen Graduate School of Management a top-ranked MBA program, but it also offers a concentration (Human & Organizational Performance) in my desired field of expertise (Human Resources – HR). This concentration, the alumni network, and the corresponding club for students interested in the field, has allowed me to personalize and broaden my education all while collaborating with individuals in the HR sector. Being at a program that values both the quantitate material, as well as our leadership development, has allowed me to secure a top Human Resources Summer Internship and take the next steps towards turning my career goals into reality.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Vanderbilt Owen? As an non-traditional business school candidate who majored in International Relations and Spanish in undergrad, I particularly enjoyed Managerial Statistics with Professor Alan. Understanding how to interpret and analyze data has been the basis for many of the courses at Owen, and Professor Alan did a fantastic job at setting myself and my classmates up for success. I not only felt that my unique perspective was valued in the classroom, but I appreciated how Professor Alan always paralleled theory with everyday application and relevance. Five years ago, I never would have predicted that I would be coding, graphing, and calculating the standard deviation of a data set to confidently make educated business decisions, but here I am! This course allowed me to develop my quantitative skills and provided me with a strong basis to continue my business education going forward.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: As a part of my Peace Corps service in the country of Georgia, I applied for and was awarded with a $4,000 grant to create a state-of-the-art conference and collaboration room for the Kakheti local government and their constituents. This room provided access to research and workshop space not otherwise available to the community, increasing the capacity of economic, social, and local industry development.

Upon renovating and furnishing the room, I was then able to conduct various technology training sessions to educate the government staff with the technological literacy needed to manage the room and its equipment. The room continues to be used for community meetings, workshops, and presentations to this day. It has also been a particularly significant resource as a result of Georgia’s social distancing practices during the current global pandemic. This room has allowed the local government to virtually participate in meetings, host press conferences, and hold high level social distanced events when needed – all of which would have been virtually impossible without the furnishings and remodel done with said earned grant. Despite missing my post in Georgia dearly, I am honored to have left such an impact on my host community.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? I have consciously tried to immerse myself in the Vanderbilt community and have attempted to take advantage of the numerous opportunities available. With that being said, my biggest accomplishment an MBA student thus far was being appointed the Director President of the Women’s Business Association (WBA).

As the largest club within Owen, my participation in WBA has been particularly meaningful as I work to bridge the gender gap in the business sector and support my female-identifying classmates on campus. From hosting alumni networking sessions, bonding activities, imposter syndrome workshops, and final review sessions, I am honored to serve as an executive leader in the club and make the Owen experience more inclusive for my classmates. This past week, we partnered with the Vanderbilt Owen Admissions Department to host a prospective student informational session to further increase transparency throughout the application process and support the many female-identifying business school candidates. The WBA has not only fostered a sense of community for myself on campus, but it has also connected me to many of the amazing women in my program who I now call close friends and confidants. I intend to continue my participation in the WBA as long as I can and look forward to creating and enhancing opportunities for personal and professional development for our club members.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? I intend to utilize my MBA to further a career in the Human Resources (HR) and Organizational Development sector. I am motivated to do so after seeing a stark difference in fostered inclusion and diversity between my previous employers. I have experienced the value that comes out of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment, and I have also experienced the downsides and ostracization that can occur in a homogeneous work environment. I hope to change this culture by earning an MBA to accelerate a career where I can work to enhance both inclusion and productivity in the workplace. I am confident that my current education at Vanderbilt will provide me with the skills and professional experience needed to expedite and legitimize my career path towards a leadership position in HR.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Vanderbilt Owen’s MBA program?  Be true to yourself! Vanderbilt may be known as the “Harvard of the South,” but Owen is known for its competitive, not cutthroat, environment. This program strives to attract top talent, but we are also a tight-knit community were all are welcome to come as they are. Our diversity in thought, culture, race, and work history is what makes the Owen experience special. Owen provides students with a high-quality education on a personal scale, so be intentional with your time and take advantage of the many opportunities available to make your goals a reality.

DON’T MISS: MEET VANDERBILT OWEN’S MBA CLASS OF 2023