Rachel Solomon Nambi

Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business

“Comms professional-turned-product nerd who loves to create – be it writing, product development, or cooking.”

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Fun Fact About Yourself: I performed with an Atlanta-based dance company for five years in festivals, weddings, and nonprofit events – we even did a live TV performance once!

Undergraduate School and Major: Clemson University – B.A., Communication Studies

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Boston Consulting Group – Lead Product Analyst

What excites you most about studying in Washington, DC? I moved to D.C. nine months ago, and it didn’t take long for me to see why so many people love it! The city’s diversity bleeds into every aspect of living here, from great international cuisine to a general sense of belonging no matter where you’re from. On top of that, there is so much opportunity here from an employer standpoint, particularly with Amazon’s HQ2 coming to Arlington.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Georgetown McDonough’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Something that really excited me about Georgetown McDonough was its global focus. In particular, I’m excited about the Global Business Experience, where students work with businesses in another country and then travel to that country to present recommendations. In my previous role, I loved working with people from all around the world, so I’m excited to continue that global element during my MBA.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Georgetown McDonough? I can’t wait to get involved with the Georgetown Gourmet Society and the Explorers Club. Gourmet speaks to my food-obsessed side, and Explorers balances that out with outdoor adventures. There are so many beautiful places to explore in the DMV area that are just a short drive away.

On a more academic front, I’m looking forward to the Marketing Research and Consumer Behavior courses – understanding why people do what they do is so much fun.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: At BCG, I had a great opportunity to work on the firm’s global digital transformation. In that effort, I led an agile product from concept to launch, including the research, design, development, and product rollout. From a technical perspective, I was able to hone my expertise in drafting requirements and working with engineers. From a customer lens, I learned how to apply their feedback to make the product the best it could be. Each step stretched me in a way I hadn’t experienced before – it required a deep level of detail, strategy, and a little bit of thick skin, but the payoff at launch made it all worth it.

How did COVID-19 change your perspective on your career and your life in general? COVID-19 has been a test of resiliency for everyone, and I’ve seen so many go through difficult times as a result. Life is complex, fragile, and brief. I’ve learned that if there is something you want (be it an MBA, a career change, a dog, or whatever else), just go for it – don’t wait to live the life you want for yourself. Separately, I hope when we emerge from this pandemic, we all find ourselves to be more understanding and empathetic towards one another.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? A little over three years ago, I made a career pivot from communications to technology. I decided to return to school for an MBA because I wanted to get a solid business foundation and find a way to merge those two experiences for my next career step. After graduation, I’m looking to pursue a role in product management or marketing within the tech industry.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? University of Maryland

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Georgetown McDonough’s MBA program? This sounds a little cheesy, but I’m going to say it anyway – make sure your application essay comes from the heart. It’s your chance to show the admissions team who you are and what your stand for, particularly if you don’t come from a traditional quantitative background. Also, don’t forget to proofread before submitting!

DON’T MISS: MEET GEORGETOWN MCDONOUGH’S MBA CLASS OF 2023