Hi there! My name is Sarah, and I am a rising second year at Booth. I was born and raised in Houston, Texas, where I gained an appreciation for BBQ, TexMex, sauces of all kinds, and vast sprawls of flatlands. I moved to NYC to attend Fordham University where I studied Accounting and developed my pizza palette (NYC pizza is superior to Chicago-style). I started my career as a consultant at IBM, staying in NYC another three years after college. Although NYC is my favorite city in the world, I decided to move to Chicago to be closer to my now fiance.
When I arrived in Chicago, I took a finance and operations role at Groupon, where I stayed for two years before deciding to apply to MBA programs again (I was a reapplicant from 2017). My goals were to build on my business acumen, pivot into growth and strategy roles, and surround myself with diverse and brilliant peers to challenge me and my way of thinking. Of everywhere I looked, Booth was my favorite program (no, I’m not just saying that) for three reasons:
- Community: Every Boothie I met – even before I was admitted – truly embodied the pay-it-forward culture in welcoming me to campus, answering my questions, and helping me navigate the waitlist
- Curriculum: The prioritization of self-awareness and introspection in the curriculum to grow as a leader; and, the encouragement to take classes outside your comfort zone because… hello, grade non-disclosure!
- Chicago Approach: The emphasis of teaching Boothies how to think not what to think, and using a data-driven approach to lead through and succeed in ambiguity
Needless to say, I was ecstatic to join the class of 2021.
I am concentrating in Marketing, Strategic Management, and Entrepreneurship – my favorite class so far is Managerial Decision Making with Professor Anuj Shah! I’m doing my summer internship at Google on their Central Strategy and Operations team, and I’m LOVING it so far. At Booth, I’m an active member of several professional and social groups: Business Technology Group, Marketing Group, Corporate Management Group, Entrepreneurship/VC, Wine Club, and AudioBooth. Additionally, I will be a LEAD Facilitator for the Class of 2022! I also went on RandomWalk Belize, which was the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure.
Some non-professional, non-school related things about me:
I live in Humboldt Park / Wicker Park with my fiance, Harrison, and our shepherd mix, Tesla. I absolutely love going out to eat, especially to take advantage of summer patio season in Chicago. I love wine, and I’ve travelled to vineyards all around the world, namely Waiheke Island, New Zealand, and Tuscany. I’m also incredibly passionate about living more sustainably, and in the process of doing an overhaul of my day-to-day practices. I’m a plant hoarder and I love running (currently training for the Chicago Marathon).
Well, that’s enough about me! I hope you take time to explore all the incredible stories, posts, and resources The Booth Experience Blog has to offer. And, hopefully I’ll get to see you on campus someday soon!
