Each year, a diverse class of 600 MBAs descend on the University of Chicago campus, kicking off the new academic year – with the frenzy of fall quarter, it can be hard to meet all the incredible people bopping around Harper, so we’re excited to introduce you to five new members of the Booth community!
Leslie is a former art appraiser who was drawn to Booth because of it’s flexible curriculum and commitment to rigorous exploration of cross-disciplinary fields. Similarly, Oscar, a McKinsey consultant with a penchant for singing in the shower, is also excited by Booth’s data-driven approach to business education. Kimberly was an orthopedic surgeon who hopes to leverage her business exposure to solve healthcare industry-level problems. Jason, a JD/MBA, is a US Air Force Veteran and avid baker, whose recipes have been featured at a two-Michelin-starred restaurant. And Lastly, Avia is a restauranteur, who hopes to bring together different people and cultures through food.
Read their stories below!
Name: Leslie Bergmann
Moved From: Los Angeles, CA
Undergrad & Major: Georgetown University, French
Fun fact: I was once hospitalized for hyponatremia (a fancy word for over-hydration) in my attempt to prepare for a 15-mile hike.
Which student groups are you part of?
Marketing Group, Retail and Luxury Group, Chicago Women in Business and GBC (Phoenix Cohort Social Chair).
What were you doing prior to business school?
I was a fine art appraiser at a boutique appraisal firm based in LA. My former boss was actually a professor in my MA program, and we met during an elective course she taught on art appraisals. I started as an intern and ultimately made it my career because I fell in love with the work—in my mind appraisals are a perfect integration of logical and creative reasoning!
What motivated you to pursue an MBA?
I feel like there is so much room for growth and innovation in the art world and other similar creative spaces. I wanted to take what I had learned over the past five years as an appraiser and get in on the ground floor of some of that change with the skills and relationships afforded by an MBA.
Why are you here, and not somewhere else?
Given my non-traditional background, I was drawn to Booth because of the flexibility of its curriculum and its commitment to rigorous exploration of cross-disciplinary fields. Booth has a strong connection to the art world/market as well, and that was a huge draw for me. I’ve also always wanted to live in Chicago!
What has surprised you most about Booth?
I expected a really cutthroat environment at business school, but instead the sense of community and solidarity has been overwhelming. It’s been such a pleasant surprise to experience how collaborative Booth is and to see how many classmates selflessly share their time and expertise to help others.
What are you most excited about over the next two years?
I can’t wait to keep getting to know my classmates. I feel incredibly grateful to be surrounded by so many curious, witty, and impressive people on a daily basis. I’m looking forward to our next two years together!
Name: Oscar Gutiérrez
Moved From: Mexico City
Undergrad & Major: Sustainable Development Engineering at Tec de Monterrey in Mexico!
Fun fact: I’m a professional shower singer
Which student groups are you part of?
BTG, Outreach, Analytics, LATAM, Media, Entertainment & Sports
What were you doing prior to business school?
I was a Business Analyst at McKinsey & Company. I chose consulting because I wanted the ability to change industries and functions while solving the most important problems of the most important organizations. It was super fun, and I also met some of my best friends while working at McKinsey.
What motivated you to pursue an MBA?
Coming from an engineering background, I wanted to sharpen my business skills and network with people from all around the world. I hope to leave Booth with long-lasting friendships and the necessary skills for me to become an impactful leader.
Why are you here, and not somewhere else?
I was drawn by the data-driven approach and the quant-focused curriculum even in what could be perceived as “soft” courses.
What has surprised you most about Booth?
How quickly things happen. I’ve been here two months, but it feels like so much has happened since then. Also, I was amazed when in week three of my first quarter, a faculty member received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences!
What are you most excited about over the next two years?
Going on all the treks with my friends and learning from the best faculty!
Name: Kimberly-Anne Tan
Moved From: Singapore
Undergrad & Major: I attended Medical School at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.
Fun fact: I’ve lived in Singapore, Hong Kong, Connecticut, New York, and Sydney.
Which student groups are you part of?
Management Consulting Group, Health Care Group, Chicago Women in Business, Booth Golf, Booth Partners, Chicago Asia Pacific, and Admissions Ambassadors
What were you doing prior to business school?
I was an orthopedic surgery resident in Singapore. During the pandemic, I ran national COVID-19 vaccination centers and health screening operations.
What motivated you to pursue an MBA?
I realized that I wanted to scale my clinical experience, and go from treating individual patients as a surgeon, to helping populations of patients by solving healthcare industry-level problems. Specifically, I wanted to hone my business and management skills as I hope to someday help improve accessibility of surgical implants.
Why are you here, and not somewhere else?
Coming from a non-traditional background, Booth’s academic rigor appealed to me as I want to be well prepared for my post-MBA career. My fiancé and I were fortunate enough to be admitted together, so it worked out nicely too!
What has surprised you most about Booth?
How genuine and supportive people are here – the ‘pay it forward’ culture is REAL.
What are you most excited about over the next two years?
1) Forming a whole new bunch of life-long friendships
2) Getting married to my fiancé (who is also here with me as a 1Y) and getting to celebrate with old friends and new Boothie friends!
Name:Jason Shain
Moved From: My hometown is Santa Fe, NM, though I’ve lived all over. Most recently, OKC, OK!
Undergrad & Major: UChicago, Theater and Performance Studies
Fun fact: I am an avid baker—one of my recipes blending New Mexican ingredients with French technique was featured as part of the summer 2021 menu at a two-Michelin-starred chef’s restaurant.
Which student groups are you part of?
At Booth: Armed Forces Group, Wine Club, the JD/MBA Association, MCG
At the Law School: Law Students Association (The Law School’s Student Government), Law School Musical, Law School Veterans, Law Students for the Creative Arts
What were you doing prior to business school?
I am a United States Air Force Veteran; before starting the JD/MBA program I flew on the E-3 Sentry (AWACS) for ~7.5 years. I joined for the opportunity to serve, to lead, and for truly, truly unique experiences. I am endlessly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to lead large diverse groups, to work with some of the most passionate, service-oriented, and talented people on Earth, and to craft organizations built to produce enduring positive results.
What motivated you to pursue an MBA?
My career thus far has been entirely in service, and I hope to continue working for the public. To do so, I think, requires an understanding of law, business, and economics, all of which I entirely lack. At Booth, I hope to gain the hard skills needed to succeed in a modern business environment; the understanding of the fundamentals of economics needed to, hopefully, lead meaningful policy initiatives; and a network including some of the most talented, driven, and kind people I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know. Also, the intersection and balance between Booth and the Law School is so cool.
Why are you here, and not somewhere else?
I loved UChicago while I was here though came to appreciate the University more ex post. The University’s focus on learning for learning’s sake and on developing the mind creates a both interested and interesting student, staff, and faculty body. That polis is truly unique, and I can’t imagine a better place to spend three years. More specifically, UChicago offers one of the only accelerated JD/MBA programs that values the integration of law and economic learning. Finally, the campus is gorgeous; our eclectic mix of architectures very effectively stages the metaphor of UChicago’s interdisciplinary focus.
What has surprised you most about Booth?
The same thing surprised me at Booth as has surprised me at The Law School and that is how welcoming everyone is. I remain surprised by the number of times a leading professor has just been willing to chat (seriously, they are way too busy for me, but are still willing to just grab a coffee?). I also am so grateful for the folks I’ve met at both schools who have been so warm and welcoming. It has been a significant transition into this next chapter of my life and there are just so, so many people who have made the transition a time for positive growth and change.
What are you most excited about over the next two years?
There is something really special about sharing a toast with hundreds of people from many, many backgrounds in the name of one of humanity’s great ideas [Nobel Prize], and Booth did that last week. Last week! Taking a step back from that, it’s hard to believe the reality of that occurrence. I am so deeply excited to share these three years with a faculty developing cutting-edge concepts and with peers who are excited to engage in learning, who are driven to achieve, and are, elementally, fun.
Name: Avia Chaoyi Zhang
Moved From: Hometown- Qingdao China Most recently moved from NYC
Undergrad & Major: The George Washington University | Accounting & International Business
Fun fact: I know absolutely nothing about soccer but I was one of the eight Chinese Cheerleaders who danced on the field for the European Cup 2017 in France. I also started a restaurant but I almost never cook at home.
Which student groups are you part of?
Management Consulting Club, Wine Club, Private Equity Club
What were you doing prior to business school?
I co-founded 3 Times Dim Sum Restaurant Chain in NY. 3 Times now has four locations. I always believe food is the perfect bedrock to unite differences. I studied abroad in London when I was 13, without knowing too much English, I hosted countless Chinese dinners to make friends. “Zhang’s Chinese Restaurant” (aka, my dorm room) became my stage to form genuine connections with classmates from around the world. Again and again, I saw how my dishes sparked deep exchanges about people’s upbringing and facilitated intimate connections. That’s why I decided to take a leap of faith to further the mission of using Chinese food to connect people by co-founding 3 Times, a dim sum restaurant chain in NYC. My favorite part about being a restauranteur was curating a highly immersive and cultural experience where people are encouraged to share their past and personal journeys. All of our special drinks were named after riddles about Chinese idioms, and customers who successfully answer the riddle received a discount. To encourage sharing of cultures, we reward guests with free dishes if they write down their favorite childhood memories on post-it notes pinned on our “Food&Culture Wall”. I was never prouder of my business when we received this review: “I like this restaurant because it’s more than a restaurant but a gallery of personal stories from all different walks of life.”
What motivated you to pursue an MBA?
3 Times restaurants were going great but the pandemic happened. In order to keep the business flowing I had to take a full-time job at EY as a risk consultant. Through that process, I loved how consultants can be the source of growth from the outside. At Booth I hope to chart path that marries my passion for food and my experience as a consultant.
Why are you here, and not somewhere else?
The Boothies I met during my application process as well as during the First Day weekend were the reason I picked Booth. I was so inspired by every Bootie I met on campus. Their backgrounds are unanimously strong, to the extent that I could have lived with the impostor syndrome since day one. Yet Boothies are so humble, collaborative, and caring. It’s every single Boothie that curated this loving environment allowing people to be themselves and to chase their dreams, while celebrating others’ successes.
What has surprised you most about Booth?
How energetic Boothies are certainly surprised me. I feel extremely old looking at TNDC weekly emails. Fun doesn’t go to die here.
What are you most excited about over the next two years?
Actually getting to know my classmates and hang out for fun after this quarter of recruiting.
Actually going to the wine club events and taking advantage of the membership fee.
Actually taking classes that I love after meeting the pre-requisites in the first year.
Potentially opening a bar and starting a Hospitality Group at Booth.
