Get to B-School

Today’s guest, Doug Michalak, is proving that you really can thrive in multiple arenas at once. While pursuing the evening/weekend MBA program at Kellogg, Doug is also building a successful career in sports media at NBC, and loving the challenge of juggling it all. In our conversation, Doug shares how he finds energy in balancing multiple responsibilities, why he makes it a point to meet with prof...

Welcome to Get to B-School! Today’s guest, Tanner Johnston, just graduated from MIT Sloan, the school he set his sights on all the way back in second grade. His teacher, Mrs. Finch, took his dream of becoming an "inventor" seriously and introduced him to top engineers, and they told him that if he wanted to be great, he should aim for MIT. That early guidance stuck, and years later, Tanner made it...

Today’s guest, Karan Buch, took a different path to graduate business education—one that many people overlook. Instead of pursuing a traditional MBA, Karan enrolled in the Masters in Management program at London Business School. Fresh off an engineering degree and eager to pivot, Karan didn’t want to wait the typical two or more years required for an MBA. In this episode, he shares why the MiM, of...

Today’s guest, Rakhi Jain, just graduated from INSEAD, and her story is full of bold pivots, global experiences, and meaningful trade-offs. Rakhi began her career in engineering, but her MBA journey took her across three continents, through a transfer program at Kellogg, and ultimately into a new role in management consulting at BCG. In this episode, Rakhi shares: 🔹 How she transitioned from engi...

Cameron Greenwalt is headed to the 2-year MBA program at Kellogg, and his story blends technical depth, focused intention, and just a touch of vanilla. (Literally) Cameron applied to seven schools before landing on Kellogg, and in this episode, he shares how he approached the application process with the same mindset he brings to the rest of his life: true authenticity beats performative imitation...

Today’s episode is about keeping your eyes on the big picture—whether that means summiting Mount Everest or making it to business school. Our guest, Andrew Katz, recently stood on top of the world—literally. After years of working toward his MBA, he took time away from work to pursue a personal dream: climbing Everest. And in two months in the mountains, he gained more perspective, growth, and cla...

Today’s guest, Simon Wild, just graduated from INSEAD (studying mostly in the France campus) after 10 all-too-short months. After years of building a career in advanced analytics and AI at a Big Four firm, Simon began exploring a pivot into consulting. When the traditional route didn’t open up, he set his sights on business school—but not without hesitation. He wondered: Am I too late? Am I too ol...

Today’s guest, Magdala Díaz de Rávago, just graduated from Tuck, and her story is full of grit, creativity, and heart. Originally from Peru, Magdala built a custom cake business—and while she still bakes on the side for friends, she’s now heading into consulting at Bain. Her road to B-school wasn’t easy: 8 GMAT attempts, a pivot to the GRE, and even delaying her application by a year. But it all w...

Today’s guest, Kevin Colton, is currently at Stanford GSB—but the path he took to get there is anything but typical. After spending much of his twenties abroad in Japan, China, and Germany, Kevin faced a challenging transition out of military life. The shift wasn’t easy, but through consistent effort, self-awareness, and a strong community, he’s found his footing—and says he’s now “the happiest he...

Today’s episode is a mix of intense fun and intense hustle. Our guest, Connor Crandall, just graduated from Wharton, and his story is a masterclass in perseverance, focus, and chasing adventure along the way. Connor spent nearly five years preparing for the MBA journey—starting back in undergrad and grinding through multiple admissions tests (he switched from the GMAT to the GRE midstream). And on...

Today’s episode is filled with intention, insight, and a whole lot of gratitude. From teaching high school math in Boston to pivoting into consulting at Bain in Chicago, William Adams' path was guided by purpose—and supported by a strong circle of family, friends, and mentors. In this episode, we talk about: 🔹 Applying to six different MBA programs, each for a specific, intentional reason 🔹 Maki...

Today’s guest, Matthew Dumas, has worn a lot of hats—Marine, auditor, consultant, director of finance—and now, he’s at UCLA Anderson taking his next big step. In this episode, we talk about: 🔹 His journey from the military to finance and analytics (including our time together at Deloitte’s M&A analytics team) 🔹 How he’s balancing a full-time role as a Director of Finance while in a full-time...

Today's guest is John Koelliker, CEO and Co-Founder of Leland—the go-to platform for the B-school community. In this conversation, John shares the story behind founding Leland, and how it wasn’t just a business idea—it was a lightning bolt, a “I HAVE to do this” moment. He also opens up about the most powerful lessons from his time at Stanford GSB, and why the MBA journey should be about more than...

Ep 16's guest, Jake Greenberg, brings some of the most unique perspectives we’ve had on the pod. (Btw, there are ice cream analogies, and yes, they work.) Jake’s journey is driven by curiosity, humility, and a deep desire to make a difference. In this episode, we dig into: 📚 A technical step-by-step breakdown of how he transitioned from a JD program into a JD-MBA 🍨 Why he wants to be the dumbest...

Today’s guest, Saleh Dadkhahipour, knows firsthand that getting into a top MBA program isn’t just about telling your story—it’s about making sure the admissions committee understands it. In this episode, Saleh shares: 🔹 How he had to educate schools on the prestige of studying at Iran’s top university and working at a leading consulting firm abroad 🔹 Why your MBA application is like a limited pi...

Today’s guest, Misha Putnam, is currently pursuing her MBA at Wharton, but don’t let the classroom setting fool you—her business school journey has taken her to some of the most remote places on Earth. In this episode, Misha shares: 🔹 How she led a 48-person expedition in Antarctica as part of Wharton’s leadership venture program (yes, glaciers, camping, the works) 🔹 The emotional complexity of...

🎙️ Welcome to Get to B-School! Today’s guest is someone who’s charting his path by one principle: being led by curiosity. Kip Winterton, a first-year MBA at Chicago Booth, has a background that’s as well-rounded as it is unexpected—he studied finance, sang opera, and played rugby in undergrad. Now, he’s focused on real estate and exploring opportunities that combine scale, strategy, and creativity...

The podcast gurus have spoken: It is apparently UNWISE to release episodes on Fridays (who knew?! I LOVE podcasts on Fridays. I mean what about The All In podcast? Can't I be cool like them?) We have a great episode ready to push on Monday, so for now, please accept this tiny, fun, glimpse into the life of yours truly. For today, Sarah comes on and runs the show and shares some of her own experien...

🎙️ Welcome to Get to B-School! This week, Zach Harris (my dear friend and amazing next-door neighbor) talks us through his experience at Kellogg. Through our chat, Zach shares about: 🔹 How he converted two waitlist spots into offers... and ended up at a third school instead. 🔹 How he's approaching his pivot away from consulting into big tech. Does he go big tech or startup? 🔹 How he's ensuring...

How do you build a career that actually gives you energy? Coleman Clyde made that his top priority—and it meant turning down multiple high-paying offers in pursuit of something he truly loves. In this episode, Coleman dives into: 🔹 Why he targeted Columbia and the benefits of a New York City MBA 🔹The importance of following what excites you—because if you’re faking passion, it’ll drain you 🔹 Wh...

🎙️ Welcome to Get to B-School! Some people spend years planning their MBA. Spencer Holmgren? Not so much. One day, business school wasn’t even on his radar—then his wife challenged him to think bigger, and just like that, he was all in. Now, as he wraps up his time at Darden, Spencer reflects on the whirlwind decision that changed his career path for the better. In this episode, we dive into: 🔹 H...

Today’s guest, John Kreider, took the long road to business school—three application cycles, five GMAT attempts (and two GRE), and countless hours of self-reflection. But it wasn’t until he stopped trying to be the "perfect applicant" and started being his true self that Stanford GSB finally said yes. John’s story is one of resilience, authenticity, and trusting the process. In this episode, we di...

Today’s guest, Matthew Spurrier, took an unconventional road to business school—starting as a premed student, pivoting into consulting at Bain, and eventually deciding that an MBA was the next step. But beyond just the academics, Matt came to Kellogg with a clear goal: to dive deep into search funds and entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA). In this episode, we cover: 🔹 How Matt went from pr...

🎙️ Welcome to Get to B-School! Today’s episode is all about fighting for your spot, staying focused, and making an MBA about more than just career growth. Our guest, Landon Eyre, didn’t just get into business school—he fought his way in, turning a waitlist spot at Duke Fuqua into an acceptance through sheer persistence, strategic networking, and a deep understanding of what schools really look for...

Today, we’re talking MBA journeys, sports careers, and... overrated barbecue? Yep, our guest, Jake Perry, has some hot takes—including why Texas brisket isn’t all that. But beyond his food opinions, Jake’s story is all about determination, strategy, and carving out a unique career path. In this episode, we cover: 🏀 Applying twice to B-school and why he kept pushing forward 🎯 His plan to break in...