After working in marketing and product management roles at smaller companies, Jessica Hatz (Foster, ‘21) decided to pursue an MBA to transition to working for large organizations. Hatz selected Foster for it’s small class size, tight knit culture, and alignment to the Greater Seattle area. In this interview, Hatz shares why she chose Foster, the programs’ experiences that she has enjoyed from her MBA thus far, and the resources and programs that have made her Foster MBA experience worthwhile.
MBASchooled: What did you do before business school, and why did you choose to come to business school?
Before business school, I worked in a variety of marketing and product management roles at small companies—generally wearing a lot of hats. Post undergrad, I worked at an air pollution instrumentation company in Boulder, where I got to do everything from collaborating on the design, launch, and management of our products to organizing a 100+ person conference. I also did a stint at my family business, where I worked to digitally transform a 20+ year old third-party freight and logistics company and deployed the company’s first-ever B2B marketing plan.
On the side of my full-time roles, I founded two social media marketing businesses in the food and beverage realm—one focused on Bloody Mary cocktails and another focused on the Denver alcoholic beverage scene. Connecting with customers and understanding their insights became and continues to be my passion. These experiences in culmination drove me to pursue my MBA to gain the business acumen necessary to understand all facets of a business, and ultimately, to transition into a marketing or product role at a large tech organization.
MBASchooled: What were your big questions coming into making your decision on which school to attend?
- Can I thrive professionally, academically, and socially in this school’s culture?
- Will I enjoy living in this city/town/state?
- Are there ample leadership opportunities in this program to help shape the student experience and outcome?
- What hands-on learning experiences does this program provide for its students?
- Does this program have a good representation of diverse cultures, genders, and backgrounds?
- What’s the best program size for me?
MBASchooled: Why did you choose to attend Foster?
Foster’s small class size and focus on team-based work really appealed to me. I went to an undergraduate institution with 25,000 students and wanted a much more personable experience for my MBA, where I could know everyone by name. At Foster, students have the ability to contribute to the school culture, leadership, and student experience; we really have a sense of ownership at Foster.
Lastly, the city energizes me; Foster’s location in the bustling city of Seattle provides students with many opportunities to go on company treks, network with local alumni, and learn deeply about different industries and functions.
MBASchooled: What about the culture and classmates stood out to you about Foster?
After Admit Weekend last year and meeting my future potential classmates, I knew Foster was the place for me—everyone was friendly and genuinely interested in getting to know each other. Since I’ve been at school, my classmates are not only smart and vibrant, but are always willing to help one another. I think this speaks to Foster’s collaborative environment, and the notion that the MBA is a shared experience. All my classmates have a unique story about what they did before Foster and why they came here. Although we all come from different places and backgrounds, our classes, clubs, and just about everything at Foster are inviting and inclusive.
MBASchooled: What resources, programs or information were helpful to you in making your decision?
- Speaking with current students
- Looking into where current students intern and which companies alumni work at
- Schools’ blogs and other media, online articles, blogs like MBASchooled and Poets and Quants
- Researching deeply on the school’s website to see what classes, clubs, and hands-on opportunities there are for students
MBASchooled: How has Foster helped you work toward your own career goals and aspirations?
Foster’s MBA Career Management Office is engaging and personable. From career advising to company events, the staff really cares about us and our career paths going forward. My countless hours spent with career coaches on mock interviews, resume reviews, and interview stories have helped me become the “best version of me.” Staff is continuously connecting with exciting companies to bring students the best global opportunities.
In addition to MBACM, clubs at Foster have given me a breadth of resources to determine my career path forward. By hosting engaging events and workshops, various Foster clubs that I am a member of have helped me solidify what type of company and function I want to work in. Second year students have helped our class get ready for internship applications and interviews and have spent countless hours ensuring we are prepped. Lastly, connecting with the Foster alumni community and doing informational interviews has provided new insights.
MBASchooled: What parts or aspects of the academic experience attracted you to Foster?
- Applied Strategy Projects and other Independent Study Projects; focus on experiential learning
- Small-class size allows for an engaging and interactive experience
- Team-based work and focus on collaboration
- Rigorous academic experience and variety of course options
MBASchooled: What has been a surprise, or an unexpected element of your experience at Foster?
An unexpected element (well, not completely unexpected) is the willingness of my Foster classmates to take the lead and make Foster the school we envision. My experience thus far involves many of my current classmates truly taking ownership on what we want the Foster experience to be; from leading clubs, to events, to working with faculty and staff on how to continuously make our MBA journey top-notch.
Another surprise has been the introductions and access to some of the world’s leading companies and their employees in Seattle. I knew Foster would be a place where I could get a firsthand look at a plethora of businesses and industries, but the proximity to top organizations is unparalleled.
I think the most unexpected element was dealing with a global pandemic during my MBA, like all other students around the world. I was planning to go on one of our school’s Study Tours to Finland and Estonia on spring break, and things were cancelled a week prior to departure. We finished our winter quarter virtually and are now all “schooling from home” for spring. With COVID-19 ravaging the world, the MBA is truly a period for growth, adjustment, and dealing with ambiguity around virtual learning, team meetings, networking… and even how to continue the social events that make the Foster MBA, but online!
MBASchooled: What’s something you wish you knew more about before starting your MBA at Foster?
Something that I think is helpful to anyone starting an MBA program is my recommendation to start writing down your professional and charitable accomplishments and stories now. Once you hit the ground running during your MBA, you need to be able to tell your stories for interviews. These stories will be much easier to prepare while you’re working and can vividly remember your greatest accomplishments and impact.
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for those who are evaluating where they want to attend business school?
If you’re in the early stages of B-school researching and are applying in a future year, visit the schools you’re interested in! Given the current environment with COVID19, this may not be possible for students who are already in the application process; however you can speak to current students and alumni to get a good feeling for the school’s culture and experiences you can have as a student.