After working as a Financial Analyst at IBM for 7 years, Titilayo Arasi (Tuck, ‘21) decided to pursue an MBA so that she could work for a growth-stage startup. Her journey took her to Hanover, New Hampshire and the Tuck School of Business, which she chose for the school’s class size and close knit community. In this interview, Arasi shares her criteria for selecting an MBA program, why she chose Tuck, and her advice for admitted MBA students.
MBASchooled: What did you do before business school, and why did you choose to come to business school?
I worked for IBM as a financial analyst for almost 7 years. I had a variety of roles and was given the opportunity to go on assignment to Ghana for two years. I chose to come to business school because I was ready to make a career change as well as develop my leadership skills and deepen my analytics skill set. Although I enjoyed working in tech, I wanted to switch gears and pursue an opportunity at a growth-stage startup vs a larger corporation.
MBASchooled: What were your big questions coming into making your decision on which school to attend?
- What is the school’s class size? – I personally wanted a smaller, intimate class size.
- Was it an urban campus or a traditional campus? – I did my undergrad in a big city and wanted the opposite experience for business school.
- Did I feel that the community was supportive? – I wanted a supportive community. I was drawn to schools that I felt fostered this kind of environment.
MBASchooled: Why did you choose to attend Tuck?
I wanted to attend a school in a small town with a small class size. I definitely wanted the sense of community and belonging that makes Tuck special. I felt that I would grow not only academically here, but also personally. Tuck was a safe and supportive space to try new things whether it was attempting entrepreneurship or learning how to play Tripod Hockey.
MBASchooled: What about the culture and classmates stood out to you about Tuck?
I feel supported and uplifted at Tuck. I get to be surrounded by smart, self-ware, and nice people.Everyone cheers each other on in achieving their goals no matter what it is. Also, we foster our close knit environment by simply being there for each other. Whether it’s rides to the slopes, small group dinners, movie nights or cultural talks, we make sure everyone feel included and safe.
MBASchooled: What resources, programs or information were helpful to you in making your decision?
I visited the school twice which helped me get a feel of what living in Hanover would be like. I also spoke to current students to learn about their experiences as Tuckies.
MBASchooled: How has Tuck helped you work toward your own career goals and aspirations?
The Tuck alumni network has been powerful in helping me work towards my goals. For the most part, any time I send out a cold email to anyone, ranging from an SVP to a recent graduate, I receive a response. The culture of paying it forward is very strong.
MBASchooled: What parts or aspects of the academic experience attracted you to Tuck?
The fact that you graduate with a general management degree attracted me to Tuck. Although I knew I wanted to focus on marketing and analytics classes, I feel free to try my hand at classes that I would have never thought to take prior to Tuck. This has allowed me to explore new interests and even dive deeper into these interests through independent studies.
MBASchooled: What has been a surprise, or an unexpected element of your experience at Tuck?
I would say that I was caught off guard about how much the program office, the professors, and the center directors really care about us. They are truly invested in the success of their students. They email to check up with you as well as make you are aware of opportunities that align with your interests. Also, they are there if you just need someone to talk to. I have really appreciated this level of care during my first year.
MBASchooled: What’s something you wish you knew more about before starting your MBA at Tuck?
I wish I had known how intense Fall A and Fall B are. Not only are you trying to balance an intense workload, but you’re also trying to make friends, adjust to a new city, practice self-care, recruit, and figure out where you want to get involved and how you want to spend your time at Tuck. It’s a wild ride. After the whirlwind that is Fall A, I found it helpful to set goals every quarter to help keep me on track as well as remind me of what’s actually important.
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for those who are evaluating where they want to attend business school?
Go to a school where you feel you’ll be supported, where you feel you can thrive and where you feel is the right cultural match. If you focus on these three aspects, then you’ll be able to optimize your MBA experience and have a good time.
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