Devin Hedgepeth (GSB, ‘22) is no stranger to resilience. From navigating a career ending injury from a college football career to rising up through the ranks in Sales and Marketing at ExxonMobil, Hedgepeth has always found a way to use these skills to propel him forward in his career. During this interview, Hedgepeth shares his journey about his decision to attend business school, why he chose to attend Stanford GSB, and his advice for other MBA applicants who are navigating the MBA Admissions process.
MBASchooled: What did you do prior to business school, and why did you choose to apply?
Before business school, I worked for ExxonMobil in Houston Texas. During my time with ExxonMobil, I worked in the Downstream Retail Fuels department as a Global Marketing Advisor, US Field Implementation Advisor, and Sales Territory Manager. An MBA had been on my radar since my undergraduate experience for two main reasons. First, I was an engineering major that knew I wanted to go into business, so I saw value in furthering my academic knowledge in the space. Second, as a student-athlete at Oklahoma State, I missed out on many student experiences that I thought were vital in the personal development of a student. Although there are various opportunities to receive this personal development, I preferred to do so with a group of like-minded leaders during the MBA journey.
MBASchooled: How did you decide on Stanford? What stood out to you about GSB?
Since day one, Stanford GSB was my number one choice. Through school, I want to focus on myself as a leader and as a person. Stanford GSB is focused on helping me understand who I am as a leader and how I come across to others so that I can better help the world move forward. I also knew that the caliber of individuals selected into the program would not only give me life long friends but would also place me with a group of people that pushed me to become a better son, brother, friend, future-father, and future-husband. Based on the conversations I have had during the first few weeks on campus, this is already happening.
MBASchooled: The MBA application process can be challenging. What were some of the challenges, and how did you work through them?
Challenging indeed. From the GMAT to the essay writing, each part of the application process posed a unique hurdle. Each person will also face different challenges based on their circumstances, so for this question, I would like to focus on the actions that helped me through the process. These actions should apply to almost all of the challenges that arise during the application process:
- Surround yourself with a strong support system: There are two types of people that you should place in this support system. The first group should be made up of positive cheerleaders. It does not matter whether they know what the MBA application journey entails. In fact, in some ways, it is better if they do not so that you can escape the never-ending MBA speak. The second group should be made up of empathizers who know what the MBA application journey entails. They can give constructive feedback and lend an empathetic ear while truly knowing what you are going through. Chances are that you can find at least one person in your professional or personal network that fits this mold.
- Treat this as a marathon, not a sprint: Start early if you can! There are plenty of things that can be done before the application opens. Finalize your GMAT, research your target schools, reach out to current students, and engage in a lot of introspection. The more that you can complete before the application opens up the better. Do not rush yourself.
- Don’t take yourself too seriously: None of us are perfect, I am certainly not. Do not stress yourself to be perfect; learn to embrace your flaws. This can be said for both the application process and life.
MBASchooled: Undoubtedly, you will learn a great deal in your MBA program, however, you also bring some skills and unique life experiences to the table. What are you looking forward to sharing with your peers, as well as the greater Stanford GSB community?
Leadership and resilience. My journey has given me a perspective on leadership and resilience that I am excited to share with my classmates. I have seen both good and bad leadership from the Division 1 football field to the Fortune two boardroom, and I would love to share these experiences with my classmates. On resilience, I want to share my slightly altered definition with my classmates.
Traditional definitions of resilience focus on recovering from a setback or overcoming obstacles. However, I have learned through the difficult times in my life that there is another option. Instead of just overcoming the obstacle, we should learn to use that obstacle to make ourselves better. We should make it a habit to ask ourselves “how can this be a good thing,” whenever an obstacle arises. I would love for my class to develop this resilient mindset, especially in the world that we live in today.
MBASchooled: What are you most looking forward to in your MBA experience?
By far, I am most looking forward to the relationships that I will form during my MBA experience. I have two priorities as I enter my MBA experience. First, I want to continuously place myself in uncomfortable situations. Second, I want to develop deep life-long relationships. The latter will not only be fun but also extremely rewarding!
MBASchooled: You mentioned in a previous interview the importance of reaching your “True potential.” How do you see your time at GSB helping you work toward that goal?
My time at the GSB will place me around a group of people that are obsessed with changing the world. Many of them do not measure themselves through money, status, or fame. Rather, many of them measure themselves on the value that they provide to society. To find my “true potential,” I need to be bold enough to focus on changing lives, changing organizations, and changing the world. The answer that I seek lies somewhere in that mix.
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for individuals who are considering an MBA?
Ask yourself why. Then ask it again. Then again. Until you have an answer that is pure and raw. Then dissect that answer to get to the true reason of why you want an MBA. There is no right or wrong answer, but you do need to be comfortable with the answer that you have. For me, the truth boiled down to experiences. When I go to my death bed, I want to have a diverse set of memories that I can call on. So know your “why.”