Kristina Hu (HBS, ‘22) applied to HBS’s 2+2 program as a college senior. Realizing that she wanted to one day launch her own impact investing fund, she realized that building the technical skills through investment banking, and the network through an MBA, could help her achieve that vision. After her first semester at HBS, Kristina reflected on her journey and shared her advice to others interested in using an MBA to achieve their own career goals.
MBASchooled: What did you do prior to business school, and why did you decide to apply to business school?
I applied to Harvard Business School’s 2+2 Program as a college senior and was admitted in Spring 2016. At the time, I had completed two summer internships in investment banking at Morgan Stanley and had my sights set on launching my own impact investing fund one day. With that long-term career goal in mind, I saw my path forward divided into two key phases: (1) investment banking, which would help me develop the technical skills to analyze industries and evaluate companies, and (2) business school, which would help me build the broad network and management skills needed to raise a fund, source potential investments and help my portfolio companies grow.
After graduating from Harvard in 2016, I moved to NYC and entered investment banking full time. As much as I enjoyed advising clients and working on deals, I yearned to get closer to the execution and impact of my work. Furthermore, I recognized that if I wanted to be a respected investor one day, I needed to build trust and credibility with entrepreneurs — something that is much easier when you have successfully operated, scaled, and exited businesses yourself. At the end of the day, I realized that whether I am on the sell-side (as an advisor) or the buy-side (as an investor), I will always be on the “side”. I didn’t want to be on the sidelines — I wanted to play the game (as an operator).
In August 2017, I quit my investment banking job and joined Uber to gain valuable operating experience at a high-growth pre-IPO unicorn. For the next 3 years, I wore a number of hats in operations, data analytics, business development, strategy & planning, and product management in both Amsterdam (Uber’s EMEA HQ) and San Francisco (Uber’s Global HQ). I loved my experience so much — especially my stint as a Product Manager on the Driver Loyalty team — that I deferred my offer of admission twice to the maximum period of 4 years. I finally entered HBS this fall and will be graduating in the Class of 2022.
In the long run, I still want to be an impact investor, but my definition of “impact” and how I will achieve it is still a work in progress. Fortunately, there is no better time than now and no better place than HBS to be exploring these questions. My current post-MBA goal is to continue gaining operating experience as a founder or product manager at a high-growth consumer tech startup, with the aim to eventually move into venture capital later in my career.
MBASchooled: What were some of the criteria that were important to you when you were selecting schools to apply to?
Given the high price tag of business school, I prioritized schools that have a strong brand and alumni network. More specifically, I looked closely at alumni career outcomes, international brand name recognition, and the schools’ propensity to send graduates to cities I hoped to live in (NYC, SF, etc.). In the end, I applied only to Harvard and Stanford through the HBS 2+2 Program and Stanford Deferred Admission Program (open only to undergraduate seniors and graduate students with no work experience).
MBASchooled: Talk about your MBA application process. What were some of the challenging aspects? What helped you navigate through them?
The MBA application process was extremely challenging. As a 20-year old college senior, I struggled with writing a compelling application that tells a cohesive story about my past, present, and future to a total stranger. I like to joke that if you don’t have an existential crisis while going through the application process, you’re probably doing it wrong.
One exercise that really helped me was what I like to call the Constellations Exercise:
- Make a list of formative experiences (both personal & professional) in your life, highlighting any major accomplishments or challenges you have faced.
- How did each experience impact you? In particular, how did it shape your values, leadership style, or long-term career goals?
- Now that you’ve collected the dots, you’ll need to connect them. Add to this map any major transition points in your life, such as life or job changes.
- What was the rationale behind each transition? Why does this make sense in the broader storyline of your life?
- Finally, zoom out and analyze if there are any common themes, motivators, or passions that tie your list together. In summary: how do you want to make a difference in the world, and why?
Your answer to question #5 can be thought of as the “constellation” that connects the various dots (stars) in your life and will be useful for writing both your B-School Vision Document (which I discuss later in this interview) and essay.
MBASchooled: The MBA application process can often be a good learning experience. What were some of the lessons you learned?
The most important lessons I learned were to be authentic and tell a story. It is tempting to sell the admissions committee on what you “think” they want to hear, but unfortunately they can smell BS from miles away. Remember that every person has something valuable to offer based on their unique experiences and perspectives — even if it isn’t readily apparent at first. One way to do this is to turn your side hustle/passion into something that you can talk about in an interview or essay.
For example, when I applied to HBS, one of my side projects was running a YouTube channel (TheUnsungHeroine) showcasing classical piano renditions of Top 40 and EDM songs. My channel was not just a manifestation of my passion for music, but a full-blown entrepreneurial endeavor whereby I built my own website, ran my own marketing campaigns, and scheduled new releases. In 4 years, I grew my fanbase to 120,000 subscribers and published an album on Spotify and iTunes. By writing about this experience in my application, I was able to demonstrate my entrepreneurial itch and passion for empowering others in a unique and memorable way. Imagine my surprise when the first question I was asked in my HBS interview was: “So tell me about your YouTube channel…!”
MBASchooled: What were some of the best ways you found to learn about the various MBA programs you applied to?
I strongly recommend speaking to current students and alumni, as well as conducting an in-person campus and class visit. No website or article can replace the insights you gain from talking to someone who has gone through the program themselves (and can share honest feedback on the pros and cons) or the immersive experience of being on campus, where you’ll be spending your time 24/7 if you enroll.
MBASchooled: You ended up selecting Harvard Business School. Why did you choose HBS?
In addition to HBS’s strong brand name and successful alumni network across a wide range of industries, I was particularly drawn to the Case Method. HBS’s renowned Case Method requires students to read and analyze a 10-20 page case from the viewpoint of a real person in a real organization before each class. Your job is to synthesize the information and decide what the protagonist should do. Each 90-minute class is a dynamic debate, facilitated by the professor, where students share their viewpoints, actively listen to and respond/build on the comments of others, and learn to see the case from a variety of different perspectives.
By exposing students to a variety of protagonists and industries, the Case Method helps students develop the pattern-recognition that will enable them to effectively diagnose and respond to common business challenges. Furthermore, each case is an opportunity to practice making, justifying, and communicating decisions with incomplete information, a skill that will come in handy in students’ future careers as business leaders.
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for prospective MBA applicants about the MBA application process?
In addition to going through the Constellations Exercise, I recommend defining your “B-School Vision” before starting your application. Create a new document answering these key questions:
- How do you want to make a difference in the world? It’s not enough to say “I want to be a management consultant” or “I want to be an entrepreneur.” Try phrasing your answer not as “I want to be X” but as “I want to solve problem X.” The more specific you can be, the better.
- How did your background and experiences shape these long-term goals? Reflect on your answers to the Constellations Exercise to fill in the details. Remember that every life or career transition you’ve made needs to make “sense,” just like a story with a beginning, middle, and end.
- Why do you need an MBA (and why this business school specifically)? This question is especially tricky since MBAs are not required for most business roles. Think critically about your motivations for getting the degree and ensure your answer is tailored to the specific school you’re applying for. If you’re still not sold on why you should go to business school, I’ve written an article outlining the pros and cons here.
Next, send this document to your recommenders so they can provide feedback, align with your goals, and help convey your message. This will ensure that the written aspects of your application (essay + recommendations) support each other without being redundant.
In addition, seek feedback from as many people as you can! Reach out to mentors, family, friends, and even acquaintances so they can keep you honest on whether or not your story is genuine and makes sense to the unfamiliar reader.
Finally, remember that the admissions committee will be looking at your application holistically. For example, don’t worry if your GPA is slightly below average; you can offset this with a higher-than-average GMAT score and vice versa. Focus on telling an authentic and cohesive story and you’ll have the best chance of getting admitted. Good luck!
Additional Articles: