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Countdown to Commencement: Carolanne Lott

Carolanne chose to pursue her Evening MBA at Scheller because of its “great reputation for STEM-focused MBAs, especially for those with a STEM background like me.”
Carolanne was involved in the Consulting Club and Women and Business while she pursued her Evening MBA.

Carolanne was involved in the Consulting Club and Women and Business while she pursued her Evening MBA.

As part of our Countdown to Commencement series, we interviewed a few soon-to-be graduates from our undergraduate and MBA programs to learn about their backgrounds, why they chose Scheller College, and what they plan to do after Fall 2018 Commencement.

Meet Carolanne Lott:

Carolanne – who is from Gainesville, Georgia – is finishing up her Evening MBA with concentrations in Strategy & Innovation and Operations Management. Growing up, she wanted to be a NASA scientist and almost majored in astronomy. Carolanne chose Scheller College because of its “great reputation for STEM-focused MBAs, especially for those with a STEM background like me.”

Why did you choose Scheller College of Business?

Scheller has a great reputation for STEM-focused MBAs, especially for those with a STEM background like me. I also felt at home and comfortable within the walls of Scheller. It was the place that would help me grow beyond who I was at the time.

Who was your favorite professor and why?

Manpreet Hora was my favorite professor. (He teaches Service Operations.) He is always available to help each student and he does an amazing job of creating an interesting and interactive learning environment. He has amazing stories of operational failures, so we can learn from other’s mistakes.

What was your favorite course and what was the biggest insight you gained about business from it?

The Core Strategy class helped me understand businesses at a higher level more than any other class. During the second half of the class, we were grouped into “companies.” We competed against each other within an industry. We strategically used the different parts of the business to achieve a singular goal using data-based decisions with our focused strategy.

What is the biggest myth about Scheller College?

The biggest myth is that Scheller is only for people with a STEM background. The people with more creative backgrounds add value in ways mathematics could never dream of. The people with non-technical background are just as successful coming out of Scheller.

Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college?

I knew I wanted a master’s degree, but I didn’t know in what. I decided to focus on business after reading an article about the gap between data and strategy. I saw a place I could add value, a place where I fit.

How did the extracurricular offerings at Scheller College help you during your time here? Is there anything Scheller didn’t offer that you feel would’ve helped you succeed?

My work with the Consulting Club gave me the opportunity to learn, use what I learned to help others, and lead. Having the opportunity to lead helped me grow in numerous ways.

What activities were you involved with on or off campus, and did your business education impact those activities in any way?

I was involved in running the Consulting Club. I also participated in events with many of the clubs on campus. As business school progresses, you start thinking about how decisions are made and the reasoning behind everyday events and things. “Why is the sign hung on the left rather than the right?” “Is that the best way to do it?” Business school makes us question the world around us.

Did you utilize any of Scheller College’s diversity initiatives? How did they help you during your time at the College?

Women in Business encouraged me to embrace my ambition through creating an environment where ambition is encouraged openly. The partnership with the Forte gave us the opportunity to network with women MBAs and alumni from schools around the country.

Did you participate in any hands-on/experiential learning opportunities? If yes, which projects/companies did you work with and how did you help them?

Yes; Delta Air Lines Sustainability Strategy Project: My team helped Delta focus on their priorities and uncover their sustainability strategy. This included the ability to rank potential projects by how well the project aligned with their goals.

Also, I participated on the Vero Biotech Six Sigma Project. My team helped Vero Biotech ramp up production by identifying constraints and non-value-added steps for the pharmaceutical device meant to assist babies who have difficulty breathing. Our work helped to streamline and overcome bottlenecks to ramp up production after FDA approval that allowed them to serve hospitals without worrying about stocking out.

“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…”

If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be working in marketing analytics and unaware of the amazing friends I have made over the last two-and-a-half years in b-school.

What are the top two items on your bucket list?

I really want to go to the Galapagos Islands and uncover the wonders there. I also want to hike up Machu Picchu.

What is your best piece advice to an applicant hoping to get into Scheller College?

Go where you can create a family of friends. Focus not just on the academics but the people in the program, too.

In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you?

I hope my classmates remember me as a good teammate, as a hard worker, and as always wanting to learn with them.

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