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 Peter Johnson:
Peter currently resides in Decatur and is completing his Evening MBA in Management Technology, Operations, & Strategy. Before beginning his degree, he had a diverse career in the construction industry, working in major cities such as Atlanta, Chicago, and New York City. But now, the “passionate problem solver, excited by innovation, technology, and business” lists “potty-training my daughter, fixing the leaks in my roof and visiting Europe” as tops on his bucket list.
Hobbies?
I enjoy spending time with family and friends; exploring Atlanta’s restaurant scene; cooking for my husband and two-year-old daughter; and an occasional video game.
Why did you choose Scheller College of Business?
I chose Scheller College of Business for its reputation as a great business program with an emphasis on technology.
What was your favorite course and what was the biggest insight you gained about business from it?
Venture Creation; it provided so much insight on the challenges of starting a business.
As a business student in the heart of Tech Square, how do you think Scheller College embodies the intersection of business and technology?
Scheller provides opportunities to interact with Atlanta businesses and leadership in a way that is unique and invaluable. There are fantastic opportunities to learn while working on real problems that local businesses (with a global presence!) need help solving.
There are some amazing students at Scheller who are each unique in their own way. One common thread is that everyone is very down-to-earth.
What is the biggest myth about Scheller College?
I don’t know about Scheller specifically, but Georgia Tech has a reputation for being a very challenging institution. I found the program at Scheller to be well-balanced. I felt challenged but had fun and never felt too overwhelmed.
Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college?
I don’t know of one single person – I think it was more an experience. I had been getting more into technology implementation projects at work and had some success, so I decided to get a Scheller MBA to supplement my engineering background with a business degree.
What activities were you involved with on or off campus, and did your business education impact those activities in any way?
During part of my time at Scheller, I was president of Scheller Pride, the LGBTQIA organization for MBA students. I do believe my education helped me in leading the group.
Did you utilize any of Scheller College’s diversity initiatives? How did they help you during your time at the College?
I did utilize the LGBTQIA network and do have opportunities with some of my top-choice companies. I found this network to be very useful in developing strong relationships.
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; I had a few projects that included hands-on learning. One project included work with a major Atlanta-based beverage company (hint!). Our team helped them prepare for a major technology implementation.
Where will you be working after graduation?
I've accepted a senior consultant position at EY and will be starting early next year.
What is your best piece advice to an applicant hoping to get into Scheller College?
Just be yourself! There are some amazing students at Scheller who are each unique in their own way. One common thread is that everyone is very down-to-earth.
In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you?
I had some fantastic opportunities to work with a variety of different people during my time at Scheller College. I hope my peers remember me as someone they could always count on to work hard, be a team player, and have a little fun in the process.