As part of Scheller’s Countdown to Commencement series, we are interviewing a few soon-to-be graduates from our Evening MBA program to learn about their backgrounds, why they chose Scheller College, and what they plan to do after Spring 2020 Commencement.
Meet Taylor Levy, Evening MBA
Where did you intern/co-op during school?
As an Evening MBA student, throughout my studies at Scheller, I worked at Czarnowksi, which is one of the largest event marketing companies in the country. I specifically oversaw all the Auto Shows for Porsche Cars North America.
Why did you choose Scheller College of Business?
I was already working full-time in Atlanta and teetered with the idea of moving out of state to obtain my MBA. After doing extensive research and a cost benefit analysis (coming from a true MBA student J ), it was clear I could get just as great of an education for less money and possibly better job opportunities by attending Georgia Tech.
Who was your favorite professor (and why)?
Tim Halloran was my favorite professor throughout the program. I loved the personal experience with Coca-Cola and several other well-known brands he was able to bring to the classroom.
What was your favorite course (and what was the biggest insight you gained about business from it)?
My favorite course was Product Planning. The course provided some really hands-on, tangible concepts that didn’t overlap with any other courses I took. I also have a specific interest in product planning so it was incredibly applicable.
As a business student in the heart of Tech Square, how do you think Scheller College embodies the intersection of business and technology?
Each and every course somehow seems to tailor its class material around business and technology. Also, many of the professors try to bring in speakers who are sitting at their respective intersections of business and technology to provide current insights.
What is your best piece advice to an applicant hoping to get into Scheller College?
Attend the informational sessions and meet with an MBA Ambassador. Be yourself and picture yourself in that setting with the people around you. Do you feel like it’s a good fit? You’re going to spend a lot of time with these people over the next couple of years. Personally, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’ve made the most amazing, life-long friends because of my choice to go to Scheller.
What is the biggest myth about Scheller College?
The biggest myth is that you’re surrounded by all engineers. There are certainly a lot of them in the MBA program, but it’s not the vast majority. Throughout the program, I’ve gotten to work with individuals of many different backgrounds – from journalists to HR specialists to supply chain. You name it, Scheller has it!
Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? (A parent? A teacher? A role model?)
Before my undergrad, I remember my parents trying to convince me to either go into engineering or business. At the ripe old age of 17, I was adamantly against both. I wanted to be different. Both seemed boring. As I completed my undergrad and stepped into the real world, I had a better idea of the career path I wanted to take and realized how big of an impact continuing my education would have on that. Of course, I ended up circling back to business school. Moral of the story… listen to your parents… they’re almost always right.
What activities were you involved with on or off campus, and did your business education impact those activities in any way?
During my second year of the program, I served as Vice President of Operations on the Georgia Tech Evening MBA Students (GEMS) Executive Board. It was an amazing experience in which I got to serve with four other incredible females. One of the legacies I wanted to leave was creating a unified “dashboard” where MBA students could go to find all of the most requested links. From negotiations to budgeting to working on cross-functional teams, the experience was similar to taking another practicum course – lots of key takeaways!
How did the Career Center assist you with your job efforts? Did you end up working or interning for one of your top choice companies?
Kristen Pratt, my career advisor, was essentially my therapist throughout the fall recruitment season. To say she “assisted” is an understatement. Less than a week after our MBA orientation, I made an appointment with her to start building the relationship. Throughout my two and a half years on campus, she checked in on me and I kept her updated of my current class schedule, what I was enjoying, who I was talking to, and even my dating life! One year out of recruitment, we started discussing how I could conduct informational interviews and who I should target. Once fall recruitment started, I met with her at minimum once a week via phone calls or in person.
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 participated in several practicums throughout my MBA experience. I did a marketing practicum with UPS Mail Innovations, a six-sigma practicum with Delta, and a non-profit practicum with Oakland Cemetery.
What concentration did you pursue and why? How this helped prepare you for your future?
I ended up doing the “Managing Resources for Technology Firms” immersive track that allows you to get an extra certificate on top of the MBA. I chose this because I knew I wanted to position myself as someone who was a strategic thinker specifically for forward-thinking companies. This immersive track allowed me to focus my studies around that exact point.
Fun fact about yourself:
I’m frequently known as T$ around the halls of Scheller. I like to think it’s because I’m always “money” but it’s more likely because I’m so frugal.
“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…"
If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be an orthodontist. But I probably would’ve wanted to own my own practice, so inevitably, business is thrown in there.
What are the top two items on your bucket list?
I keep a bucket list on my phone but this is still so hard! If I had to choose two, I’d say one is to be a group fitness instructor on the side and the other would be to sit on the board of a non-profit.
In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you?
As a kind, caring leader who doesn’t take herself too seriously but also loves to get stuff done.