Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business students come to learn, explore, and build community. As they move forward in their careers, they take everything they’ve learned and use it to power innovation in industries and businesses across the globe. Before graduating, we sat down with a few students to find out what they’ve learned and what advice they want to give to other students.
Meet Jaymie Park, who is graduating from the Executive MBA program with a Management of Technology specialization.
Where are you from?
I grew up in Canada and moved from Seattle, Washington to Atlanta, Georgia for the Executive MBA program in August 2021.
What will you be doing to celebrate your graduation?
I will be taking a three-week trip to Asia to visit family and friends in South Korea and Hong Kong who I haven’t seen since before Covid.
Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college?
My dad. He’s a successful entrepreneur and the most business savvy person I know. Although he didn’t get a chance to finish college because of his circumstances, he reads a ton of books. He also reads about finance daily in the newspaper, even after his retirement. He is always willing to learn about the global economy. That has inspired me to further my education in business.
What was your favorite business course and why?
Strategic Management. Professor Frank Rothaermel is an absolutely amazing instructor and by far the best professor I’ve ever had. The class incorporates business cases to understand strategy concepts and implement them into real life scenarios and experiences.
What advice would you give to a first-year MBA student?
Stay organized and on top of things. Make sure you’re managing your time wisely. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Be confident in yourself and don’t be shy about speaking up and participating in class discussions. And most importantly, network with your classmates!
What activities were you involved with on or off campus, and did your business education impact those activities in any way?
Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at my workplace. I am part of the Employee Resource Group (ERG) at Microsoft and participate in various DEI activities. Because of my business education, I am able to understand my organization’s business initiatives and priorities, and I help my team to collaborate better to achieve and empower our common goals.
Where will you be working after graduation?
I will be staying with my current company, Microsoft, working in SMC digital sales organization as the technical specialist in business applications. Hoping to move into leadership positions in the near future.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
- Become a professional mentor to female minorities working in tech industry.
- Get a director level position in my career.
What was a moment when you had to practice persistence and/or resilience while in the MBA program?
Juggling work full-time and attending MBA classes every weekend is not easy. I had to give up most of my social life and going out during the 17-month program. There were many late nights of staying up, reading and doing homework, group assignments and projects and I really had to get comfortable with pushing my limits and endure a lot of uncomfortable moments sitting by myself.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from your Scheller MBA?
Have some grace for yourself. You are enough. You are doing great. Keep going. I had to overcome huge imposter syndrome when I first started my MBA program, but quickly realized that if you’ve made it this far in life and you’ve been admitted to the program, you deserve to be here. Own it and be proud of your achievements.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I am an avid salsa dancer, and I love solo traveling with a backpack. I am looking forward to getting back to competitive dancing and traveling to new countries while working remotely next year.