Why did you choose this Master's program?
The short version: I chose Brown’s MTL program because I love my job and am proud of the life I’ve built, but I wanted more out of both. 

My plan had always been to get my MBA. My older brother left the workforce in his late- 20s to attend Harvard Business School, and my intention was to try to follow in his footsteps. I had been at Dell for a handful of years at that point, and I assumed that my MBA was the next logical step if I wanted to keep growing. That plan changed when I moved into a management role earlier than anticipated, and it no longer made sense to leave a job I loved (and give up two years of income) to go back to school. That said, I wasn’t ready to give up my dream of continuing my education at a top-tier institution. I stumbled across the MTL program on Brown’s website, and it felt like it was made just for me. A master’s program at one of the best schools in the world where I could keep my job, be surrounded by brilliant peers who were in similar roles at other tech firms, could pull the curriculum into my career in real-time, and continue living in Boston? Sign me up.

What made Brown's program different from other programs you considered?
The balance of in-person and online learning was critical for me. I didn’t want a fully online experience since I felt like I would miss out on the relationship building/networking elements that I was looking for, but I also knew that a full-time or fully in-person program (like those at most of the other Ivys) no longer made sense for my life. We had the best of both worlds.

What did you enjoy most about your program?
The obvious answer here is the people – the faculty, my cohort, and the Brown community couldn’t have been more welcoming. My best friend passed away during the program, and the way that everyone rallied around me was extraordinary. I’m writing this almost a full year after my commencement ceremony in 2025, and our class Whatsapp group remains active almost daily with life updates, advice, jokes, and messages of kudos as we see the incredible achievements of our peers.

Beyond that, I loved the mix of courses that we took throughout the program. We hit the obvious ones that I would have expected during an MBA program like Finance, Business Strategy, etc, but Brown pulled in elements from their liberal arts curriculum that really enhanced the experience. Persuasive Communication and Psychological Perspectives on Strategic Decision Making were two that really stood out to me. We learned how to think, but we also learned how to convince others to come over to our side.

What was your primary academic area of interest?
I was a finance major in undergrad so that comes most naturally, but my career gets me additional exposure to strategic planning, business operations, people operations, etc so I’m a bit of a mixed bag these days.

What are your postgraduate goals?
To keep growing as a professional and as a person. I’ve been lucky to have incredible leaders, executives, and mentors at Dell who have truly changed my life through their belief in me, and I look forward to the opportunity to continue paying that forward as I move further up the ladder.

What did you like most about Providence?
The restaurants!! I went to undergrad down the street at Providence College, so I had an intimate knowledge of every pizza place that delivered until 3am, but exploring some of the more impressive food options was great. My oldest brother just got married at Bayberry Garden, which is on the first floor of Brown’s School of Professional Studies building, so I’ll give that one a special shoutout (I highly recommend their grilled Caesar salad!).

What advice would you give to prospective applicants?
I’ll be an overachiever and give two here. 

First, build a rock-solid routine and stick to it. Balancing an Ivy League master’s program, work, and personal responsibilities is hard, but it’s doable if you’re incredibly intentional with your time. I made myself a promise at the start of the program that I would get an A in every course and continue working out twice-a-day without negatively impacting my performance at work or my mental health, and I’m proud to say that I kept that promise. If I can do it, so can you. 

Second, jump in headfirst! There is so much to gain from this experience if you lean into it. Your professors are world-renowned leaders in their fields, your classmates will blow your socks off, and the resources at Brown are incredible. Raise your hand in class, pop over to the career center, reach out to alums to leverage the Brown network, and go to dinner with your cohort. You won’t regret it.