Blog
Blog
MBA Voices
MBA Voices
Kate Sweeney has always been fascinated by how space technology can be used to improve people’s lives back on Earth. Sweeney, who is about to complete her M.S./M.B.A., offered jointly by the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and Harvard Business School, will soon head to SpaceX, where she’ll work in the direct-to-cell connectivity department. Along with enabling normal cell phone features such as text messaging and phone calls, that technology uses the communication between cell phones and satellites for remote search-and-rescue, especially in rural settings with otherwise limited connectivity. [...]
Working in tech marketing was highly cross-functional, so I was constantly managing multiple stakeholders by listening to their needs and seeking optimal solutions to complex problems. At HBS, I use my ability to understand stakeholder needs and solve problems inside and outside the classroom. When analyzing cases, I seek to understand the different perspectives and what those perspectives mean for the proposed action plan. [...]
Data-driven decision-making is a powerful tool. A first step to successfully deploying such tools is to have clear (measurable) objectives and think through tradeoffs. Ask yourself: what is the metric that I care the most about, and for other metrics, what trade-offs am I willing to make? [...]
When I was younger, I watched telenovelas with my mom. I looked beyond the drama and strove to have this luxurious life of executives in the shows. I set my mind on becoming one of these executives. While my undergraduate degree is in engineering, I wanted to explore business more through formal learning. My mentor, Gary Trujillo, shared his experience at HBS and in the 2+2 program, and it was a perfect option for me. I wanted time to grow as a STEM leader and still have the opportunity to develop my business knowledge with this deferred enrollment program. [...]
For all their variety, restaurants have two things in common: a kitchen where food is prepared and a dining area where customers consume it. But what if you could use technology to ditch the dining area and just keep the kitchen, trimming the costs—and the complications—of getting a new restaurant off the ground? That is exactly what Juan Azuero and Daniela Izquierdo (both MBA 2019) are doing with Foodology, a foodtech startup with operations in Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, and Peru. [...]
Load More Loading...
The views and opinions expressed in the MBA Voices blog are those of the authors.
Any political views shared by students are their own; HBS does not endorse a
particular party or candidate.