Real Humans of the Drexel LeBow Class of 2019

Over 100 years since the founding of what would become the Drexel University Bennett S. LeBow College of Business, the business school, located in the heart of Philadelphia, has steadily transformed into one of the nation’s most dynamic landing spots for MBA candidates. Alongside the LeBow MBA, Masters and Executive programs, the school offers a highly—regarded part-time and Online MBA, both of which have been recognized among the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report and the Financial Times.

With so many acclaimed AACSB-accredited programs, its only natural that the LeBow College of Business would be cultivating an increasingly diverse MBA class. These students have an opportunity to study accounting, business analytics, supply chain management & logistics, economics, finance, general business and marketing, taught by over 100 full-time professors at the business school. Currently, around 3,800 students are enrolled in various graduate, undergraduate, and doctoral programs. An estimated 1,020 are enrolled in the graduate programs alone, making LeBow one of the largest private business schools in the country.

Of the 3,800 aforementioned students at LeBow, approximately 450 come from 60 countries outside of the United States. The numbers, however, only tell a small story about the Drexel LeBow Class of 2019. To learn more about what it means to earn a graduate degree from LeBow, we interview five current students, who come from several corners of the world: from Asia, to Europe, to right here in Philly. Read on to see what’s in store for these students at LeBow and what life after an MBA and Masters may look like.

Christopher Stroup, LeBow MBA Class of 2019

Age: 27

Hometown: Troy, Pennsylvania.

Undergraduate Institution and Major: I attended Penn State University (2010-2014) and graduated with an honors degree in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering.

Pre-MBA Work Experience: AAll of my prior professional work experience is within the oil and gas industry. While in college, I worked for Chevron as an intern in their Houston, TX and Bakersfield, CA offices. Following the completion of my last internship, Chevron hired me full- time as a Reservoir Engineer in Bakersfield, CA. I was there for roughly three-and-a-half years before moving to Philadelphia to get my MBA.

Why business school? Why now? This decision was largely due to remedy discomforts in both my personal and professional spheres. I felt like my personal life had a low glass ceiling given where I was living at the time. As a member of the LGBT community, I found it hard to live out my life to its fullest given the geographic location of my work. This became taxing after a prolonged duration. I needed an out. Going back to get my MBA was my way of re-balancing how I viewed my personal life and the happiness in that sphere versus satisfaction in my professional life.

On the professional side, the oil and gas industry went through some pretty dire times as the price of oil dropped from $100/bbl in 2014 to roughly $25/bbl in 2016. I had good friends and coworkers lose their jobs. Chevron was not immune to industry layoffs. Luckily, I was able to maintain my job even through the company layoffs, weather the storm and keep my position.

What that experience taught me was that I had pigeonholed myself with my petroleum engineering degree. If I had been laid off, it would have been really difficult to secure employment. Going back to school to get my MBA would allow me to rebrand myself, build a more diversified skillset and ultimately, enable me to be more marketable and competitive for positions outside of the oil and gas industry.

Why LeBow? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? Most importantly, I needed a location that would allow me to live my life to the fullest, which primarily meant I was looking for a rather urban environment. Secondly, I wanted the challenge of going to a city that was new to me. One of the draws to the LeBow program was the 18-month duration. Given this finite time period, I was more open to putting myself in an unfamiliar setting and seeing if I would sink or swim.

Another reason I was drawn to LeBow is the cohort size. I wanted my MBA program to give me the same attention to detail as I got as a Schreyer Honors College scholar at Penn State. I was hopeful as a prospective student that having the personal attention on my professional development coupled with the resources of a world-class university would take my graduate degree to the next level – just like that environment did while at Penn State.

The last reason LeBow stood out from the crowd was the personalized curriculum. Tailoring an MBA to fit my needs and goals was important, especially when you look at the costs of most MBA programs. Ultimately, who had the best value proposition? It was LeBow.

What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2019? I would argue that it is perspective. My professional experience in oil and gas is unique. No one else brings that experience to table. Additionally, I am one of only two engineers in my cohort, so that is another added layer of differentiation. It means I bring a different approach to how I view and attack problems. Being a member of the LGBT community has also allowed me to bring an additional element to the MBA class. I have zero qualms about carrying that torch if it means barriers will be broken down so that current and future LGBT students can succeed in the business world.

Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I am really big into hot yoga. I started attending classes when I was living in California and was instantly hooked. I go about three to four times a week here in Philadelphia. It gives me a safe space to practice physical and emotional vulnerability. My only regret is that I wish I would have started sooner!

Post-MBA career interests? I have really found a home in the finance concentration offered at LeBow. Currently, my plan is to pivot into private wealth management post graduate school. Being a partner to support rural public education will be another big interest post MBA. I have already begun laying the groundwork for that while living here in Philadelphia.

Advice to Prospective MBA Applicants

One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? The MBA application process can be intimidating, but one of the best ways to make it easier on yourself is to get organized. I created an excel document titled “Application War Board” that kept me organized throughout the entire process. It contained the names of all the schools I applied to, the pertinent information for each application, such as application due dates, concentrations offered, costs, and other elements. Having a “one-stop-shop” where I could better understand what was required for each school and where I was along my application journey definitely demystified the entire process.

One thing you would change or do differently? Honestly, I would not change how I handled the application process. I felt like it went rather smoothly, but that’s largely because I started early and had an organized approach that worked for me.

Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? The interviews largely because I had not gone through this process for years. Therefore, it was an anxious experience. Now seven months into the LeBow program, interviews have become commonplace. I would say what got me through those experiences were the people interviewing me. They were all super friendly and made it more conversational, which elevated my comfort levels.

Greatest highlight so far at LeBow? The people have been really great. The MBA cohort has just over 20 students. That means you get to know everyone on a really personal level, which was one of the major draws to this program. I know that when I reminisce about this experience 40 years from now it will be these relationships that first come to mind.

One thing about LeBow that you didn’t expect before arriving? The willingness of the professors to meet with students at any and all hours. A large number of my professors have gone to great lengths to answer questions students may have. I don’t think I expected this heading into the program. I know myself and my peers absolutely appreciate that flexibility and attention to our professional growth.

Thing you are most anxious about in your first year? I was most anxious about being a student again. That transition from employee to student can be pretty difficult for some. I was not sure how that was going to go. Fortunately, I was able to quickly get back into the groove of being a student after a few weeks.

Thing you are most excited about in your first year? I was probably most excited for the classes. Admittedly, I was ready for the exposure to business topics. Having had an engineering undergraduate degree, I did not take many business-oriented courses. The MBA degree was going to thrust me into business classes, and I could not wait for this challenge.

Dhruv Gandhi, LeBow MBA Class of 2019

Age: 32

Hometown: New Delhi, India.

Undergraduate Institution and Major: Ohio Wesleyan University, Accounting Major.

Pre-MBA Work Experience: I spent the majority of my career thus far in start-ups with an industry focus was on private equity and food. I spent my time working on a strategic vision that aligns and engages diverse business partners. In addition, I analyzed markets, competition, and discovered new business opportunities. I was able to take advantage of my global experience when discovering new business opportunities.

Why business school? Why now? I don’t think I would have been able to do homework if I delayed it any further! Going to business school was always in the cards, it was just about finding the right time and opportunity. I was lucky that my career path was unconventional. Business school provided me with a framework to apply my previous career knowledge more effectively.

Why LeBow? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? The MBA cohort program was the biggest draw. Learning from my peers is a priceless aspect of my education and the program at LeBow lends itself to that. An additional benefit was the city of Philadelphia – I quite like Philadelphia.

What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2019? Our cohort has very diverse backgrounds and we are always learning new things from each other, especially in group work. In teams, we are able to look at the same problem from different points of view and hold healthy debates before reaching satisfactory conclusions. For example, four of us had been shortlisted to compete at the Buffalo case completion. We shared our analysis of the case with our cohort to help us prepare for the judge’s questions.

Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? As an 11-year-old, I spent a week in the Borneo jungle styling different insect species as part of an educational science class trip.

Post-MBA career interests? Explore more of the start-up world, explore the private equity sector in the US and hopefully find an exciting project where I can lend my experiences and skills.

Advice to Prospective MBA Applicants

One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? I shared some of my project-based work as supplement documents along with the application to leverage my work experience.

One thing you would change or do differently? I would spend more time on the motivation letter. I feel it’s the applicant’s opportunity to show his/her creative potential and stand out from other applicants who may have similar backgrounds, experiences, qualifications, etc.

Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? I was fairly comfortable with the application process. GMAT is a tricky hurdle, but with sufficient practice, it’s manageable.

Greatest highlight so far at LeBow? My teammates and I went to Buffalo for an MBA case competition. I was disappointed not to win, but happy to have represented Drexel LeBow and finish in second place.

One thing about Whitman that you didn’t expect before arriving? The professors are very approachable. I have spoken to a few of them outside of class about career advice, courses I should be considering, as well as course material.

Thing you are most anxious about in your first year? I was so excited about going back to school that I couldn’t wait to get started, but I wasn’t sure how I would transition back into academic life. Luckily, our MBA cohort made the transition less daunting.

Thing you are most excited about in your first year? I have enjoyed the classes thus far. Fortunately, I am enrolled in a real-world consulting course this term. This course allows me to help the clients achieve their goal. I am thrilled to be part of this course and there is another opportunity for a summer consulting course that I am also looking forward too.

Joe Dipre, LeBow MBA Class of 2019

Age: 24

Hometown: Surrey, England

Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Delaware, Finance

Pre-MBA Work Experience: Primarily in commercial lending, working as a credit underwriter for a small business funding company named, Swift Capital.

Why business school? Why now? Ambition. I want to work in an environment where I can have a greater impact on a company’s success. An MBA will give me the credentials and the knowledge to be able to take on more responsibility in the workplace. There are drawbacks to taking an MBA at a relatively young age, but I believe the pros outweigh the cons. As LeBows’ slogan states – “Ambition can’t wait.” I have career goals I want to achieve and believe I can reach those goals more quickly with a completed MBA, so why wait?

Why LeBow? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? LeBow is a fantastic school with a great reputation, especially in the Philadelphia region. Their connections to employers are stronger than many other schools in the area, partly due to the summer internship opportunities which are integral to their program. Drexel is very involved and helpful in their student’s search for a compatible job, which is one of the reasons I considered LeBow. After visiting the school and meeting some faculty members, I was sold! Additionally, the 18-month accelerated program appealed to me more than the standard 2 year programs that other schools offer.

What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2019? The Lebow MBA class is filled with extremely talented and hard-working individuals, so this is a hard one! I would like to think that my most valuable contribution is my positive attitude. I think I deal with stress very well, which is a great asset in the often-stressful life of a grad student. Sometimes, the workload can seem overwhelming, and I hope my positive can-do attitude rubs off on my peers, especially in group work. I am rarely faced with a task where I don’t have full confidence in my ability to complete it.

Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I once spent a week in Madagascar exploring the rainforests!

Post-MBA career interests? Upon graduating, I hope to find a role in private equity, venture capital or merger and acquisitions. Finance is a strength of mine, and I very much enjoy the analytical side of business. PE, VC, and M&A appeals to me as it gives me the opportunity to utilize my analytical skills in a fast paced, competitive environment.

Advice to Prospective MBA Applicants

One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? Visit the schools. Visiting the schools allows you to get a better understanding of each school’s culture and values that you wouldn’t necessarily find from online research. Additionally, talking to current students in the program can be immensely helpful. I suggest reaching out to them (maybe on LinkedIn)! They are often more than willing to help and give advice.

One thing you would change or do differently? I would have liked to explore the opportunity of getting a dual degree a little further. In my case, I would have most likely pursued an MBA and an MS in Finance. Obviously, there are significant factors that must be considered before undertaking a dual degree (i.e., cost and time), but I wish I explored and researched it a little more.

Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? The GMATs – studying for the GMAT is a long and tedious process. A lot of the material I hadn’t covered in years, and I didn’t see much practical use in it. However, given I had less work experience than most MBA applicants, I knew the GMAT was an important element of my application. I was working full-time while I was studying for them, and I can tell you now that it is not fun coming home from a hard day’s work to immediately hit the books! I motivated myself by telling myself continually that it will be worth it in the long run, and it was.

Greatest highlight so far at LeBow? Four of us in the MBA class decided to apply for a national case competition hosted by the University of Buffalo. After many hours of hard work, we were selected for the finals where we presented our strategy to industry experts. The team finished in second place and I was honored to receive the individual prize of “best presenter.” It was an incredibly enjoyable experience and I recommend that all graduate students apply for a case competition.

One thing about LeBow that you didn’t expect before arriving? The diversity of our cohort. Although LeBow communicated to me that diversity has always been a strength of theirs, I was still surprised. We have students of all different ages, industries and countries, with vastly different outlooks and experience. This enhances classroom discussions and allows you to work with all kinds of people.

Thing you are most anxious about in your first year? Most of my anxiety has revolved around finding an internship. Drexel has a great internship/co-op program that allows you to work full-time for 10-12 weeks over the summer, but with that comes the stress and pressure to find a job! Fortunately, Drexel Career Services helps you in every way they can, and I have been lucky enough to be offered some great roles for some great companies. When it comes to a job search, I’m a firm believer in showing the initiative – if a company you like doesn’t show any job listings, reach out anyway! Send them a resume and a cover letter and see what comes back – I’ve had lots of success (and failures!) with this method.

Thing you are most excited about in your first year? I’m excited to take some of the more advanced classes. The first few months of the program include more basic classes. These classes help ensure everyone has a strong foundational knowledge of business. We’re coming up to the period where we will be taking more and more challenging classes that require more expert knowledge. I love to be challenged so these are the classes that really excite me.

Yevgeniy (Eugene) Olkhov, LeBow MS Class of 2019

Age: 26

Hometown: Philadelphia

Undergraduate Institution and Major: My undergraduate institution was Arcadia University. My major was Psychology with a minor in Business Administration.

Pre-MS Work Experience: I worked as a Research Specialist at the Pennsylvania Lab for Experimental Evolutionary Psychology (University of Pennsylvania) and as a Research Assistant at the Fox School of Business (Temple University).

Why business school? Why now? Towards the end of my undergraduate career, and after graduating, I was tailoring my experience for a Ph.D. program. However, the more I worked in research, the more I realized that I wanted to go into industry instead of academia. While I have already developed skills in dealing with and analyzing data in my undergrad and while working, I knew I needed to learn more about the business half of “Business Analytics,” and the additional technical skills that were needed to have an immediate impact on business decisions.

Why LeBow? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? I have had many friends attend Drexel for their bachelor’s degrees, and many are now successful because of the experience and connections they have developed from the internship or co-op program. I really liked that Drexel puts such an emphasis on learning by practice, which was a very prominent factor in my decision.

What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2019? I think my most valuable contribution is working on a consulting project for a financial institution via LeBow’s Business Analytics Solutions Center. I was able to effectively help clients with a real-world business problem and show them the capability of students in my program.

Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I am passionate about photography.

Post-MS career interests? My current interest is in data science and predictive analytics. Text mining and natural language processing is also a field I am interested in if the opportunity arises.

Advice to Prospective MBA Applicants

One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? Talk about a personal project that I was working on and visit LeBow to get to know faculty.

One thing you would change or do differently? In general, my advice to students would be to find out everything about the program before applying.

Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? I wish I could skip the standardized testing (i.e. GRE). Just the thought that it was necessary helped me get through it.

Greatest highlight so far at LeBow? My greatest highlight so far at LeBow was working on a consulting project for a financial institution via LeBow’s Business Analytics Solutions Center. I was able to work with a team on a real project for a real a company, and then present the results to the company. This was definitely a challenging project, but it helped me use my skills to gain experience in a real-world setting, which is one of the biggest reasons I chose LeBow.

One thing about LeBow that you didn’t expect before arriving? I did not expect the degree to which professors are invested in your success. Of course, I assumed they would be, but the professors I have had so far go above and beyond to help students.

Thing you are most anxious about in your first year? Finding a good fitting internship for the summer.

Thing you are most excited about in your first year? While finding a good fitting internship is what I am most anxious about, it is also what I am most excited about too.

Zach Hauck, LeBow MBA Class of 2019

Age: 29

Hometown: Harleysville, Pennsylvania

Undergraduate Institution and Major: Drexel University, BSBA with Dual Concentration in Finance and Legal Studies

Pre-MBA Work Experience: Forensic Litigation Valuation Services at the National Accounting firm and Manager at Baker Tilly, based out of the Philadelphia office.

Why business school? Why now? I value education, enjoy learning and had a personal goal to achieve a masters level education. I wanted to gain enough work experience prior to starting the MBA program so that I could effectively apply real business situations to my education.

Why LeBow? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? I am a Drexel Dragon and I had a good undergraduate experience at Drexel University. Other factors included academic scholarship opportunities, program flexibility/customization and Philadelphia based location.

What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2019? I have a strong foundation in many aspects of the topics that are taught in the MBA program. Additionally, I have unique work experience, which focused heavily on finance, accounting and law.

Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? One of my current roommates is a cat named Moose.

Post-MBA career interests? My interests are in entrepreneurial ventures and small business growth.

Advice to Prospective MBA Applicants

One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? I recommend visiting all of the schools you are interested in as well as talking to current students, advisors, and professors (not just the admissions team).

One thing you would change or do differently? I think it would have been beneficial to audit a class.

Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? Giving notice to resign from my job to go to school full-time. To get through it, it helps to really understand why you are making such a large commitment.

Greatest highlight so far at LeBow? I participated in an MBA case competition with a team consisting of three other classmates from my cohort and we won second place.

One thing about LeBow that you didn’t expect before arriving? The quality of the professors that I have had the privilege to learn from so far has exceeded my expectations. The professors have been excellent. Most of them have their doctorate in their respective field of study and are extremely knowledgeable.

Thing you are most anxious about in your first year? Transitioning back to student life after being out of school for five years.

Thing you are most excited about in your first year? Working with a diverse cohort of fellow MBA students.