As you begin the Tippie MBA program, there is no doubt that your mind is full of questions, both career-related and not. When should I sign up for career fairs? How do I kick off my elevator pitch? Which Academy should I join? Where is the best place to get Indian food?
These are just some of the questions a first-year MBA may ask his/her second-year coach. After a successful launch of the peer career coaching program last year, we are excited to introduce the 2012-2013 group of second-year coaches. These individuals are driven by their own successes, but are also motivated by helping first-year students navigate the MBA job search and life as a Tippie MBA.
Read each person’s story highlighting who they are and why they decided to serve as a peer coach.
Anonya Bagchi
ANONYA BAGCHI
Finance – Corporate Finance
Project Management Intern, Pearson Education
The search for an internship is taxing and I appreciated my second-year coach’s support during this time. The guidance that a fellow student can provide is invaluable. In addition, as a SY coach I’ll get to interact with different personalities and learn a lot from each one. Learning how to balance assertiveness and tactfulness will be both challenging and exciting. I enjoy trying new cuisines, traveling to new places, watching movies, cooking, and listening to music.
Kyle Bogler
KYLE BOGLER
SI Academy
Inventory Management, United Stationers
I’ve always enjoyed helping and pushing people to succeed, which is why I took this opportunity to be a second-year coach. I know that the first year of your MBA can be a rollercoaster at times in both the classroom and the internship search. I’m looking forward to helping you achieve your educational and professional goals by sharing my insights as a student and past experiences as a hiring manager. I believe I can use my experiences to help guide you towards the ultimate goal of landing an internship which fits you. I also hope this opportunity helps me build life-long friendships. I’m an avid sports fan, golfer, woodworker, and connoisseur of BBQ.
Avishek Dey
AVISHEK DEY
SI Academy
Amazon, Pathways Operations Internship
Being a SY Coach will allow me to contribute towards the career development of first-year students. In the last year, I experienced a wide range of situations which have only shaped me for the better. From reasonable success at the Career Fairs to abject failures in interviews (Yes! MBAs do fail), I have seen it all. I want to share my experiences and help the first-years make the best use of available time and opportunities. I am a firm believer in not re-inventing the wheel. One should learn from other’s mistakes and successes and this is where I fit in. My hobbies and interests are cooking, trivia, and traveling (I can boast of a cross country road trip to the West Coast).
Bridget Dowd
BRIDGET DOWD
Marketing Academy
E-Commerce Merchandising Intern, United Airlines
As a career changer, it was important for me to learn from second-year students who had done the same thing successfully. My SY coach and advisers helped me communicate how my past experience translated into valuable skills in a marketing role and how to go through the interview process while still being myself. I’ve definitely learned a lot in the last year, so I am excited to share my experiences with incoming students, and help guide them through the internship search process. I have lived in Iowa City for eight years, so I can let you in on all the good restaurants and hidden study places in the area. I love to travel, and I’ve been lucky enough to do a lot of it this summer through my internship.
Seth Goldstein
SETH GOLDSTEIN
Finance Academy
Securities Analyst Intern, State of Wisconsin Investment Board
I am excited to be a second-year coach. One reason that the Tippie culture and experience is great is due to the interaction between the first- and second-year students. A vital part of my personal and professional development last year occurred because of the help I received from my second-year mentors. Now that I am entering my second year, I look forward to helping the first-year students achieve their goals and serving as a resource for them. Additionally, I always enjoy meeting new people and making new friends, working out/exercising, playing golf, volunteering, reading, and watching NFL and NBA.
Melanie Jordan
MELANIE JORDAN
Marketing Academy
MBA Marketing Intern, American Express
I am excited about being a second-year coach for a couple of key reasons. The first is that I believe that one of the most important things about getting an MBA and maximizing this experience lies in building a network – helping others and receiving help – and I think that this program embodies that perfectly. I think that getting advice and feedback from others is a critical component of getting a great internship and then a full-time job coming out of the MBA. I am looking forward to being able to help others get where they are hoping to go. Secondly, I am looking forward to this opportunity to get to know more about the class of 2014 than I probably would otherwise, particularly those individuals that I have the opportunity to work with one-on-one.
I am from Salt Lake City, Utah. After graduating from Brigham Young University, I spent 5 years working in client relations and project management before leaving Utah and coming to get my MBA at Tippie. I am currently serving as President of the MBA Women International – Tippie Chapter. I am also a part of the National Student Leadership Team for MBA Women International, serving as the Student Director for Region 2. I have been married for 8 years to a great guy and we are the proud owners of an adorable dog. In my precious spare time I enjoy shopping, reading, and cooking.
Kris Kroona
KRIS KROONA
Finance Academy
Health Economics & Reimbursement – Intern, St. Jude Medical
I believe that a Tippie MBA is a transformative process and the opportunities to embrace and realize that transformation are never greater than on day one! I am excited about being a second year coach because I look forward to the stewardship of your MBA career. My goal is to help you understand the road ahead, prepare for those challenges and then reflect on the lessons learned. I look forward to watching your successes and being a guide to you along the way! On a personal note, I had been a working professional for 8 years before my MBA and I enjoy spending my free time with my two year old daughter and her sister who is due in August!
Pankaj Kumar
PANKAJ KUMAR
Corporate Finance
Corporate Development Program, Liberty Mutual
Experience is like an endless canvas that can be stretched with the amount of knowledge one gains through the amount of people we meet. Going for my MBA from The University of Iowa was one of the best decisions of my life, as it not only helped me learn new things but also gave me the opportunity to meet many diverse and talented individuals, which have further added value in my life. Going forward, I want to continue this journey by being a second year coach where I will be able to help my fellow classmates shape their careers. My hobbies and interests are sketching, painting, and playing outdoor sports.
Annie Leonhart
ANNIE LEONHART
Marketing Academy
MBA Merchandising Intern, United Stationers
I am a 2013 MBA candidate in Marketing, with plans to also pursue a Strategic Innovation minor with LEAN gold certification. My B.S. is in Theatre from Northwestern University, and I went on to act professionally in New York and Los Angeles. I had a fabulous experience with my own second year MBA coach, and I’m looking forward to passing on the experience to new students. In my free time, I enjoy reading, music, exercising, and thrift store shopping. (I am quite possibly a thrifting genius.)
Top 5 Strengths: Strategic, Connectedness, Input, Empathy, Futuristic
Russ Mills
RUSS MILLS
Marketing Academy
Business Leadership Intern, Gavilon
I’m interested in the SY coaching program to help incoming students achieve their career goals and continue to build a strong brand for Tippie. Sharing experiences and working as a team can be a great benefit and I look forward to working with new students to ensure that everyone has a chance to get the results they are looking for. Some of my hobbies are Iowa sports and playing guitar. I like to travel, and I’m looking to get a job after school that allows me to continue to learn and be a part of leading a company by making strategic decisions.
Jessie Modi
JESSIE MODI
Marketing Academy
Summer Marketing Associate, Unilever
During the first few months at Tippie, there is a lot happening all at once – meeting classmates and staff/faculty, settling into a new city, juggling school work, project work, and the internship search. It can be overwhelming at times. I see my role as a second year coach as a way to share experiences from my first year, as well as to advise and help on the internship search. I also see this as an opportunity to learn from the incoming class as it relates to experiences they have had in their careers.
I currently serve as a Board Fellow with the Shelter House in Iowa City and am a member of the College of Business’ Diversity Committee. I also serve as Vice President of Networking and Community Outreach for MBA Women International. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
Steve Palmersheim
STEVE PALMERSHEIM
Corporate Finance
MBA Intern FP&A, United Stationers
I am excited to be a SY Coach because I feel I can add value and guidance to the whole internship process. The first year of the program is very time-consuming and emotional. My goal is to help improve student outcomes with job placement while aiding in an easy transition into the MBA lifestyle. Most of my time outside of school and work revolves around my family, my wife and three children. When I do find free time, you can usually find me yelling at the Hawks on TV or watching a movie.
Forrest Sallee
FORREST SALLEE
Marketing Academy
Graduate Marketing Intern, Wellmark
I found the internship search to be a challenging and sometimes stressful experience, and it really helped to have supportive people in my corner. My SY coach was always willing to offer advice, reassurance, and just the right amount of pressure to keep me going when things got tough, and I look forward to offering the same kind of assistance to incoming students this year. In my spare time I enjoy playing the guitar, skiing, eating ice cream on the deck with my wife, and playing catch with my daughter.
Amy Zmolek
AMY ZMOLEK
Marketing Academy
New Product Development Intern, Dairy Farmers of America
I am excited to welcome the class of 2014 by being involved in Tippie’s SY Coaches program. I think that this will be a great way to get to know the first year students on a personal and professional level. Last year my coach provided tremendous support and motivation during my transition to Iowa City and Tippie and most importantly, during the MBA internship search. I am thrilled to be able to give back to this program in the same way. For fun, I enjoy running, Pez collecting, and traveling!
