Katy Hirschfeld
Post-MBA, Katy Hirschfeld (MBA ’23) will join a two-year rotational program in Citibank’s consumer and personal bank division in New York, NY.
How has the BC MBA shaped your career trajectory and professional goals?
While attending college, I worked as an intern in the finance department of a national construction company. After graduation, I worked full-time for that same company. That job was demanding and required me to learn about the importance of communicating well with co-workers at every level as we strove to manage budgets and internal and external customer expectations. Importantly, that job also made me realize that in order to advance within the organization, I needed to deepen my understanding of business and hone my skills by obtaining an MBA at an institution that would challenge me and help me realize my true abilities.
I conducted an exhaustive search for the right MBA program, looking for not just a program from which I could obtain an MBA, but one in which I could truly flourish, learn from people who had experience in the industry, and from people with wisdom to impart. I found the right balance and satisfied that need when I landed at the Carroll School of Management at Boston College.
I have found that the BC MBA offers a wide range of classes taught by world renowned professors. The program goes beyond the typical classroom experience. It offers professional development courses, volunteer opportunities, extracurricular activities, access to business clubs, and courses such as public speaking and managing people and organizations. These have allowed me to develop my “soft” skills in addition to the core business curriculum, math, and finance skills that form the foundation of my BC Carroll school experience.
What is your advice to future BC MBA candidates?
I quickly learned that I would get out of the program what I put into it. I urge any future BC MBA candidates to make the most out of every opportunity offered—this will allow you to maximize the benefits of the program. The small class sizes provide you with the perfect chance to become acquainted with your professors on a personal level. When classes contain material that is new or a bit daunting, do not hesitate to attend office hours or ask questions. BC professors and career advisors are genuinely dedicated to the success of their students and will do anything they can to assist with your career pursuits. The job search can be long and arduous, but having professors and advisors on your side will be a great benefit—it helped me land my dream starting job.
How have your classmates influenced your MBA experience?
The best part of the MBA experience is having the chance to meet such a diverse, inspiring, and supportive group of people. The size of the cohort is optimal—not too big, not too small—and allows one to foster and build real, meaningful connections. Within the last two years, I have joined soccer leagues, volunteered, played pickup basketball, ventured to Vermont for weekend ski trips, traveled internationally during breaks, and attended many academic and social presentations with classmates from varied backgrounds. I have been able to create friendships and connections that will last a lifetime, and credit the relationships I have built for making me a stronger job candidate.