Shefali Pereira from India was finding ways to advance her career in investment banking when she came across Vanderbilt University’s MBA programme. She was drawn to its strong reputation in finance and collaborative, tight-knit community. But what convinced her to sign up was its “unique focus on personalized leadership development and one-on-one coaching.”
“The Leadership Development Programme and opportunities for hands-on experience aligned perfectly with my desire to build both technical expertise and a socially conscious leadership style,” she says.
The LDP hones your ability to manage stress, find your voice, suspend judgment towards others, and deal with conflicts.
Not to be confused with a class, the LDP is instead an experience layered onto your curriculum, job search, and student activities for two years during your MBA. The first year will have you complete the Hogan Leadership Assessment, a personality-based assessment used by Fortune 500 companies to hire and develop leaders. The three reports produced from this evaluation will offer insight into how you approach work and working with others, your behaviour under stress, how you can be perceived by others, and your values and motivations. This will be the foundation upon which your LDP experience will build over your time here. During your second year, regardless of your participation in year one, you will be given a choice to either take part in the LDP cohort, work with LDP outside of the cohort, or not do anything related to it.
LDP participants learn more about themselves, broaden their perspective, gain additional leadership skills, and increase their leadership agility. Souce: Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management
Another way Vanderbilt enhances your leadership skills is through immersion learning. What separates Vanderbilt University’s MBA programme from the rest is that it offers various opportunities to gain real-world experiences. There are career immersions and tracks, career-focused short courses, case competitions, student investment funds, and entrepreneurial opportunities.. Student-led clubs and organisations provide even more opportunities for you to lead and learn outside of the classroom.
“The LDP was a key element, offering assessments and coaching that gave me a clear view of my strengths and areas for growth. My involvement as Co-President of Owen Finance Club has also taught me how to lead by example and support others in their development,” Pereira says.
Crucial connections for your career
To become a leader, you need connections just as much as skills. That is when the Career Management Centre, which has partnerships with over 500 companies, comes in. The centre offers various strategies to help you land your dream role. The one-on-one career coaching sessions is a favourite among students –they have multiple sessions to form a personalised roadmap that spots their strengths, refines goals, and develops a clear path for securing success. The Career Management Centre also offers a variety of workshops that help you learn how to highlight your experiences and skills on a résumé and perform mock interviews to boost your confidence and stay cool under pressure.
“The Career Management Centre at Vanderbilt-Owen has access to best-in-class employers and has organised information sessions and networking opportunities throughout the two years,” Pereira says. “In fact, I received my internship and full-time offer at Jefferies Group through the centre’s organised pipeline.”
LDP participants learn more about themselves, broaden their perspective, gain additional leadership skills, and increase their leadership agility. Source: Vanderbilt University
Alumni Career Management adds another layer of support. By engaging with the expansive alumni network (over 12,000), you will know the ins and outs of your chosen industry, as graduates are always ready to share their experiences. These MBA graduates not only come from various sectors, such as consulting, financial services, healthcare, technology, and consumer products, but they also bring insights from working with top organisations such as Amazon, Deloitte Consulting, United Health Group, and Wells Fargo Corporate & Investment Banking.
“Vanderbilt’s industry connections and networking opportunities have had a substantial impact on my career progression, especially through finance-focused events like Wall Street Week,” Pereira says. “The partnership with firms such as Jefferies and Bank of America provided meaningful networking opportunities, and I found immense value in connecting with alumni who offered guidance on navigating the investment banking industry.”
Pereira is by no means the only graduate who is doing well. The class of 2024 alone recorded an employment rate of 91% for the first three months post-graduation and an average base starting salary of US$150,246, proving that the vast majority of MBA students here are sought-after.
And as this MBA is STEM-designated, international students can apply to extend their Optional Practical Training (OPT) by 24 months. This means that they can reside and work for a total of 36 months, whether in Nashville, Tennessee or in other US cities.
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