Group 2

Case Study:- Life Stories of recent MBAs

Group Members
Akhil Humane
Dakshan
Gokul Suresh
Mohammed Sharafath
Parvathy M
Renoven R
 ”Life Stories of Recent MBAs”

We are provided with debrief about life of 6 persons in the case study ”Life Stories of
Recent MBAs”. Our objective is to analyze the characters and their responses to situations
in light. We have mainly attributed characteristics to the following buckets.

• Attitudes and Job Satisfaction

• Emotion and moods
• Personality, learning and values
• Perception and individual decision making
• Motivation
Monica Chi
Situation Response/Impact Character Reflection
Hardship of the parents and their current Ingrained value of helping others and keeping life in perspective. Personality, Learning, Values, Motivation
contribution to the community Desire to make the most of the opportunities
Blend of Korean and American culture Adapted to the American community maintaining herself Personality, Learning, Values
connected to Korean culture
Parents achievement orientation Excelled in studies and pushed to fulfill potential Perception, Individual Decision Making
Relationship with Drew (Fiancé) Created tension with family. She tried to manage both by Personality
keeping them separate
Influence of Drew Gained interest in business school and decided to pursue MBA to Perception, Individual Decision Making
understand the business and pursue her social interests
FBI Experience Learned how to influence without direct authority. Believed in Learning, Attitude, Job Satisfaction
seasoned leaders to make things happen. Proud of her
accomplishments
Initial phase with trium group Lot of success through indirect influence and getting things Personality, Attitude
without being in the spotlight. Maintained composure even in
complexities.
Current status with trium group Firm struggles forced her to change from quiet leader to visible Adaptability, Responsibility, Moods
figure. Firm had high expectation from her to deliver and rebuild
the firm
Plan for the uncertainty Better understanding of herself and confidence to comeup with Learning, Personality, Perception, Attitude
solutions. Setting near term goals and face new challenge with
clear head
Ann Gildroy
Situation Response/Impact Character Reflection
Has a brother with learning deficiency syndrome Had to cope up with her brother. Eventually developed humility, Personality, Learning, Values, Emotions
and anxiety disorder. kindness and persistency
Exposed to people from different races and Learned to accommodate the beliefs of people and started to Learning, Values
religion during high school accept everyone as equal
First job as an Investment Banker at Georgetown Thrilled at first. But slowly understood that this is not what she Adaptability, Learning
campus needs. She needed creative space
Job at Warburg Dillon Read and at an internet Quit her first job to join here and had the same experience, Individual Decision Making, Learning
startup dealing with absent minded people
Decided to go against her parents while she lost Decided join Marine corps even though parents stood against it. Perception, Individual Decision Making
her job to a recession So kept her decision to herself and pursued what she like
Serving for the Marine Corps Thrived though the challenges. But hated the domination by Adaptability, Learnings
men and not being in the spotlight made her uncomfortable
Joining HBS for higher studies Moving to new environment in HBS put her in difficult position. Individual Decision Making
Removed herself from society. Started to live alone.
Job situation at Goldman Sachs While pursuing higher degree from HBS, got an offer from Learning, Individual Decision Making
Goldman Sachs and accepted it. But later turned away the job
offer for a simpler life.
Job at a private equity firm Chose to work for startup. Satisfied and was able to balance Personality, Individual Decision Making,
work and life. She finds herself happy and involved in the work Motivation
culture
Jamie Irick
Situation Response/Impact Character Reflection
Lived in very different environments, wide Gained Self awareness, freedom to feel comfortable, and at Personality, Values, Adaptability, Emotions
range of socio-economic levels ease with all types of people
Didn’t have enough money to buy lunch Sold gums to earn money and buy lunch Perseverance
Grandmother was a disciplinarian and mom Became competitive in sports and studies, Parents’ characters Perception, Learning, Values
was kind and father was smart encouraged him to incorporate their values
Wanted to do something different, Didn’t Joined West Point Military academy, wanted to play basketball Motivation, Emotions, Moods
want to disappoint father in division one, it had free education.
Attended Ranger school, Army’s scout Gained leadership skills, fostered trust and respect among Perception, Teamwork, Leadership, Learning
platoon leader course (had to serve for 5 peers and had to know about their strengths and weaknesses
years for free education)
Became Admissions officer at west point Elated while helping change people’s lives Job satisfaction, Values, Motivation
Joined HBS, Professor didn’t show up Taught the whole class that boosted his confidence Personality, Attitude
Being a Sales Director, had a new boss who Chose for responsibility, accountability, but then thought about Adaptability, Responsibility, Moods,
gave him a hard time, and was in a dicer quitting because of new boss, Turned the situation and hit high Perseverance
position numbers for sales, became a top leader for sale
Boss sent to California, Hit the similar targets, did the same for the California branch Adaptability, Personality
and felt the readiness to become a manager
Became General Manger of small P&L , Didn’t wanted to lack credibility or take shortcuts, loved the Perception, Values, Job Satisfaction, Attitude,
which was a 50mn $ acquisition breadth of learning, ability to drive change with huge team Individual Decision Making
coming from 46 different companies
Sachin Jain
Situation Response/Impact Character Reflection
Unable to communicate with relatives in India Forced himself to learn Hindi to maintain a strong bond with his Personality, Values, Motivation
due to language barrier Indian Heritage
Elementary and High school with less Received personal attention from teachers, provided him Personality, Learning and Values
strength of students and unconventional leadership opportunities and taught teamwork
curriculum
Decision to join NYU or Harvard Dr. Mariano Ray recommending on Harvard and decided to join Attitude, Decision Making
Harvard
Explore the field of HealthCare policy Reached out to health policy professors and received an Personality, Individual Decision Making
Internship in D.C in health care policy research
Pursue a career in Medicine in HMS Joined HMS to gain an in-depth knowledge on HealthCare Decision Making, Emotions
under the influence of his friends and girlfriend
Not satisfied with Medical school Majority of the students did not care about HealthCare policy Perception, Attitude, Individual Decision
hence created a website ImproveHealthcare.org with support Making
from professors
To understand the managerial aspects of Got acquainted with hospital CEOs to make the decision to join Personality, Adaptability, Learning
medicine / Decision to join HBS HBS and met different people with variety of backgrounds.
Eagerness to go back to healthcare Mentee under the interim dean to work on research on Learning, values, Personality
HealthCare policies.
Balancing HMS and HBS Joined ‘hemi-doc’ program to engage in medical research and Personality, Learning, Decision-Making
to pursue his passion of teaching
Alex Mandl
Situation Response/Impact Character Reflection
Moderately strict parents, choice to make Played a major role in his decision making throughout his life Personality, Learning values
life decisions, freedom to explore
Tried to constantly reinvent himself, to have a purpose,
Being an introvert, sensitive, gay Personality, Learning values
discover himself, tried his hand at new things (musicals)

Under grad at UCLA Different universe, out of comfort zone Personality, Learning values
Exposed to new ideas, walks of life, philosophies, environment
Exploration & reevaluation, trying very different things Personality, Learning values,
Junior year at UK
(weightlifting, basketball, drama), trying to fit in Perception
Decision to pursue policy & government Influence from a mentor with excellent values & outlook Motivation
Transition from high profile job at National
Democratic Committee to insignificant Perseverance, took jobs overlooked by others Attitude, Job Satisfaction
Volunteer work, State department
Re-examination of expectations, acceptance & appreciation of Personality, Learning values,
Relationship with Matt differences Perception, Decision Making
Decision to join HBS for MBA
Fascination towards leadership & management challenges Perception, Individual Decision Making

Expectations about HBS, unemployment Realization & acceptance of failure Perception, Individual Decision Making
Job at economic development organization dissatisfaction at work, conflict of interest, health issues Emotions, Moods, Attitude, Job
(getting his act together) Satisfaction
Resignation, Changing of roles Ventured into new fields, broadened & developed skills Attitude, Job Satisfaction
Introduction to yoga & acupuncture, Got health back on track, space & freedom to unwind &
Emotions, Moods
overcoming health issues, getting help recalibrate
Daniel Salvadori
Situation Response/Impact Character Reflection
Grandfather escaped death during war and Sense of awareness and belonging. Personality, Emotion,
joined resistance.
Mom’s family lived through duress of early Attachment to Israel and Judaism Personality, Emotion,
stage of Israel
Terrorist bombing at age of 5 killing his 2-year Grief, fear, trauma, feeling of being different from Personality, Motivation, Emotion, Moods, Learnings,
old cousin others, deeper attachment to grandparents and Values
family became religious
Influence of teacher Carla Stucchi Hard work, value of time, humanistic sensitivity, Learnings, Motivation, Individual Decision Making,
mindset, intellectual curiosity Perception
Death of maternal grandfather Sense of powerlessness Perception
Teaching in Israel Opportunity to stay in Hebrew University and do Job Satisfaction
Masters in Finance
Securing a job at Lehman Brothers with Lehman felt like family and terrific relationship with Job Satisfaction, Learning, Values
Harvey Kruegar as mentor Harvey
2 years at Lehman Brothers Menial job working 100 hours a week, lack of sleep No Job Satisfaction, No Motivation
Joined MBA Exposure to operations management, close group of Personality, Individual Decision Making, Emotions and
friends, Moods
Work at PE firm investing in healthcare Easy commuting distance, relationship with girlfriend Emotion, Moods, Individual Decision Making,
related companies and identify what needs to be done Motivation
New job in pharma company at Munich, Live at different places at young age, smaller Jewish Job Satisfaction, Perception, Moods, Emotion
Germany community and wife with her job Individual Decision Making
Conclusion
• Each person reacts differently to their situation
• Inconsistency in decision making
• Initially everyone was unhappy in their roles and decisions, eventually they
figured out what they wanted in their life