MBA Student Perspective: Jae Wook Yoo

After eight years of working for a stable financial institution in South Korea, I decided to pursue an MBA because I wanted to do more meaningful and impactful work in the rapidly changing digital age. Notre Dame’s emphasis on “asking more of business” and “business as a force for good” aligned exactly with my own career vision and goals, so Notre Dame stood out among many options. And now, six months after coming to South Bend, I’m confident that I made the best choice.

Life as a Notre Dame MBA student was intense from day one. The Integral Leadership Development (ILD) program, the very first step for all MBA students, helped me understand my own personal values and those of my new teammates and illuminated ways to grow as a business leader during the program’s two years. During the first semester’s two seven-week modules, we learned core knowledge and skills for business leadership, such as Accounting, Finance, Strategy, and Business Ethics. It was a great opportunity not only to learn core business knowledge but also to share each other’s strengths and broaden our perspectives through various team projects.

Since starting the program, I have been continuously impressed by the diversity, intelligence, and enthusiasm of my fellow classmates. It was through the help of these amazing new friends that I was able to adapt to the sometimes hectic nature of business school. Everyone contributes their own perspectives to the team and to the class, and this productive atmosphere helps us both in and out of the classroom. Furthermore, our dedicated career coaches and supportive student services staff are helping us achieve our career goals, which is one of the primary reasons for pursuing an MBA.

There are various clubs at Mendoza, and each of those clubs have organized many practical events and activities to facilitate our areas of interest and career development. I’ve joined the Business Analytics Club, Tech Club, and Asian Club, and each of these organizations has augmented the classroom experience through activities such as guest speakers, a tour of analytics companies in Chicago, Tableau and R training sessions, and a Lunar New Year celebration. In addition to student activities at Mendoza, there are also many family-friendly programs and activities like the Family Life Committee and the CSLC (Center for the Study of Languages ​​and Cultures), which are helping international students and their families to adjust to life in the US.

I do not want to miss out on talking about Business Analytics. Mendoza provides diverse data-driven and analytics focused programs through its Business Analytics Concentration and its MBA/MS in Business Analytics Dual Degree Program. The dual-degree program is particularly beneficial for prospective candidates looking for an analytics career in that they can not only get in-depth analytics skills to augment core MBA courses, but they can also earn an additional master’s degree in just two years.

I am now in the second semester at Notre Dame. While it hasn’t been much time, I think I have grown significantly in the last six months, and most of all I am getting a step closer to my career goals. Mendoza believes business can be a force for good and can make the world a better place. Mendoza want us, its MBA students, to be ethical and innovative leaders who can change the world. If you want to be one of those leaders, Notre Dame is the right place for you.