The open house celebration is both an opportunity to honor graduating Evening-Weekend students and a chance for students to share their MBA journey with their family and friends. The Lessons Learned panel, held during the open house, gave students a forum to do just that.
Hear the insights that Weekend alumni Mia Yu, ’18, and Harish Venkitaramanan, ’18, are taking away from their time at Booth.
Mia Yu, Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
When she applied to the Weekend MBA Program, Mia Yu wasn’t sure she had enough professional experience to be considered. However, she soon learned that Booth welcomes early career candidates, as well as students interested in switching industries well into their careers. This proved to be a valuable lesson that guided her during the program. “Whenever you want to do something, as long as you are dedicated, and as long as you’ve made up your mind to do so, it’s never too early, it’s never too late. It is always the right time to do the right thing,” she explained.
Yu gave credit to her family who had traveled from China for her graduation, and the other student supporters in attendance. “We could never have this alone without all of you sitting here with us,” she said. Though earning an MBA is an expensive undertaking, she believes that choosing to do so was not only an investment in herself, but an investment in the future of her loved ones. “We want to make you proud,” she concluded. “Hopefully, we already did.”
Harish Venkitaramanan, Powerful Tools, Pivotal Choices
Harish Venkitaramanan was familiar with the public’s occasional distrust of MBAs when he entered Chicago Booth. With this in mind, he urged students to use their talents to do good in the world. “Booth has taught me that an intellectual, responsible study of business can be extremely valuable to the public,” he told the audience. This begins, Venkitaramanan explained, with the belief that leadership and business acumen are skills that can be developed.
He advocates for a balanced, conscious approach to business. Among his advice, he instructs leaders to “vanguard sustainable, long-term returns, provide opportunities for the underrepresented, and prioritize investments that deliver mutual returns for employees, shareholders, and communities.” These personal choices, he believes, have the potential to define the future of business and transform the world.
Chicago Booth welcomes four bright professionals to our growing Chicago Business Fellows community. Learn more about the newest additions to our Business Fellows community.
Meet our Newest Chicago Business Fellows
Learn about Miguel (Mike) Jacob’s unique path to Chicago Booth and his connection to his Mexican heritage.
Mike Jacob: Connecting Heritage to Community
As she nears graduation, student Julia Jain reflects back on her time at Booth and tells us what has inspired and empowered her as a woman pursuing her MBA.
Choose to Challenge: Coming to Chicago Booth from a non-traditional background
