Full-Time MBA Student Profile Gordon Taylor, ’16

Gordon Taylor: 00:03
You have to always ask yourself, "Why am I doing this? Why is this important?" Booth provided me with people that could help me get to my why, and that's really important in a business school. I went to Africa to work on a startup in Zambia as a operations and finance director. I would love to work in a private equity role, but in an emerging market, preferably in sub-Saharan Africa, and create job growth within those economies. A lot of people would probably say it's a hard industry to actually penetrate. Career Services helped tremendously, getting you in touch with professionals within the private equity world. The Booth alumni network is so strong within there.

Gordon Taylor: 00:37
I had an opportunity to intern at a private equity shop during my time at Booth, and I was able to solidify an internship in South Africa for the summer. I was on a call with a MD and he told me, "The reason why I took your call today is, on your subject, you put 'Chicago Booth student reaching out.'" That just goes back to the pay-it-forward culture that Booth has. People here are really invested in other people's goals. The Booth brand is very strong. It's just not here in Chicago. It is worldwide. I'm a basketball player, so having cheerleaders behind your back, or just people that are supportive, is very important to me, and, I think, that's what Booth does.