Where Are They Now? Chicago Booth First Year Reflections with Rianna Zhou

About Rianna and Her Journey to Chicago Booth:

Coming to Chicago Booth has been an incredible experience for Rianna, and she attributes that to how generous and supportive members of the Booth community have been thus far. One highlight from Rianna’s experience at Booth was organizing a Bay Area trip for the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital group, where they had the opportunity to meet amazing alumni who shared their VC and startup journeys. Rianna initially explored consulting to build her toolkit, but later realized she wanted ownership over what she chooses to build. Now, she is focused on tech PM roles and launching her own venture and believes Booth is the perfect place for her to develop both paths. 

Having been at Booth for over a year now, does the academic experience live up to what you expected? Any favorite classes so far?

Booth has far exceeded my expectations! I've taken some game-changing classes like New Venture Strategy with Professor James Schrager and Building the New Venture with Professor Scott Metcalf. My favorite has been Digital Marketing with Professor Lil Mohan, I had zero experience in the area, and it completely opened up a new world for me. The hands-on approach to learning here makes everything click in ways I didn't anticipate.

Looking back on your first year, what are some takeaways, and what excites you most about embarking on your second year?

My biggest takeaway is to be authentic; trying to fit a mold doesn't work here or in your career. I'm really excited about the opportunity to prepare and participate in the Social New Venture Challenge, which will push me to build something real, not just talk about ideas. I'm going to be a mother soon, so I'm embarking on this new journey while wrapping up my MBA. It's going to be quite the adventure!

Where did you intern over the summer? Tell us more about how you secured your internship, prepared for the job, and what the overall experience was like.

I interned at McKinsey in New York, and it was an amazing experience that really demystified consulting for me. I got so much help from Booth alumni and second-years during recruiting, people genuinely wanted to see me succeed. Now I'm paying-it-forward by helping first-years navigate their own recruiting journeys. That's what the Booth community is all about!

What piece of advice would you give to someone currently going through the admissions process and considering an MBA from Booth?

Come here with something you want to build or explore, don't just come for a job title. Booth gives you the freedom and resources to chart your own path, but you have to be intentional about it. Be authentic in your application and in how you show up. The flexibility here is real, and it's powerful if you use it right.