Part-Time MBA Student Profile Tanvi Gopalabhatla, Graduate Women in Business Co-Chair

Learn about benefits of pursuing an MBA early on in your career, what the Weekend MBA Program is like, and extracurricular involvement opportunities with Tanvi.

By Admissions Staff
March 19, 2026
Booth Women
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Tanvi Gopalabhatla is currently finishing up her studies at Chicago Booth within our Part-Time MBA Program. Tanvi applied to Booth through the Chicago Business Fellows Program, an early career MBA Program specifically designed for individuals with three years or less of full-time work experience. During her time at Booth, Tanvi became co-chair of the Graduate Women in Business (GWB) student group for Evening and Weekend MBA students.

Read on as Tanvi shares insights on her experience at Booth thus far as (1) an early career MBA candidate, (2) a student who experienced traveling to Booth from the West Coast for Booth’s Weekend MBA Program, and (3) a member and co-chair of the GWB student group.

More About Tanvi and Her Journey to Chicago Booth…

Tanvi grew up in Colorado, where she always found ways to get involved whether that be through student organizations, creative projects, and/or extracurriculars. She studied computer science for undergrad at University of Colorado Boulder and then made the leap to LA to work at Disney as a Product Manager, which was a dream come true for Tanvi. She enjoyed getting a behind-the-scenes look at the film industry but overtime felt like she wasn’t growing as fast as she hoped within her role; she knew she was capable of more.

The idea of pursuing an MBA initially came after being nudged by her parents, but once she started exploring what Booth specifically had to offer in terms of program caliber, faculty, and the people, it clicked that Booth was the right next step. Since joining Booth, Tanvi dove headfirst into student groups and student council, and currently serves as Head of Marketing for a startup called Table Talk Social.

Fun Facts about Tanvi: Creativity is a big part of who she is—whether that's crafting, painting, or graphic design, she’s always working on something. She also enjoys being active, whether that’s at SoulCycle, taking walks along the lake, or putting in miles for her upcoming half marathon in May. She enjoys having a good balance of making things and moving around.

Tanvi Gopalabhatla and Boothies in formal wear holding Booth flag

Why Tanvi Chose Booth and What Stood Out About Chicago Booth’s Weekend MBA Program

Booth was a clear choice, it's one of the top business programs in the world and is widely recognized for having some of the most distinguished faculty out there. But what really sealed it for me was a conversation I had with current students early in my research process. I kept hearing about people who came in doing one thing and left doing something completely different–-students who became startup founders, authored books, or completely pivoted their careers. That kind of possibility felt electric to me, and I wanted to walk in with an open mind to see where I'd end up.

The Weekend MBA Program specifically appealed to me because it gave me the flexibility to stay in my full-time role while still building a real, consistent cohort of people I'd see every weekend. And being in the heart of Chicago didn't hurt either, this city has an energy to it that keeps you motivated!

Industry Pursuits During MBA and Helpful Booth-specific Career Resources

I'm primarily focused on marketing, and Booth has been a great place to explore that at the intersection of brand, strategy, and entrepreneurship. A few standout courses and resources include:

Built@Booth Entrepreneurship Club was a game-changer. Their Founder Matchmaking events connect you with early-stage startups, and that's actually how I landed my first startup engagement, it opened a door I didn't even know I was looking for.
Leadership Studio, taught by Professor Harry L. Davis, is one hidden gem course at Booth. It pushes you to think about the different "characters" you can step into in different scenarios at work, in relationships, and under pressure. It sounds abstract until you're in it, and then it sticks with you.
Brand Management in a Digital Age with Professor Tom Hafen is another must. The case studies on well-known brands are fascinating, and his frameworks are genuinely applicable to any company or industry. His teaching style makes it all land even better.
More broadly: Go to every alumni event you can. Alumni are your first touchpoint for career insight, referrals, and real talk about what life looks like after Booth. That access is something you shouldn't leave on the table.

Weekend MBA Student Experience

selfie of Tanvi Gopalabhatla and seven other Boothies

Experience Traveling from West Coast to Chicago for Weekend MBA Program

During my First Quarter, I was commuting in from LA. I’d fly in on Friday night, head back Saturday night or Sunday morning to make the most of the time here. I won't sugarcoat it: It was a lot, but it was also worth it. There's something about the in-person time with classmates and the immersion in Chicago that made me feel genuinely connected to the program. I'd stay in hotels (there's also a culture of Boothies splitting rooms, which is a nice option), and I quickly learned to treat the whole trip as an experience rather than just a commute. I eventually moved to Chicago for work and switched to the Evening MBA Program, but those early weekends set the tone for how I showed up throughout the rest of my MBA journey.

selfie of Tanvi Gopalabhatla and other Boothies at formal event

Exploring What a Typical Weekend Looks Like for a Chicago Booth Weekend MBA Student

There's genuinely always something going on. The Student Advisory Council (SAC) does a great job hosting socials after Saturday classes, and the student lounge has people chatting, eating, playing ping pong. Boothies know how to have a good time, so the nightlife rarely disappoints either. When the weather cooperates, I'm almost always outside by the lake or river. Chicago's food scene is incredible, so I make it a point to try a new restaurant with friends every visit. And on the quieter mornings, I'll bring my laptop to a café to get some work done.

Insight on Pursuing MBA at Chicago Booth Early On in Your Career

Tanvi Gopalabhatla and friends in group photo with some people sitting on couch

Why did you pursue an MBA earlier on in your career, and what advice would you give someone looking to do the same?

I think a big part of it was knowing I could still easily shift back into student mode—the discipline of classes, exams, and engagement with material. But more importantly, I wanted to absorb these frameworks and ideas while I still had time to actually apply them and grow into them. The earlier you build that foundation, the more impact you can make as a young leader. That reasoning has held up throughout the program.

Tanvi Gopalabhatla with friends at Booth event

How did the Chicago Business Fellows Program help throughout your journey at Booth?

The Chicago Business Fellows Program did a great job of easing the transition into Booth, especially early on. Events like the welcome brunch and resume workshop weren't just logistical—they helped me find a cohort of people who were in the same boat as me, figuring out how to show up as young professionals in a room full of more experienced peers. Imposter syndrome is real, especially when you're earlier in your career trying to step into leadership. Having a community of CBF students to work through that with and to figure out how the Booth mindset applied to us specifically made a real difference.

Getting Involved Outside of the Classroom with the Graduate Women in Business Student Group

selfie of Tanvi Gopalabhatla and friends with purple lightling

Tell us more about the Graduate Women in Business student group and why you joined.

I've been involved in women-focused organizations since undergrad, including Women in Tech, so GWB felt like a natural home when I got to Booth. After meeting members during the first club fair at Gleacher Center, I knew I had to be part of it. GWB brings together women across the Booth community—students, faculty, and alumni who are now out in the corporate world through a mix of social and professional development events. Some of those events include: dinners with alumni around the city, workout classes, conferences with panels, and workshops. We also have our International Women's Day Summit—a full day of speakers from different industries and networking. With women being underrepresented at Booth, I think it's genuinely important to create spaces where we can come together and have real, timely conversations about what it means to lead. Women bring empathy, intellect, and strong problem-solving to the table, and GWB creates the conditions for those voices to be heard and amplified.

Tanvi Gopalabhatla and friends in formal wear smiling

How has your involvement in GWB contributed to the connections you’ve made throughout your MBA experience?

The GWB board became some of my closest connections at Booth, there's something about building something together that fast-tracks a real friendship. Beyond that, the events we host with alumni and women from different industries have been an incredible way to expand my network in a genuine way. People show up to those events ready to share, which makes the conversations feel less transactional and more meaningful.

Tanvi Gopalabhatla and friends in matching t-shirts

What’s been your most memorable GWB event?

The most memorable event would have to be the very first event we hosted of the year: A Book Swap. Everyone brought their own book of interest and we got to swap and pick others that we liked. It was interesting to see what was on other people’s shelves and talk about them! Something that we’ve been doing asynchronously this year is a monthly newsletter, which includes themes and topics of the month, book recommendations, interesting speakers and publications, etc. It has been fun to work on this every month with the theme, because it is a chance for all of us to stay informed and connected!

To learn more about GWB, we encourage you to visit their website.

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