Elie Sakharov Mutomb
Raised in the sunny southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (Congo-Kinshasa), I took a leap (more like a long flight) across continents to Beijing for my undergrad in civil engineering at the Beijing University of Technology—specializing in structures. After graduation, I joined Pfeifer Group's Shanghai office as a structural engineer, where I got to design some seriously cool structures like arenas and stadiums. Talk about constructing dreams!
Before Ross, I was scaling new heights (literally) as a project manager at A Degree of Freedom Structural Engineer PLLC (ADoF) in NYC. I had my hands on design, engineering, and construction management of mid to high-rise buildings in the Tri-State area—think skyscrapers but with a sustainable and innovative twist! Working hand-in-hand with clients, I helped bring cost-effective, innovative, and sustainable buildings to life.
As an engineer who loves to tinker, I figured it was time to bolt on to business for a few main reasons:
- Build a rock-solid foundation of business skills through formal education
- Develop critical skills to navigate the intersection of design, business, and technology
- Explore experiential learning and entrepreneurship opportunities
Michigan Ross didn't just check all my boxes—it practically built a custom structure for me (engineer joke!). Not only did it align with my academic aspirations, but also the Ross community sealed the deal. The MBA students I met were like the Avengers of business school: smart, collaborative, proactive, empathetic, and humble. Who wouldn't want to join that squad?
When I'm not buried in books or case studies, you can find me exploring Ann Arbor's underrated food and bar scenes, hitting the trails for a run or bike ride, or shooting hoops on the basketball court. Basically, if it's fun and gets me moving, count me in!
So, if you want to chat about the Ross MBA program, uncover Ann Arbor's hidden gems, or swap engineering puns, I'm your person. Go Blue!