Elisabeth Jahnke

I was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and am thrilled to be back at Ross. Before business school, I worked as an electrical engineer in a variety of technical roles, most recently in manufacturing at Raytheon in Huntsville, Alabama. There, I focused on troubleshooting plant operations and improving the efficiency of day-to-day factory processes. That experience sparked my interest in building more effective systems and ultimately led me to pursue an MBA to strengthen my leadership and management skills.

I chose Ross because of its supportive, action-driven learning community. Ross students are deeply invested in one another’s success, and the school provides abundant resources to help make that possible. When I visited during Go Blue Rendezvous, I was struck by how eager everyone was not only to answer my questions but also to connect me with others in their network who could offer deeper insights. That willingness to go the extra mile reflects the sense of belonging and collaboration that defines Ross. Additionally, having grown up in Ann Arbor and attended Michigan for undergrad, I’ve always felt a strong affinity for the University. I’m the fourth member in my family to attend Ross—fun fact: my dad was here before it was even called Ross!

Feel free to reach out if you’d like to chat about the MBA application process, the Ross experience, pivoting from engineering to business, or Ann Arbor life in general. I’m always happy to connect—and I look forward to seeing you at Ross this fall!

Go Blue!