Elliott Pearson

Born and raised in Southeast Michigan, it’s no exaggeration to say that I bleed Maize and Blue. After graduating from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, I started my career with Ford Motor Company's Research and Advanced Engineering organization in 2016. The three years I spent in Research – working with world-class engineers from Dearborn, Michigan to Dunton, Bedfordshire – gave me a deep appreciation for robust analysis and data-drive decision making. Working as part of an insular team, removed geographically from our management (seated in Achen, Germany), meant that we had to fill all the unique roles required for any given project. From software development to on-vehicle prototyping and even administering customer clinics, the collaborative, self-driven nature of the work was something I instantly fell in love with.

I received my MS in Mechanical Engineering from U of M’s Dearborn Campus in 2023 while continuing to work for Ford full-time, though I had since transitioned from Research to a new role in Technology Planning and Strategy. Operating on the business side of the corporation gave me a chance to make a broader impact, as I was able to influence many different projects at once rather than guiding the technical implementation of only one or two at a time. This really got me thinking about the broader corporate vision, and how to best utilize these new technologies internally – to improve our efficiencies – and externally – to surprise and delight our customers. From there, a formal education in business seemed the natural next step for my career. 

One thing you'll hear from both current and former Michigan Ross students is how open and accessible the community is. The atmosphere of collaboration and genuine interest in your classmates isn’t easy to find in other top business schools, and an MBA is about so much more than just the degree – it’s about the friends you make, the leadership skills you foster, and the networks you build that last a lifetime. I would encourage anyone considering an MBA to think about what they want most out of the next two years. Whether it’s rigorous academics, impactful projects solving real problems for real companies, or just an opportunity to enjoy the best college town in the Midwest, Michigan Ross has it all.

Feel free to reach out with any questions you have about the University, life in Ann Arbor, or the intersection of business and new technology (especially when it comes to the automotive industry). I hope to see you on campus, and GO BLUE!