Part-Time, But All In: Meet the Michigan Ross Weekend MBA Class of 2024
The Ross School of Business recently welcomed 113 new students into its Weekend MBA Program.
With an average of 7.3 years of work experience, the newest Michigan Ross WMBA cohort are seasoned professionals looking to build their business and leadership skills. They are also looking forward to engaging with each other and the Ross community, participating in signature academic programs like MAP (Multidisciplinary Action Projects), and pursuing membership in many different student organizations.
In terms of demographics, 27% of the incoming WMBAs are women, and they come from a variety of industries, including 44% from engineering, 28% from business, 16% from math/physical science, and 10% from human/social sciences. Additionally, the class has strong quantitative stats, with an average GMAT of 672 and average GPA of 3.4.
Below, hear from six members of the Michigan Ross WMBA Class of 2024.
Erdembileg (Eegii) Dendev
Hometown: I was born in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (one of the coldest capitals in the world), but grew up in Roanoke, Virginia (a small town in southwest Virginia).
Current job: Senior manager-deals (capital markets, accounting, and advisory consulting) at PwC
Undergraduate school/major: Virginia Tech, accounting and information systems
Why did you decide to enroll in the Michigan Ross Weekend MBA Program?
Michigan Ross has a great WMBA curriculum that’s aligned with my interest as I am keen to develop my leadership, strategic management, and negotiation skills. More specifically, the MAP project based on a real-life business case truly challenges students to be better business professionals and offers a new set of skills, whether it is learning to make informed decisions under time constraints or telling compelling stories to negotiate deals.
What made the Ross WMBA Program stand out to you versus other programs?
Besides the fact that Ross MBA is one of the best programs out there, I was very much drawn to the MAP and C-Level Thinking courses. During my application process and before starting the program, I felt a personal connection interacting with admissions officers and student ambassadors and had already formed a positive impression of the program. Additionally, Michigan Ross has talented professors who have both academic and industry experiences to challenge students to their fullest potential, as well as resources such as the Sanger Leadership Center and the huge alumni network.
How do you believe pursuing your MBA at Ross will help you in your career?
The Ross MBA program will help me hone my leadership and management skills such that I can be the best version of myself in leading diverse teams. Wherever my career takes me in the long term, the Ross MBA program will provide me with the necessary skill set as a business professional to succeed in my career.
Anything else you'd like to add about your experience so far?
My experience has been rewarding thus far getting to know my classmates, and working together in small groups collaborating and sharing best practices. The courses have been very interactive and engaging, as students can bring their experiences together and learn from one another.
Kiley Gardetto
Hometown: I am originally from Toronto, Ontario, and currently live in Canton, Michigan.
Current job: Marketing and sales profit analyst at Ford Motor Co.
Undergraduate school/major: McMaster University, Bachelor of Commerce with a concentration in accounting and a minor in economics
Why did you decide to enroll in the Michigan Ross Weekend MBA Program?
I am a passionate advocate for positive change along with development in those around me. I decided to enroll in the Michigan Ross WMBA because I wanted to take the opportunity to immerse myself in a new environment to absorb as much information and take advantage of as many development opportunities as possible. I want to bring what I learn back to my role to be a better leader, to move away from operating under the status quo, and to create more opportunities for others.
What made the Ross WMBA program stand out to you versus other programs?
The cohort experience is what made the Ross WMBA program stand out to me. Being able to learn alongside the same group of talented and motivated individuals for the entire two-year program is an incredible opportunity to broaden my perspective.
What are you most looking forward to in the program and at Ross?
I am most looking forward to learning from my peers and world class professors. Everyone in the program brings with them a wide variety of experiences, and I am looking forward to exchanging ideas with my peers on how to approach different problems. My entire career has been in an automotive background, so I’m excited to learn how decisions are made in other industries and businesses.
How do you believe pursuing your MBA at Ross will help you in your career?
We are living in a fast-paced and dynamic world, and businesses need strong leaders who are advocates for growth and innovation. The Michigan Ross program is widely respected and will amplify my voice to push for the change needed to create a meaningful impact on the team, company, and community I am in.
Lindsay Hall
Hometown: I was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and then immigrated to Ann Arbor in 1996.
Current job: Program manager at Amazon
Undergraduate school/major: University of Michigan, political science and psychology
What is your greatest professional accomplishment so far?
Last year, I worked as a project manager on the COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force at Amazon. On the VTF, I was responsible for coordinating efforts to implement a global policy to incentivize vaccinations for Amazon employees worldwide. With this policy in place, front-line Amazonians in more than 20 countries now receive a monetary incentive if they self-attest to having received a COVID-19 vaccine.
Why did you decide to enroll in the Michigan Ross Weekend MBA Program?
Pursuing an MBA from Michigan Ross has been a longtime goal of mine ever since I completed my undergrad at U-M. I’m definitely a Wolverine at heart and I’m so happy to be hoMe!
What made the Ross WMBA Program stand out to you versus other programs?
I knew that I wanted to continue working while I was studying, which is what attracted me to the Ross WMBA program. I also loved knowing that throughout the course of the two-year program I would be interacting with peers who work in a wide range of industries. Having the opportunity to network/learn from one another, and hearing how others are applying those learnings in their day-to-day work is invaluable to me.
What are you most looking forward to in the program and at Ross?
I’m most looking forward to the MAP experience. As a kinesthetic learner, I really appreciate having the opportunity to learn on my feet in a real-world scenario.
Anything else you'd like to add about your experience so far?
So far, my favorite part of this experience has been meeting everyone. There are so many impressive folks in the Class of 2024 WMBA cohort. Everyone brings such fantastic energy to the residency weekends.
Trent Kroeger
Hometown: Originally from Delphos, Ohio. Currently living in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Current job: Corporate Development Manager at Sensata Technologies
Undergraduate school/major: University of Cincinnati, finance major
Why did you decide to enroll in the Michigan Ross Weekend MBA Program?
I was interested in sharpening my business acumen, particularly on the operations side. Ross has a strong operations reputation and its Weekend MBA Program uses the same professors as the full-time program, making it an incredibly attractive program for professionals looking to continue working while in class.
What made the Ross WMBA Program stand out to you versus other programs?
I really liked the cohort structure and grew to appreciate it even more as I spoke with former students of the program who cited it as one of their favorite aspects of their time here. Also, as I mentioned, getting the same professors as the full-time program was also important to me as they are part of what has built Ross' strong reputation.
How do you believe pursuing your MBA at Ross will help you in your career?
I think the curriculum lends itself to producing well-rounded leaders. Coming out of the program, I think I'll be in a stronger position for whichever direction I choose; be it sustainability focused, product management, or corporate strategy. The program will give me exposure to numerous topics and concepts that I wouldn’t organically get in my day-to-day. I also believe my cohort network will be beneficial in the long run for advice as we navigate our careers. I look forward to watching my peers' career growth over the coming years.
Anything else you'd like to add about your experience so far?
I've appreciated how quickly we've been conditioned to think critically about business issues. From day one at orientation, there has been a strong emphasis on how business leaders think quickly through their framework to diagnose problems and develop solutions.
Jazo Moises
Hometown: Vallejo, California (right outside San Francisco), but I am currently located in New York City and commute in on residence weekends.
Current job: Senior communications strategist at the New York City office of Wieden+Kennedy, an independent advertising agency based out of Portland, Oregon
Undergraduate school/major: Saint Mary’s College of California, communications
What is your greatest professional accomplishment so far?
I was part of the team that launched McDonald’s loyalty program, MyMcDonald’s Rewards, within the McDonald’s app. A month into launch, we became the most-downloaded QSR app and enrolled 12 million people in the loyalty program. It was a great opportunity that taught me a ton about brand building, performance marketing, and cross-functional teamwork.
Why did you decide to enroll in the Michigan Ross Weekend MBA Program?
I wanted to gain business acumen that complements what I’m doing on the job now, mostly in the financial, quantitative, and operational space. Additionally, I had heard a ton about Ross and Ann Arbor from colleagues and friends in NYC, which sparked my interest.
What made the Ross WMBA Program stand out to you versus other programs?
The Weekend MBA is a nice hybrid between a full-time residence program that feels immersive and a part-time program where I can immediately apply things I’ve learned on the job. Additionally, the cohort model is a big pull — the opportunity to learn alongside the same people for my entire MBA experience not only helps me feel a part of a community, but also allows me to foster better relationships with my classmates over the next two years. For someone who comes from out of state every few weeks, it makes my weekends in A2 a lot more exciting and special.
How do you believe pursuing your MBA at Ross will help you in your career?
I’m all about putting the pieces together, so I’m excited to find ways to bring what I learn and experience in the classroom into my work at W+K. Also, as other alumni I’ve spoken with have mentioned, the connections and networking at Ross will last me a lifetime.
Jake Varsano
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Current job: Program manager — Energy Markets, Enel X
Undergraduate school/major: Connecticut College, economics
What is your greatest professional accomplishment so far?
My greatest professional accomplishment so far was when I worked with large energy users in California to coordinate their electricity reduction during a grid emergency. This in turn helped to prevent power outages throughout the state during extreme weather events, such as wildfires.
Why did you decide to enroll in the Michigan Ross Weekend MBA Program?
The first reasons that come to mind include the opportunity to attend a top MBA program while continuing to develop and add value in my current industry, energy. Additionally, I'm a huge fan of Ann Arbor; one of my favorite parts of the city is the visibly positive symbiotic relationship between the university and broader community.
What made the Ross WMBA program stand out to you versus other programs?
The cohort-based model. I sought the ability to work alongside and learn from as many folks as possible from a diverse set of backgrounds.
How do you believe pursuing your MBA at Ross will help you in your career?
I believe a Ross MBA will help my career because it will broaden my understanding of positive leadership and successful organizations while connecting me to a strong alumni network that has found success across a variety of fields and disciplines.
