Each year, our MBA Admissions Committee is guided by the belief that success is only possible through a diverse set of perspectives and backgrounds in our classes. One of the ways we work to achieve this, is by partnering with organizations that connect top business schools with MBA candidates, companies, and community leaders that share our commitment to providing access to education and a welcoming, supportive business environment.
One of Texas McCombs’ longstanding partnerships is with the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management (CGSM). The Consortium is an alliance of some of the world’s leading graduate business schools and corporate partners, with the mission of enhancing diversity and inclusion in global business education and leadership. Texas McCombs has been a member of the Consortium since 1984, and each year the MBA program participates in CGSM events across the country to recruit candidates who share this mission.
This year, we welcomed our largest CGSM class ever! As a CGSM student, the first step in the MBA journey is the Consortium Orientation Program (also known as OP). The OP gives students from all of the Consortium member schools the opportunity to interact with each other, attend panels and workshops for personal and professional development, and to network and interview with corporate partners. It’s also a bonding experience for the incoming class, where they begin to form new friendships and support one another as they prepare for the start of the MBA school year.
Texas McCombs MBA students at 2018 Consortium OP in Orlando, Florida
The Class of 2020 includes 39 outstanding Consortium MBA students from all over the U.S. and we are excited to see what they will accomplish during their two years at Texas McCombs. Four new CGSM students – Bryant Buraruk, Alexandria Moragne, Damon Reynolds, and Jackie Rojas – share their experience below, as well as their advice for future Texas McCombs MBAs interested in applying through the Consortium.
Bryant Buraruk
Hometown: Sugar Land, Texas
Undergrad School & Major: Texas A&M University, Petroleum Engineering
Pre-MBA Job: Drilling Engineer & Wellsite Supervisor, Halliburton
Why did you decide to pursue an MBA, and what factors led you to choose McCombs?
I decided to pursue an MBA because I wanted to make a career switch from an engineering role to a business role. I want to pivot from a role that requires a specialized, narrow focus to a role that will allow me to approach problems from a broad, strategic point of view. I chose McCombs because of the school’s culture, class size, and experiential learning opportunities.
- Culture- McCombs is known for its collaborative, inclusive culture, and I clearly felt this culture with every interaction. Whether it was current students, alumni, or the admissions team, I could tell that they wanted me to be a part of the McCombs family and would go above and beyond to assist me throughout my MBA journey.
- Class size- The smaller class size of McCombs was a big plus for me because I wanted to be a part of an MBA program where I could get to know my classmates on a more personal level. My classmates will become my future network and the McCombs’ class size allows me to know my peers beyond the classroom. Additionally, I feel that a smaller class size allows me to make greater contributions and receive a more specialized education.
- Experiential learning opportunities- I am a big believer in putting theory into practice. The ample opportunities to take what you learn in the classroom and apply it to real-world situations was a major draw to McCombs.
How did you learn about the Consortium? Why is the mission of the Consortium important to you?
I learned that the Consortium is more than just a diversity organization. They are committed to the success of its members by fostering a network of the country’s top students and leading corporations. The mission of the Consortium is important to me because the involvement of underrepresented communities in graduate school and management positions should be higher. The Consortium challenges its members to rise to the occasion and give back by setting an example. Future generations need leaders to demonstrate that attending graduate school or becoming a leading manager is not only possible but that one can also succeed at the highest level.
Tell us about your experience at the Consortium Orientation Program (OP).
Going into OP, I had high expectations to bond with my future classmates, explore career opportunities, and foster relationships with potential employers. Leading up to OP, McCombs’ Career Management team held weekly calls that laid out a roadmap for what to expect at OP and how to prepare. First, I crafted my resume, worked on my pitch, and ensured I had a story that clearly demonstrated who I was and what I wanted to do beyond my MBA. Next, I made a target list of companies that I wanted to interact with at OP and began tapping into the McCombs network to learn more from alumni or current students who worked for these companies. Lastly, I made sure to have fun at OP and relax. The biggest key is being true to yourself.
Meeting my classmates was a huge relief and exciting. You have spent so much time and effort getting into business school and preparing for OP that you just want to meet who you will be with on this two-year journey. Learning about everyone’s unique background and forming new friendships is one of the first rewards for your hard work. What stood out to me the most from my experience was how highly sought after you are as an MBA student and Consortium member.
My biggest takeaway from OP was developing and maintaining your “personal brand”. Your schedule is jam packed with activities and each of these activities presents an opportunity for you to portray who you are and what you prioritize.
What are you most excited about as you start your MBA?
I’m most excited about the opportunity to challenge myself and grow personally as I learn new things and interact with classmates from different walks of life.
What advice would you have for someone interested in becoming a member of the Consortium and pursuing their MBA at Texas McCombs?
My advice to future students is to take full advantage of the Consortium. The Consortium is an excellent way to get a head start on your MBA career and prepare you mentally to make the transition back to student life. Before attending OP and McCombs, take time to reflect on your career goals and what you want to achieve so that you can prioritize your efforts in these two short years. Focus on what type of role you want after graduation instead of focusing solely on a company. You will be surprised by the vast opportunities at companies you never considered once you determine what type of work you are passionate about.
Alexandria Moragne
Hometown: Yorktown, Virginia
Undergrad School & Major: Howard University, International Business
Pre-MBA Job: Corporate Finance, Goldman Sachs
Why did you decide to pursue an MBA, and what factors led you to choose McCombs?
I decided to obtain an MBA because I wanted to gain additional skills that would transition me from my previous 7 years in corporate finance into the consulting world. McCombs had several unique programs (MBA+ program, Board Fellows) that I felt would help me gain experience that would transfer into the consulting industry. The MBA+ program gives students an opportunity to consult and assist prominent companies with real world problems, which I knew would help me add an additional consulting experience onto my resume before I started to recruit for consulting companies. The Board Fellows initiative allows students to sit on a non-profit board for a year and learn how to be a board member. One of my goals post MBA is to be able to affect change on a local level by being a board member. With the backdrop of these programs and the growing city of Austin, going to McCombs was the perfect fit for my aspirations.
How did you learn about the Consortium? Why is the mission of the Consortium important to you?
I first learned about the Consortium from a non-Consortium member and friend at another business school. I had originally gone to him to learn more about the MBA process and he mentioned that I should take a look at the Consortium program. I signed up for a Consortium in-person meeting in New York and I was able to learn more about the benefits of membership and meet a lot of prospective students who were very diverse. The mission of the Consortium is important to me because it promotes diversity and allows those who want to create a more inclusive and diverse community to build a network to support each other. The Consortium members are extremely diverse and want to make the world a more inclusive place. It is rare to be able to connect and learn from such a diverse group of people so quickly.
Tell us about your experience at the Consortium Orientation Program (OP).
I was nervous going into the Consortium OP, not because I didn’t feel prepared (the Texas McCombs Career Services team did a great job with the weekly prep meetings), but because of the pressure that I was putting on myself to have my recruiting plans figured out before business school. Once I got to OP and was able to connect with my classmates, the nervousness melted away. The way that people genuinely care for each other in our program is very special and stood out to me from the entire experience. The bonds form quickly because we are all willing to extend ourselves for each other. The team would prep with each other for interviews late into the night and also pass along opportunities that were of interest. I even had a classmate who was speaking with a recruiter mention me for an internship opportunity because of my background. I’ve never experienced a culture where that was prevalent without having to expend capital beforehand.
What are you most excited about as you start your MBA?
I’m most excited to learn and meet the rest of my amazing classmates (all 283 of them!). The next 2 years are going to be a time of extreme growth and I want to be able to learn as much as possible from a variety of sources. In the short time that I’ve been able to connect with the McCombs network, I’ve been able to learn about and start to observe trends across various industries. It has been very eye-opening!
What advice would you have for someone interested in becoming a member of the Consortium and pursuing their MBA at Texas McCombs?
My advice would be to be authentic. Reflect on your previous experiences and come with a good sense of who you are. The students in the Consortium at Texas McCombs are 100% themselves and they are rewarded for being brave enough to show their true selves through the opportunities that come their way and the real connections that they make across our network.
Damon Reynolds
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Undergrad School & Major: University of Houston, Political Science
Pre-MBA Job: Relationship Banker & Small Business Specialist, JPMorgan Chase; Senior Retirement Specialist, AIG; Sergeant, United States Marine Corps
Why did you decide to pursue an MBA, and what factors led you to choose McCombs?
I was looking for a new direction in my career, a new challenge, and a way to impact those I care about. I knew an MBA would provide that. I chose McCombs because it was the only place that felt like home. After serving in the Marine Corps, I developed a pretty good idea of what a home away from home feels like. It truly boils down to the people, and every person I met at McCombs gave me that feeling so it was an easy choice.
How did you learn about the Consortium? Why is the mission of the Consortium important to you?
I learned about the Consortium through our admissions director, Stephen Sweeney, at a summer MBA event prior to applying. The Consortium’s mission represents so much of what is important to me. When I began my pre-MBA journey, I started by reflecting on what is important to me and why an MBA was the next step. During that reflection, I found that an MBA would allow me to better serve the people I care so deeply about. An MBA would allow me to be a mentor and constant, present example to younger minorities through my nonprofit of what education can, truly, do for you. This became one of my biggest “whys,” and the Consortium’s mission aligns perfectly.
Tell us about your experience at the Consortium Orientation Program (OP).
I wanted to begin building meaningful relationships whether it was with classmates, UT staff, Fellows from different Universities, recruiters, and/or professionals from some of these organizations. My only expectation was to come away with relationships I felt would continue to grow. Participating in the pre-OP series of phone calls organized by our career services team was extremely helpful. Preparing for behavioral interview questions as well as reflecting and recalibrating my MBA story or elevator pitch were among the most important things I did to prepare.
Meeting my classmates at OP was amazing. I can honestly say there is not another Consortium class I’d rather be a part of. Although the Consortium is a diversity organization, I was particularly impressed by the diversity and the wealth of experiences within our group . It was exciting and humbling to see everyone’s grind. I think I underestimated the importance of surrounding yourself with driven individuals. It was truly refreshing. There are some extremely talented, young minorities doing amazing things in business, and I have faith that the future of business is bright, as it relates to minorities reaching senior leadership positions.
What are you most excited about as you start your MBA?
I’m most excited about meeting the rest of my classmates. I continue to be impressed by everyone I meet.
What advice would you have for someone interested in becoming a member of the Consortium and pursuing their MBA at Texas McCombs?
As it relates to the Consortium, do some research on the organization and decide whether their mission is something that truly resonates with you. If it does, apply! There is no question that the Consortium family is the real deal, and you will never regret joining this family. As for pursuing your MBA at Texas McCombs, my advice is do not underestimate the importance of relationships as you work through the application season. While the “hard” things are necessary and important such as GPA, GMAT/GRE score, work experience and the like, there is also a much “softer” and subjective side to the application. Your application is not put through a machine that calculates inputs and delivers a yes/no decision. The admissions team is made up of real people, and as such, you would do yourself a tremendous favor by ensuring that there is a face and a personality with your application. So get out there, be present, attend events and build meaningful relationships.
Jackie Rojas
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Undergrad School & Major: UT Arlington, Civil Engineering
Pre-MBA Job: Project Manager and Certification Engineer, The Boeing Company
Why did you decide to pursue an MBA, and what factors led you to choose McCombs?
Of course there are plenty reasons, but I would have to say that location and its collaborative culture were my top two reasons for choosing McCombs. Austin has something for everyone, whether it’s hiking or live music, it has it all. Secondly, I wanted to attend a top business school were I could look to my classmates for support during the next two years and feel that I was only competing with myself and not everyone else.
How did you learn about the Consortium? Why is the mission of the Consortium important to you?
I was introduced to Consortium by some McCombs alumni during a networking event in Seattle. They raved about the benefits and mission of helping minorities into leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies. Having worked at Boeing and witnessing the lack of minority senior management and executives, the Consortium mission profoundly resonated with me. I knew I had to apply.
Tell us about your experience at the Consortium Orientation Program (OP).
My expectations for OP were to meet and build relationships with my future classmates, as well as students from other top business schools. I am pleased to say that not only did I make wonderful friendships with my fellow McCombies, but I also walked away with two internships offers for next summer! I couldn’t have done it without the great support from our staff and classmates. My favorite part of OP was during our second night out and doing our Texas chant with so much spirit that students from other schools started clapping.
What are you most excited about as you start your MBA?
Without a doubt it has to be learning from my classmates. Everyone is brilliant and filled with wisdom that I hope to tap into.
What advice would you have for someone interested in becoming a member of the Consortium and pursuing their MBA at Texas McCombs?
Definitely go for it! If you are thinking about it and are hesitant, reach out to the Consortium. They are so approachable and are eager to help. You can also reach out the McCombs Ambassador Committee, and they can connect you with someone from Consortium to help and answer any questions you may have.
