MBA

Profiles

Andrew Goldin, MBA 2009

Andrew Goldin's academic interest in socio-linguistics proved its practical value where it matters most: in a middle school classroom in New York City. "My research in reading curricula," Andrew says, "made the transition to being a teacher much easier." His three years of field experience prepared him for yet another transition. "The education reform 'buzz' was all about applying lessons from the private sector," says Andrew. "As I became interested in how the school district was managed, I wanted to acquire the decision-making framework of a business person. I needed to develop as a manager and leader."

When Andrew visited HBS, he saw hard evidence that this was the right school for lessons in education. "Looking over the research and course work, I could see many examples of nonprofits taking lessons from the private sector," Andrew says. "And the depth of the Social Enterprise Initiative – the courses it supports, the trips and extracurricular activities – really drew me in. At HBS, social enterprise is a true priority – not just a mission statement on a web page."

Teaching as leadership

To prepare for HBS, Andrew participated in the summer Analytics program. "It was extremely helpful in bringing me up to speed with finance and accounting," says Andrew. "The program was a great opportunity to become familiar with the HBS campus and the case method. I can't stress enough how helpful and supportive faculty were."

Though a relative newcomer to business, Andrew has found his teaching experience relevant to his class work. "In case after case," he says, "my experiences as a teacher have been directly applicable to the decisions case protagonists have to make. Although the content of the decisions may differ, the people issues are similar: managing teams, setting expectations."

As a participant in the New Orleans immersion last winter, Andrew directly witnessed the impact he and his colleagues at HBS can have on education. With the help of HBS faculty and staff, Andrew and two fellow MBA candidates created a business plan for a New Orleans nonprofit focused on advocacy. "We're supporting a network that helps parents understand their rights and responsibilities within the school system," Andrew says. "The network trains parents to become advocates for important issues with their local communities."

Support for his goals

Andrew says HBS has been "extremely generous with financial aid and with helping me resolve finances, especially with the summer fellowship. They've allowed me to concentrate on finding a position on the strength of its merits without worrying about the money."

With his MBA, Andrew will "definitely return to education, either in a school district or within a nonprofit with an educational mission. The goal is work with people who think strategically about education challenges."