MBA

Profiles

Chris Wilson-Byrne, MBA 2009

Although Chris Wilson-Byrne studied chemistry as an undergraduate, he found his first research experiences disappointing. "I realized that I liked working with people, with teams," Chris says. On the advice of friends, he applied for an internship with an investment bank. "I loved the environment," says Chris. "It reminded me of the things I liked about being on the college swim team – the fast pace, the excitement, and the energy."

In his senior year, Chris began to evaluate his options. On the HBS website, he found that college seniors were encouraged to apply, and that there were numerous incentives, such as fee waivers and deferred admissions, to make applying easier. "The moment I stepped on campus," Chris says, "I felt that this was a place full of interesting and dynamic people. The case method stunned me – it was so different from the science lectures I was used to."

Environment for transformation

"Coming from a Jesuit school," Chris says, "HBS' emphasis on 'transformation' has a lot of appeal for me. This is an environment in which I can discover what kind of leader I can be." Initially, Chris intended to defer his admission for a year, but his campus visit convinced him to start his MBA immediately. "If I had worked a few years and gotten on a career track, it might have been difficult breaking away. This is the right time for me to get an MBA."

One of things Chris has realized, through the course cases and in his relationships with section mates, is how the way one presents an idea can be as important as the idea itself. "In order to make things work," he says, "you have to consciously come up with a strategy for presenting your plan. You have to consider how you brand yourself, how what you say may be interpreted – how your words and actions affect power and the execution of plans."

Last winter, Chris joined twenty-six other HBS students on the Australia trek. "I thought it would be a time to turn my brain off," Chris says. "But it was an amazing opportunity for reflecting on my first semester. And I was surrounded with people who had been through the same things – they were a great sounding board for testing ideas."

Contributing to the process

"On a scale of one to ten," Chris says, "the HBS experience has been a ten. I've learned that business isn't about having the 'right answer' – there is no one right answer. What's important is the value you contribute to the process and the outcome."

This summer, Chris will accept an internship in sales and training with Goldman Sachs. "I'm interested in both finance and sales, so it's a good fit." Looking ahead, Chris see himself investing in a new venture, particularly in green energy. "I'm very open to new possibilities."