MBA

Profiles

Alex Nelson, MBA 2010

During the long, cold winters in her home state of Minnesota, Alex Nelson daydreamed of "a better car heater that would warm up immediately, like a hair dryer." Although she never built that heater, the daydream symbolized her larger ambition. "I want to do things that would have a big impact and help a lot of people," Alex says.

In practical terms, her dreams led Alex to MIT for a degree in mechanical engineering and to General Motors where she served two summers as an engineering intern. "But I wasn't happy as an engineer," says Alex. "I felt it was hard to have an impact or make changes in my role." Subsequent conversations with her MIT mentor reinforced her growing convictions and led to a new kind of role: consulting. "The more I learned about it," Alex says, "the more I realized that the things I wanted to do as an engineer — solve complex problems and meet people's needs — I could do more effectively as a business person."

Finding meaningful roles

After just over two and a half years with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where Alex worked on a variety of marketing and retail assignments, she applied to HBS. "I viewed the school's general management program as having the broader perspective I needed," Alex says. "And I would learn more about collaboration and communicating by working with a diverse group of people."

The meaning of that diversity became apparent early on when Alex participated in a group project in which team members were arbitrarily assigned to different business roles. "We quickly realized that some people were much better suited to their assignments than others," says Alex. "I learned a valuable lesson: one person can't do everything — it's important to match the right skills with the right roles."

"The flip side of that," Alex says, "is more personal. We all have the potential to do many things well — but that doesn't mean we'd find them equally satisfying. It's not just about finding opportunities, but choosing the right ones. The beauty of the case method and the Required Curriculum is that they challenge you to rethink the way you make decisions — and even how you look at your career. I'm always questioning my preconceived notions about what I would do in a particular case, or what I think I'm best at in business."

In her own fashion

Contrary to engineer stereotypes, Alex has always been interested in fashion. This summer, "I plan on interning with a luxury goods retailer in New York," she says. Next year, she will co-run the HBS Fashion Show.

"I'm planning to return to BCG after graduation," Alex says, "and will continue to focus on retail management. Longer term, I'm interested in entrepreneurship. I'm toying with a variety of ideas, including one for a fashion business that redefines luxury in terms of uniqueness and quality instead of labels and price."