MBA

Profiles

Jeremy King, MBA 2010

IAs an undergraduate, Jeremy King pursued a degree in biology, studying ecology, genetics and animal behavior. Though he considered medicine a career, he found himself working with a very different animal. "I interned in the more interesting parts of financial services," Jeremy says. "On graduation, I found a role in consulting to investment banks, exchanges, hedge funds, and private equity. This role was perfect for me to learn more about the industry and build skills outside science."

Through this specialist role at McKinsey, "I acquired a broad set of skills, but had deep experience in only one sector." says Jeremy. "With this slightly narrow experience and a scientific undergraduate degree, I felt that I needed to learn things like marketing, operations management, the more academic aspects of finance and detailed accounting. Doing this full-time at business school seemed be the most efficient way to learn, plus I'd have a chance to study cases and interact directly with many sectors brand new to me."

A world of new experiences

"Beyond academics," Jeremy says, "HBS has given me experiences I wouldn't get anywhere else." For example, Jeremy joined sixty other HBS colleagues on a two-week trek through India organized by four second-year students. "We did everything from participating in a panel event on Indian entrepreneurship in the communist state of Kerala, to experiencing a mock Indian wedding complete with amazing food, flowers, music, and dancing."

On another trip, Jeremy went to New York City with colleagues from the Business of Sports Club. "We toured the new Yankee Stadium and Madison Square Garden," says Jeremy. "And we held panels with senior executives at the offices of the NBA, MLB, NASCAR, and ESPN."

But Jeremy isn't just interested in the business side of sports. In March, he was the HBS soccer team's goalkeeper at the Business School World Cup Competition at the University of Texas. "We drew one game and lost two, but it was an absolutely superb time," Jeremy says.

Additional journeys included the Tribal Enterprise Group visit to the Mohegan Sun casino, "where we met leaders of the Mohegan tribe and operators of the casino business," and a ski trip to Steamboat, Colorado "amazingly well-organized by my section mate and Olympic silver medalist, Travis Mayer." In summary of his HBS experiences, Jeremy says, "my eyes have been opened to the business world well beyond my experience in consulting and investment banking. What I've learned has made me confident that, with the right attitude and skills, I can succeed in any sector. HBS helped me to fill-in the skills that I was missing, and has motivated me to continuously evolve my attitude to different aspects of business."