MBA

Profiles

Steve Alden, MBA 2010

Steve Alden has unimpeachable credentials in quantitative analytics, placing first in Massachusetts on the CPA exam in 2007, and in the top ten nationwide. But when it came time to assess potential MBA programs, Steve gave qualitative factors a higher priority. "I was really intrigued by the case method," Steve says. "I realized that many schools use HBS cases. So why not go to the source?"

Surprising relevancy, plus laughter

Steve's first visit to the HBS campus reinforced his interest. "The students I saw were very supportive," he says. "And the classes weren't grimly serious, as I had expected. There was a lot of laughter and fun along with the learning — an element of congeniality and community I was attracted to."

In his RC classes, Steve has found a ground-level view of the current economy. "I'm in the classroom with people who worked in investment banks and firms related to the crisis. It's fascinating to hear the perspectives of people who have been wounded in battle. And I've been impressed by how current the cases are in all classes," Steve adds. "The faculty has done a great job bringing in brand-new cases directly relevant to the international scope of the credit crisis."

In addition to presenting fresh cases, the school brings in exciting speakers. "Michael Dell, Jack Welch of General Electric, Paul Otellini of Intel, Jeff Taylor of Monster.com — the most interesting was probably MC Hammer, who talked about his Internet businesses. He has a keen business mind and really interesting things to say about social media networking and using the Web for commerce."

"But the highlight of my experience," says Steve, "is the geographic, cultural, and professional diversity of the classroom. It means getting firsthand knowledge from different people who've been close to what we're talking about."

Working plans

As he pursues his MBA, Steve is working a few hours a week on an unusual and exciting project: special research on fair value accounting for Harvard Law School Professor Hal Scott, director of the Committee on Capital Markets Regulation. "We're looking at the impact of 'mark-to-market' [or fair value accounting] on the current crisis," says Steve. "Is there a better method that presents relevant and reliable information without unnecessarily burdening banks? The idea is to weigh the usefulness of the information with broader political and economic interests."

To apply his quantitative skills to larger issues, Steve will take a consulting internship with Bain & Co. this summer. Long term, Steve sees the way his HBS classes have shaped, and continue to shape, his ambitions. "Here, we get a philosophical perspective that emphasizes our responsibilities to business and society," Steve says. "It's not just about making a lot of money. Maybe it's about increasing the pie for everybody. Or applying our skills to nonprofits for the greater social good."