Adrian Obleton, member of the Class of 2023, is photographed for their student profile featured on the MBA Admissions website.

Adrian Obleton

MBA 2023

Home Region

Atlanta, GA

    Being part of the HBS community is like being pushed to be thoughtful every day.

    Why did you choose this path at this point in time?

    I originally applied to HBS as part of the 2+2 program. I had already accepted a full-time role in consulting that would give me the technical skills I needed in my career. I knew that I'd eventually want an MBA to build the interpersonal and leadership skills that would carry me through the rest of my career.

    Coming to HBS is like…

    Walking into a new world. I'm a first-generation college student and grew up in a low income family. Even with the professional and academic success I'd had so far, HBS provides an entirely different level of network and access that I didn't have before.

    Being part of the HBS community is like…

    Being pushed to be thoughtful every day.

    As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

    A lawyer. Honestly, just because it seemed like a respectable and prestigious career. As I got older, I realized I didn't like writing enough to go to law school.

    What is your favorite childhood memory?

    I remember learning how to do math when I was 5 or 6 by playing Monopoly with my dad. It's a controversial game, but it’s still my favorite to this day because of those days spent playing as a kid.

    Who is one person from your life that you admire the most today?

    My mother, Stephanie Allen, is the person I admire most. When my sister and I were growing up, she worked as a lunch lady making almost no money so that she could be around for my sister and me. As we got older and more self-sufficient, my mom made a decision to change her career path. She worked to become an emergency responder. There were grueling physical tests and detailed medical and fire safety exams that she had to pass. But since she decided that she wanted to do it, she did what it took to make it happen.

    What’s the best thing about your hometown?

    My Augusta, GA high school I went to. At Davidson Fine Arts I focused on choir from the time I was in 6th grade until graduation. Its yearly arts festival is an incredible display of talent and devotion from both the students and the faculty that support them.