The HBS African American Student Union (AASU) strives to be an extended family for its members from the moment they decide to attend HBS, through the transition to second year, and beyond graduation. Here we profile two AASU members who came to HBS from the technology sector about their experiences before and during the MBA program.
McKenzie Jones (MBA 2024)
Where is your hometown?
My hometown is Gainesville, Florida.
What was your pre-MBA industry and role?
Technology, Product Marketing Manager at Google.
At what point did you decide to pursue an MBA, and why?
I reached a point in my career where I had confirmed my love for marketing but felt held back by my lack of business background. I studied Political Science as an undergrad, and my daily responsibilities focused on the "promotion" side of the function (i.e. social media, paid media, advertising, etc.). I wanted the opportunity to be in a more strategic role with the ability to influence all four levers of the marketing mix (product, price, place, and promotion). Ultimately, I felt HBS's general management education, coupled with my prior background in marketing, would position me for roles with broader scope and more opportunities for impact, as well as help me achieve my long-term goal of becoming the Chief Marketing Officer of a global technology firm.
How have you leveraged your unique professional experience in the technology sector at HBS?
Working in tech marketing was highly cross-functional, so I was constantly managing multiple stakeholders by listening to their needs and seeking optimal solutions to complex problems. At HBS, I use my ability to understand stakeholder needs and solve problems inside and outside the classroom. When analyzing cases, I seek to understand the different perspectives and what those perspectives mean for the proposed action plan. I've also found stakeholder management helpful in extracurricular activities, particularly in my role on a client team for the Consulting for Impact Club.
What has been the highlight of your HBS experience thus far?
The highlight of my experience thus far has been my section retreat during the first semester (shout-out to Section B!). Having a weekend to get to know 90+ new friends outside the classroom made me feel more at home at HBS. Before attending HBS, every student I talked to raved about the section experience, but hearing about it and experiencing it are entirely different. That weekend made me realize how close we had all become in such a short time.
David Smith (MBA 2024)
Where is your hometown?
I was born overseas in Munster, Germany but since the age of 9 I’ve called Tampa, Florida home.
What was your pre-MBA industry and role?
Before HBS, I worked in Tech as an Engineering Manager at Twitch. I’ve also worked for many other companies including Capital One, Disney, and American Express.
At what point did you decide to pursue an MBA, and why?
One day, I came to the realization that I was the sole Black manager in my office, and I took offense. Anecdotally, I rarely saw Black leaders in tech (only one throughout my professional journey), and I was determined to correct this pattern. I realized that I could best achieve this change through venture capital, specifically impact investing. Leveraging my industry experience and resources, I could support tech-centric underrepresented founders in building and scaling their ventures and establishing themselves as pillars within their respective communities. Ideally, this would have a cascading positive impact on STEM representation for the next generation of Black and other underrepresented communities.
How have you leveraged your unique professional experience in the technology sector at HBS?
Outside of bringing up my relevant professional experience for class discussion, at HBS I’ve had the opportunity to showcase my technical skills to optimize the Black New Venture Competition candidate experience as a member of the leadership team. In addition, I’ve leveraged my professional network in the NYC Tech community to populate my panel for the annual HBS Tech Conference.
What has been the highlight of your HBS experience thus far?
The highlight of this experience for me has been the diverse group of colleagues I get to network with. With a background in tech, it’s challenging for me to professionally meet people in different industries and job functions, so I really cherish the fact that I have this opportunity at HBS. The RC (first-year) experience has created this amazing sense of comradery for me, and I know once I graduate from HBS I’ll have a life-long, tight-knit network of professionals I can call friends.
Anything else you would like to add?
Outside of tech, I’m into physical fitness and exercise. When time permits, you can usually spot me at Shad (the HBS campus gym) somewhere. Also, I’m bound by a childhood pact to sing Roses by OutKast whenever it’s available at karaoke.