Jay Sekhon

Your Story

Since I was a kid, I have always been excited to learn new ideas, solve problems, and build things. Growing up, I was very interested in discovering the ways in which the world works, and I dove into science and engineering to sate that desire. After graduating with a degree in Biomedical Engineering, I co-founded a startup company and later switched into a technical role in pharmaceutical research. While working in the laboratory was interesting, I realized there were also many interesting problems and opportunities in the business activities of my company. I had planned to return to graduate school after working for a few years anyway, but that realization guided me towards pursuing my MBA. The knowledge and experience in that kind of program was exactly what I needed to position myself for the newest set of problems I wanted to solve.

Why Carlson?

At the time I was looking at MBA programs, I had been living in Madison, WI for over 12 years--through high school, college, and as a young professional. I knew I needed a change of scenery, so I looked at many programs outside of Wisconsin. Carlson appeared as a logical choice based on its reputation and similarity to my undergraduate school, but I truly knew that I wanted to come here after I visited the school for the first time. Getting to meet current students, discovering the close relationships within the community, and realizing the incredible quality of resources and instruction that existed here quickly cemented my decision to attend. Of course, the robust business environment in the Twin Cities and myriad opportunities to accelerate my career didn't hurt either.

Overall Experience as a Carlson MBA Student

I was excited to start my MBA at Carlson, but my first year blew me away with how incredible the overall experience was. Not only was I able to land a prestigious internship, but the connections I have made with my fellow students, instructors, alumni, and overall community have been truly amazing. Many of my classmates are now close friends, and the combination of warmth and drive in the community has encouraged me to push myself far beyond what I thought I was capable of. Thinking back, I have probably learned more in just one year of the MBA program than I did over the course of my entire undergraduate career--not just about academic material, but also about myself. As cheesy as it sounds, I maintain that coming to Carlson was one of the best decisions I ever made.