Alumni Spotlight: Sarah Hagerman, VP at Kaiser Associates

By: Guest Blogger Angela Sun, A’13

Hi again Jumbos!

My name is Angela Sun. I’m a 2013 Tufts graduate currently based in Washington, DC as an Associate Consultant with Kaiser Associates. Having blogged for the Career Center as a Student Ambassador in 2012-2013, it is a real treat to be able contribute to the Career Center blog as a guest blogger!

Since moving to Washington, DC, I have always been amazed by the caliber of alums I meet in the city. Today, I bring to you an enlightening interview with an accomplished Jumbo and one of my personal role models, Ms. Sarah Hagerman, Vice President of the Organizational Development practice at Kaiser Associates. Ms. Hagerman was an International Relations/Spanish double major at Tufts and also received her MBA from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University. If you had the fortune of attending the Tufts Consulting Night, then you may have been graced by her wisdom and elegance in person. If not, don’t worry—the Career Center blog brings you all the highlights:

Sarah Hagerman, VP at Kaiser Associates

Who is Kaiser Associates and what does the Organizational Practice entail?

Kaiser Associates is an international strategy consulting firm that serves as a key advisor to Fortune 500 and aspiring companies across industries to help develop and execute business strategy. Within Kaiser, I help lead the Organization Development practice, in which we help organizations and their people-related processes operate more effectively, whether that’s through the design or re-engineering of processes, systems or programs.

How has Tufts prepared you for your career?

The interdisciplinary nature of Tufts’ education and my International Relations major enables me to approach consulting projects from many different perspectives. In solving any business case, I sought to understand factors like history, culture, market dynamics and trends, which provided a more holistic and realistic appreciation of the problem. I also participated in a Tufts Study Abroad program in Spain, which pushed me outside of my comfort zone and prepared me for the uncertainty and pace of change in consulting. I benefited from extracurricular activities at Tufts as well, serving as the president of the Chi Omega sorority, which honed my leadership and teamwork skills.   

How did you decide to pursue Management Consulting and Kaiser Associates?

In my senior year, I was debating between a couple of different paths, from law to consulting. I had interned at the law firm WilmerHale in their Labor and Employment Group the summer before graduation. I recognized that I was interested in work related to people and human capital, but wasn’t sure if law school was necessary. When I was a Peer Advisor in the Career Center senior year, I stumbled across Kaiser Associates when a student had brought in a cover letter and job description for an Associate Consultant opportunity with the firm. Multiple items on the job description appealed to me:  the collaborative work environment, the opportunity to problem solve and be part of a global firm that was still boutique in size.  I applied to the resume drop and have been with Kaiser ever since!

What has made you decide to stay with Kaiser thus far in your career?

Kaiser is a unique place where there are so many development opportunities. Every couple of years, I pause to take a look at where I am.  Am I still learning and on path to my long-term career goals? The answer has continued to be yes. Second, when I had reached a point in my career where I wanted to have more of a graduate-level academic foundation and experience, Kaiser sponsored and supported me in getting my MBA.  The firm’s continuous dedication to investing in its employees has fueled my development and growth.

What is your perspective on pursuing an MBA?

Given that I came from a liberal arts background and Tufts didn’t offer too many foundational courses in business at the time, I wanted to supplement my professional experience with some more structured classroom perspective. I wanted to take classes in Operations, Finance, Organizational Behavior and more, in order to have a set of tools to ground my recommendations. From Kellogg, I ended up receiving the academic grounding I sought, the opportunity to build a network of contacts, and even met my husband, Peter. 

In my case, I went back to school after having worked for four years. It felt like the right amount of time. Having at least a few years of work experience is invaluable. My MBA classmates with significantly less experience weren’t able to contribute as much to cases or had limited clarity regarding what they wanted to do down the road with their MBA.  My advice is to go to business school only when you have a clear vision of what to get out of it, and plan ahead! The application can be time-consuming, so taking the GMAT, researching schools, and preparing essays in advance will help avoid crunch time later down the line.

Beyond the MBA, what advice do you have for actively managing one’s career?   

I attribute a lot of my success in my career at Kaiser to building strong relationships with my colleagues and seeking out project work and experiences that align with my interests and strengths. I took an Industrial Organizational Psychology class at Tufts during my senior year and loved it, so when the opportunity presented itself for me to work on Organization Development consulting projects at Kaiser, I jumped at it. In terms of actively managing one's career, my advice is to take some time to reflect every 6 months or so on whether you are still learning, growing, and developing in your current role—and if the answer isn't yes, then identify a couple of ways to supplement your professional growth and development (e.g., via formal or informal mentoring relationships, attending training / conferences, etc.)

As an accomplished woman in business, do you have any advice in particular for young women aspiring to work in consulting?   

My advice for women aspiring to be consultants is to be confident in yourself and the perspective that you can bring to the table. Early in my career, particularly when I was consulting with clients in the Aerospace & Defense and Telecom industries, it wasn't unusual to find myself as the only woman in a conference room full of male colleagues and clients with many more years of experience. Having confidence in my knowledge base and capabilities, as well as recognizing the value that I could contribute to the discussion, helped me in asserting my point of view and garnering the respect of everyone in the room. I would also recommend seeking out informal mentors and formal sponsors, both internal and external to your organization, who can advise you and advocate for you as you navigate through your career.  

With the impending Summer Associates application season, could you share a little bit about the program or give suggestions on applying?  

Kaiser's Summer Associate program is a great way for rising seniors to experience what it is like to be a consultant at Kaiser. We give our Summer Associates the same level of responsibility as we do our full-time Analysts / Associate Consultants and try to give them exposure to at least a couple different types of typical Kaiser consulting projects during their summer with us.   

This is a really exciting time for Kaiser. We have a great base of clients, and firm resources, processes, and methodologies codified around the years targeted for the type of clients we work with. Kaiser’s recently revealed 2020 Strategy features a more global focus, with the integration of our London and DC office as an example. As our firm continues to grow, our work is becoming increasingly diversified, perfect for candidates who want to explore consulting, try different projects and develop a portfolio of skills. Compared to similar firms, Kaiser is highly competitive in the types of opportunities and responsibilities it reserves for its Analysts/ Consultants. Although campus recruiting season for full-time Analysts has concluded this application period, rising seniors interested in a Summer Associate opportunity are welcome to apply by sending their resume to recruiting@kaiserassociates.com after January 2, 2014.

Thanks for reading Jumbos and hope you enjoyed the profile!

Please note Ms. Hagerman welcomes requests for informational interviews at shagerman@kaiserassociates.com.  Likewise, I can be reached at asun@kaiserassociates.com.

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The Wikipedia Footnotes on the MBA

By Angela Sun

I don't know if it's just me, but MBAs sound pretty boss.

In fact, they can be really useful too...regardless of whether you're a weathered professional looking for a career change, or a budding leader ready for some comprehensive training.

In this post, I will provide you with an overview of some of the best resources available to learn what an MBA is, which programs to apply to, and where to go for priceless opportunities to network with MBA students/ admissions officers from schools like HBS and Sloan. Some of this information is time-sensitive, so pull out your calendars!

A brief note before you read on: Besides bridge programs (eg. Harvard 2+2, Tuck Bridge Program), MBA programs generally recruit professionals who already have 2-5+ years of experience. The GMAT will be good for 5 years. You should start learning about MBA programs now, but schedule your exams and plan your career accordingly.

Panels

1) Tufts Career Center: MBA Alumni Panel on Monday, November 5 from 6-730 PM @ Dowling 745

(Hint: copy-paste above line for 'quick add' on iCal)

Seven panelists, some of whom are current MBA students, others who have recently completed their MBAs, will speak on their work and education experiences. MBA programs represented will include HBS, MIT Sloan, Kellogg, Tuck, Franklin W. Olin, and BU. But even more excitingly, these seven accomplished businessmen and women can also relate their MBAs to their experiences in companies like Fidelity Investments, Proctor and Gamble, Innosight, GE Aviation, Vistaprint, Digitas, Cambridge Associates, Atlantic Trust, and more!

Don't let this opportunity slip through your fingers. Not only will you be able to ask about all the things you could never get from a brochure, you will also get the valuable chance to network with people in top MBA programs and businesses who are Tufts alumni! And if anything is true about networking, Tufts alumni are definitely one of the best places to start.

Here is a rundown of the panelists for you to Linkedin/ google search to help you prepare questions. More in-depth biographies will be distributed at the event.


2) The Economist's Which MBA? Online Fair

Not only is this event free, it also features an impressive list of past exhibitors. There are top MBAs from the US, but also those from around the world, like Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO, SBS Swiss Business School, Chinese University of Hong Kong, and more.

Interested? Register here. If this your first online fair, take some time to read this guide, which will give you some tips like making sure you have stable internet connection and using social media to maximize your experience.

Now although some schools are featured at both of these panels, there still is nothing like face-to-face interaction with alumni!

Rankings

1) US News 2012 Edition: Best Graduate Schools

Comprehensive listings from Business to Law, Medicine, Education, Engineering, and more. You can view the limited rankings online here. And you can also get access to the full rankings (with details like average GMAT scores, acceptance rates) by stopping by the Career Center. We have multiple copies on hand for you to browse through.

2) Vault Career Library: The Business School Buzz Book

The copy we have is a little older, from 2006. But wow is this book detailed! The business school profiles are packed with lively, honest commentary from students and alumni on the topics of admissions, academics, quality of life, and social life. Some school profiles go on for pages.

I mean, where else would you learn that Georgia State "seemed to have a trend of making it more difficult to get an A" or "Soldiers Field Park is the pick for student housing" at HBS, all in one book?

3) The Aspen Institute Guide to Socially Responsible MBA Programs: 2008-2009

This guide is a great example of how more and more business schools are developing their unique brand. Find schools that have a "concern for social and environmental issues" like EADA in Spain that offer courses like 'Buddha in the Company', or Berkeley Walter A. Haas, that has institutions like the Center for Nonprofit and Public Leadership. Feel free to visit our center to browse through a copy of this guide, or search online if you have other niche interests.

Please note that Career Center books are not for take-home use. Your adherence to this rule allows us to provide resources for all students. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Assessments

1) The CareerLeader Self-Assessment

This is an assessment created by two Harvard counselors that will help you decide what your business skills are and in which sector of business would you do best (eg. HR/ accounting, management, finance). You can find a sample assessment report here. However, do note that the assessment is $95, and we unfortunately do not offer a participating school discount. This is just something to consider, through speaking with people and doing your own research, you can also get a good idea for what MBA tracks might be a good fit.

All these resources are here to help you jumpstart your MBA research, there is a plethora of more resources available online and in databases to keep you busy. If you have any questions, please stop by to chat with one of the counselors. You can also connect with us via Facebook or Twitter @Tufts Career.

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Jumbo Spotlight: Introducing Tufts Alum and Financier: Lorie Lin

Meet Tufts alum and healthcare financier Lorie Lin (A'11), a entry level banking analyst at Brown Brothers Harriman, an elite financial services company in Boston. Featuring insight into the finance industry, networking, and real-world job-life, Lorie's career-success story is certainly worth a read.

1. When did you first become interested in the finance industry? What aspects of the business world particularly resonate with you?
I’ve always been interested in business. I’m drawn to business not because I’m interested in crunching numbers all day, but because I’m interested in learning where a company’s value comes from. I just think about iPhone and Apple, for instance; there is an insane, ridiculous Apple cult following, with investors playing 400 dollars for a single company stock. The qualitative and social aspects of business are what I find most interesting.

2. How did your experiences at Tufts help shape your career path?
At Tufts, I was Quantitative Economics major and an Entrepreneurial Leadership Studies Minor (ELS). Hands-down, I learned so much more from my ELS minor than all of my economics classes combined. It’s what made me really consider banking finance and business. Through my classes, I created business plans for hypothetical start-up companies, through which I’d project a company’s financial growth and comprise marketing plans. Much of what I learned was applicable to my internships and current job.

3. Did you have any internships and/or prior work experiences within finance?
I was part of Tufts Financial Group my junior year. The summer after my sophomore year, I interned for a mutual fund company in Shenzhen, China. After my junior year, I interned at Brown Brothers Harriman, and I’m currently working in this same group today.

4. How did you land your job at Brown Brothers Harriman?
One of my ELS professors announced to our class that there was an internship opportunity for an internship at BBH (Brown Brothers Harriman). I applied and was offered the internship, which I did right after my junior year. It was a great learning experience and from there, I kept in touch with co-workers and human resources. Then, I applied for an opening in my group during spring of my senior year.

5. What are your day-to-day responsibilities at the company?
I work in the healthcare corporate banking group. We make loans out to middle-market healthcare companies, which include medical technologies, healthcare services, etc. My job is to analyze these different companies. I write credit analysis reports---almost similar to what I did for my ELS business plans---which contain an overview of the company, an analysis of the competition and the market, financial modeling, and forecasting. As an entry-level analyst, I basically support whoever else needs my help.

6. What is the work climate at BBH like?
The specific team that I work on contains 10 people. It’s a very collegiate atmosphere. You’re working on your own-time---you don’t clock in or clock out---and you take on your own responsibilities. It’s a very professional atmosphere, very business-y. But at the same time, it doesn’t give off a snooty banker vibe. Everyone is so nice and all willing to help; they know I’m the “new girl” on the floor. It took just a couple of weeks to get over the initial intimidation.

7. What are your favorite aspects of the job?
I am really lucky to have been placed in the healthcare group. I find it really exciting to be in healthcare, and I feel like it just adds more value to the work I’m doing. I’m investing in companies that are saving people’s lives every day. There is so much happening with new healthcare initiatives; there are enormous opportunities for healthcare IT and service providers because of the economic climate and new healthcare policies, and it’s been so interesting to monitor what’s going on in the current market. It is rewarding to provide money for companies that are physically helping other people.

8. What skills do you feel are important to succeed at a job in finance?
You should be a math person and just generally comfortable with numbers. You should also be very analytical and open-minded, and be able to find different ways of looking at situations. As an analyst, you are constantly evaluating various companies and situations. I think it’s important to be confident in the work you do, to have conviction and stand behind your points.

I also think it’s important to have good communication and inter-personal skills. Senior level bankers interact with clients everyday; in a business role, it’s all about networking. You could be biggest math and excel whiz, but if you can’t interact and connect with other people, you won’t get that far.

9. Where do you envision yourself in 5-10 years?
I definitely want to go to business school and get my MBA within the next 3-4 years. I am studying for the GMAT right now. I want to stay within business, but I’d also be open to seeing what comes out after business school. For now, I am planning to stay with BBH; I’ve already learned so much in the past few years, and I’d love to keep growing within the company. I am very excited by healthcare, and I could definitely see myself staying there if I have the option. I also like the weird, geeky gadget sectors related to technology. It would be awesome to be able to work in a variety of different sectors.

10. What advice do you have for undergraduates on the job-search?
Put yourself out there and network. When I was a senior, it was the only advice anyone gave us. I was skeptical about it at first, but it really is the most helpful thing you could do as a student. I never realized this until I graduated, but I’ve found that people are so much more willing to help you out if you say you’re a student. If you go to a random networking event and walk up to someone and say that you want to learn more about his/her professional life, they will generally want to help you. My professor was a huge help is how I got my job today, for instance; that’s networking. You just put yourself out there and ask to hear more information. Welcome any and all advice, as you never know when it’ll come in handy. And stay in touch with everyone that you know; you never know when they’ll link you to an opportunity

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Should I Go To Graduate School?

As we map out our post college paths, the graduate school question instantly comes to mind. It’s all anyone seems to be talking about, dialing home about, and speedily running to career services about. And the question still remains: are we ready to bravely join the suit-and-tie clad work populace on their tightly wound 9-5 routines? Or are we not quite willing to part with fluorescent-lighted classrooms, gifted professors, and the art of simply learning? Are sixteen years as students enough, or does the fact that we’re “technically done now” freak you out?

In this day and age, the grad school question is increasingly complicated. It requires us to consider an amalgamation of factors, some of which neatly coincide, others of which collide and clash, leaving it up to us to weigh the pros and cons of laboring through GRE prep books and program applications.

First of all, there’s the cost. While public universities cost $10,000 to $25,000 per year, private ones demand as much as $40,000 for that upper-level degree. Some of us have just emptied our pockets for our undergraduate education; are we in the position to trade first-year salaries for the lofty price of grad school? Will spending the big bucks upfront confer us the starting salary and job title we’re hoping for?

But with this said, it’s important to keep in mind that times have changed. The same post-graduate steps we may have taken 10, or even 5, years ago might not be as practical in the wake of today’s crippling economic recession. According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, the number of new students enrolled in 2010 graduate programs actually dipped for the first time in 7 years. While eager-to-learn professionals are more reluctant to abandon current jobs, businesses with tight budgets have been forced to reduce grad-school funding. And then there’s the uncomfortable fact churning in the back of all our minds: will there be a job waiting at the end of your graduate degree?

But this is not meant to deter the grad-school bound from expanding our intellectual curiosities. It’s just to get us to think—really think— about what we hope to take away from graduate school, why we’re choosing a given program, and (the most nagging question of all), when we should be applying.

As always, a sure way to start detangling these thorny questions is to do your research. If you have a so-called dream job in mind, see what kind of advanced degree and/or work experience is required to seize that prized opening and advance up the ladder. Talk to everyone you can—family, peers, teachers, professionals, and our ever-helpful Career Services staff. Generally speaking, keep up with the changing current of your specific industry and the general job hunt game; research the credentials and qualifications needed today to make headway in your field-of-choice.

Across all professions, hiring recruiters value work experience, which proves our ability to perform job functions in ways schooling often can’t. While that prestigious degree shows your depth and breadth of knowledge, time spent immersed in a field’s fast-paced climate proves you’re well-prepared, experienced and refreshingly easy-to-train. In fact, most master’s and doctorate programs highly recommend—or even require—candidates to buckle down for a few years of applicable experience BEFORE applying. A year or two in the work force adds “real-world” experience to your application credentials, a perk that admissions officers eat right up.

But much more than an application perk, meaningful work experience both during and after college offers an expanse of time to just figure things out. It’s by trading the confines of campus for the vibrant work arena—enmeshing ourselves in this whole wide world of professionals and their ideas and perspectives—that we can genuinely know what it is we want to do. Only then might we decide how graduate school fits into our long-term career equation. Is that advanced degree the logical next step in achieving our career goals? Or do we see space to move up the ladder through work experience alone?

So before you dive into scribbling applications and snagging teacher recs, thoughtfully consider some of these larger questions. Keep in mind the insurmountable value of work experience and first-hand professional insight. And, most importantly, remember that it‘s okay not to have all the answers yet; it’s often by keeping our minds wide-open—letting all that impending real-world experience take its course—that our questions will be answered right for us.

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Considering an MBA?

Earlier this fall, Career Services hosted an MBA Admissions Panel featuring representatives from several schools who shared their advice and strategies for tackling the B-school admissions process. The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth provided a handout with some great tips (thanks, Tuck!) Here are some things to consider:

• Take the GMAT before or within 6 months of graduating to capitalize on being in "study mode" before work and other commitments further divert your attention.
• Beef up your MBA network. Keep the names and contact information of mentors and colleagues who have completed the MBA. Search the Tufts Career Network by graduate degree to find Tufts alumni with MBAs who are willing to share advice with you.
  
• Perform well in your internships and first professional positions to maximize your reputation with potential recommenders.
• Seek leadership opportunities, both formal and informal. For example, stay involved with extracurricular activities and organizations you enjoy. Seek opportunities to impact those organizations. Quality is more important than quantity. MBA programs would rather see deep, lasting commitment to a few organizations than shallow involvement in many.
• Seek international experience, both formal and informal. Even if you do not have the opportunity to travel abroad, seek opportunities to work on diverse teams with people from other countries.
• Research pre-MBA organizations such as The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, the Forte Foundation, INROADS, MLT, SEO, and others.
• Start to think about what you want in a graduate program, from both a community and a curricular standpoint. Much like your undergraduate college search, your MBA program search should focus on finding the balance between size, rankings, curriculum strengths and location.
• If your coursework did not/does not include quantitative classes, take additional courses to enhance your skills and your candidacy. Some classes you might consider: Statistics, Economics, Accounting, Calculus, and Finance.
• Explore a variety of careers. Reflect on your interests, skills, values, and cultural background. Read about different career fields using Career Services' subscription to the Vault Online Library, for example, the Vault Guide to Consulting, Guide to the Top Financial Services Employers, or the Guide to Management and Leadership Development Programs.
  
• Speak with MBA alumni and corporate recruiters to learn what sort of skill sets they look for in their new hires.

Check out the Graduate School section of the Career Services website for more information and tips!

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