BALIKA SOTHALIA
(MBA 2010)

Q: What was your favorite Tepper School course?

My favorite course at the Tepper School was Operations, taught by Dr. Kekre. It was in Dr. Kekre’s class that I learned to appreciate the true value supply chain and operations can bring to organizations. This is also where I learned my first principles on how to make a strategy stick in an organization and how to make change happen. The early principles that this course taught me stayed with me throughout my professional career as a strategic operations advisor to my clients. I loved the course so much that I went back to do another course with Dr. Kekre in my second year and since Student Lab was the only course Dr. Kekre taught to second-years, I took that course despite having confirmed Management Game as a capstone. As a result, I ended up doing two capstones in my second year and I don’t regret that at all.

CATHERINE MACKINNON
(BA/CIT 2001, MBA 2008) 

Q: Who was your favorite Tepper School professor or mentor?

I had largely avoided finance courses throughout my time at the Tepper School because they were not in my areas of interest. However, in my final year, I took Professor Dammon’s valuation course, Professor Sung’s pricing course, and Professor Koch’s financial filings course. My experience across them helped to demystify finance and made me appreciate how a good understanding of financials and business models goes hand-in- hand with running businesses. I use what I have learned from each professor in my current day-to-day role. In fact, I wouldn’t be in this position without being extremely comfortable with deep financial analysis. I’m also a bit embarrassed to say, but I read 10-K’s for fun.

JULIA SCHLOSS
(MSIA 1997)

Q: What is your favorite Tepper School/GSIA memory?

I do not have one specific favorite memory, but rather it’s a memory of meeting amazing people and forging lasting friendships through class work and social opportunities. The Tepper School provided a tremendous academic foundation through its curriculum and incredible professors. In addition to the academic framework, was the learning that occurred by getting to know and working with all the talented classmates. Especially the experience of working on a team through Game, which developed and solidified skills that helped to greatly distinguish me from my peers, as I entered the professional environment.

MELISSA HORNE
(BS 2005, MBA 2005)

Q: Why do you give back to the Tepper School?

The Tepper School and alumni network have provided me with many fantastic career opportunities that I may not have had without being connected to a top-ranked business school, and so many amazing people within it. I find mentoring and recruiting students to be so rewarding. Providing guidance to others gives me the chance to pay it forward. I hope to create a lasting legacy of engaged alumni who, in turn, give back to the community.

2023 ALUMNI AWARDS RECIPIENTS
The Tepper School Alumni Awards recognize excellence in the alumni community for outstanding career accomplishments or achievements and for impressive service to the school and alumni community. 

NOTE FROM JONATHAN STERN
Jonathan Stern recognizes the ongoing generosity and engagement of our alumni, students, faculty, and staff.