Reflections from the MPOWER Team Part Two: What You Would Tell Your Younger Self and Other Thoughts
This is the second in a series of posts exploring the MPOWER team’s reflections on our own time during and after school: our accomplishments, regrets, and thought processes. We believe in learning from one another’s experiences so we can use that insight to inform our decisions going forward.
This time, we’re profiling three MPOWER team members who have all received their MBAs.
Team Reflections
Name: Michael Davis
Title: Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder at MPOWER
School(s) attended and degree(s) received: Purdue University, Bachelor of Science in Computer and Electrical Engineering; INSEAD, Master of Business Administration
What is something you did really well in school?
Academics and networking. I went to every class and asked a lot of questions. I also got to know my classmates and their backgrounds well.
What is something you wish you did more of (or better) in school?
I wish I went on more excursions and class trips.
What would you tell your younger self if you had the chance?
Sleep is for the dead. Live every day like it’s your last.
MPOWER Pro-tip 1
Are you going abroad for school, like Mike did? We think Zenbanx is a handy tool for holding and transferring multiple currencies. Read our review here.
Name: Lana Bronipolsky
Title: Chief Financial Officer at MPOWER
School(s) attended and degree(s) received: George Washington University, Bachelor of Science in Economics and Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs; University of Maryland – Robert H. Smith School of Business, Master of Business Administration
How did you choose the schools you attended?
Location was always very important to me. I decided first where I wanted to be and then researched what program best suited my interests, learning style, and goals.
What is something you wish you did more of (or better) in school?
I wish I had challenged myself to take more classes out of my comfort zone on subjects that seemed tough.
How did you prepare for graduation?
I bought my cap and gown and figured out my student loan payments!
MPOWER Pro-tip 2
Need help figuring out your own student loans? We created a guide to get you through the basics of student loans.
Name: Kevin McNamara
Title: Director of University Relations at MPOWER
School(s) attended and degree(s) received: John Carroll University, Bachelor of Business Administration; Auburn University, Master of Business Administration
What is something you did really well in school?
I always looked to see how I could apply what I learned in class to the real world.
What were you doing right after graduation?
I was spending money that I didn’t have (bad idea).
What would you tell your younger self if you had the chance?
You’ll learn important things from every job, even if it doesn’t seem possible at the time. Be thankful.
MPOWER Pro-tip 3
Do you need a hand managing your money and debt? All MPOWER borrowers have free access to USA Funds life skills courses that can help with budgeting and many other important topics that can put you on the track to success.
MPOWER Pro-tip 4
A great way to apply your coursework to the real world is to intern or work while you’re in school. Having a job or an internship during the school year can also help cut down on college costs – you can contribute your earnings directly towards tuition or loan interest. Are you an international student? We break down your options here in our blog on how to pay for college and gain work experience.
What about you?
What are your reflections from your time in school? Share your thoughts with us! We’ll use them on our social media accounts and attribute them to you (or keep it anonymous if you prefer, of course).
Want to learn more about the MPOWER team’s reflections? Check out our first blog post in this series.
