Abby Koski
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — In her first six months in the Kelley Full-Time MBA Program at Indiana University, Abby Koski, MBA’20, secured an internship with her top-choice company—EY.
Aligning herself with a prestigious business school and taking early advantage of Kelley Graduate Career Services, Abby rapidly changed the trajectory of her career. Exceeding her own expectations, the fast pace of her career development and opportunities in the Kelley Full-Time MBA Program took off the first few weeks she was on campus.
What prompted Abby to pursue an MBA in the first place? Abby came to Kelley as a career switcher with a background in public relations for the publishing industry.
“There was a huge financial incentive for me to pursue an MBA. I wanted to take my previous career experience and transform it into a totally new career that I would equally enjoy, but that came with an increased level of financial security,” she says.
How does a career switcher change course swiftly? Choose Kelley to hit the ground running
From the outset, Abby worked with Kelley career coaches and second-year MBA students to better understand herself and her professional goals through Me, Inc., Kelley’s award-winning career development program.
“Me, Inc. helped me build my professional narrative and coached me to communicate it effectively to employers. Recruiting started right away. Second-year MBAs helped facilitate employer introductions for me,” she says.
When EY professionals came to Kelley, she attended their networking events, forging authentic relationships with them.
EY internships are one example among many positive career outcomes for Kelley MBAs
“I met with professionals from a lot of companies, including EY, one of my top picks. I kept in close connection with the EY campus recruiter,” she says.
Throughout her first semester, she practiced case interviews and behavioral interviews with Kelley certified career coaches. By the beginning of her second semester in the program, she had an interview with EY for an internship—and received an offer.
The same semester, Abby was disciplined in her coursework, gaining hard skills in Kelley’s Integrated Core curriculum.
“In the Core, I became fluent in business concepts and learned advanced Excel skills that were big takeaways,” she says.
Which of the eight Kelley MBA majors did Abby choose?
“I felt that the supply chain management major [now called the supply chain and operations major lined up with how my brain intrinsically works. Process and efficiency come naturally to me,” she says.
Kelley networking events, particularly with her chosen target, EY, enabled Koski, center, to forge authentic relationships.
How did the supply chain MBA major prepare Abby for a fulfilling career?
Abby’s decision to pursue the Kelley Full-Time MBA, currently ranked in the top 20 by U.S. News & World Report, wasn’t based solely on financial considerations, however. She dreamed of doing something bigger with her newly gained expertise.
“I wanted to build a career where I could make a positive impact on sustainability,” she says. Supply chain consulting was an opportunity for me to help clients with their supply chain challenges in ways that inherently improve sustainability, such as reducing waste on their manufacturing lines, shipping fewer and fuller loads, and ensuring they work with responsible suppliers with ethical labor practices.”
Abby took a deep dive with Kelley’s Supply Chain and Digital Enterprise Academy (now called Business Operations and Innovation Academy) to broaden her real-world understanding of the industry. Her aspirations began to take a concrete shape when, at the end of her internship at EY, a full-time job offer was extended.
Guided by her Academy career coach Randi, together they focused on refining Abby’s professional and personal development goals throughout her second year in the program.
“Randi helped me design my post-MBA life in ways that align with my values—she is an incredible coach,” Abby says.
With her professional plans coming into view, Abby carved out some time to enjoy business school in Bloomington.
Among top 20 MBA programs, Kelley has a stand-out hometown
“Bloomington is a bit removed from urban landscapes, but it’s a town where MBAs can really get to know each other. Some of my favorite things to do with friends were going to FARM for a glass of wine and the best french fries in town, and spending time walking, running, or biking the B-Line Trail,” she says.
After graduating, Abby took on the role of senior consultant at EY in Detroit. Two years later, she advanced to the role of manager. She says she regularly draws on leadership skills she learned at Kelley.
“What I learned as a second-year MBA in Leadership Academy—leading from behind, empowering others, helping people realize their professional goals and get to the next level—is helpful to me now as I’m managing other people.”
What about her dreams to make a meaningful impact on sustainability?
“At EY, we have a dedicated ESG and sustainability domain within our supply chain practice, and I’m seeing clients get much more excited about sustainability now.”
Reflecting on the career transformation she launched over the past four years, Abby says, “I think the biggest change I see in myself is the level of confidence I bring to business conversations with director-level clients to talk about supply chain. The confidence didn’t come all at once but was built over time through valuable experiences at Kelley. The return on my investment in the Kelley Full-Time MBA is very high.”
A top 20 MBA that’s proud to be defined by community
Finally, Abby wants people to know there are a few hidden gems that go along with earning the Kelley Full-Time MBA.
“When you step out of Kelley into the broader IU community and experience the arts, music, performances—whatever your interest is—I think it really enhances your business school journey. Find ways to stay grounded and be intentional about how you spend your time at Kelley—and get what you want out of it. Take advantage of all that Kelley and IU have to offer.”
Interested in earning the Kelley Full-Time MBA? Reach out to us to talk about the opportunities awaiting you in our top 20 program.
Editor’s note: This article was written by Mary Thomason-Smith.