Meet Darren Rawding, a full-time master of business administration (MBA) student with a focus on finance, data and analytics and business consulting. He is an international student from Malaysia with a bachelor degree in chemical engineering. He is also the co-president of the Weatherhead Finance Club and he will be graduating this spring 2022 semester.
What led you to Weatherhead School of Management to pursue your MBA?
When the pandemic first began in March 2020, I had taken a personal interest in the financial markets, as they kept making headlines with all the moves companies were making. I began following the news closely and started researching more into the companies; reading their 10-K’s, listening to their earnings calls, following economic data, such as jobs and consumer reports. I found it fascinating and Weatherhead seemed like the perfect place for me to indulge and involve myself in that world.
What are you doing in your internship with Sea-Land Chemical Company?
I work with the product management team supporting them in processing supplier cost and customer price increases. It has been a great learning experience and I enjoy that I am able to work closely with my manager and the team while being pushed to ideate my own solutions to the projects I am assigned.
What advice would you have for someone with a similar background as you who is considering Weatherhead School for their MBA?
Make sure you enjoy the artistic nature of business. There is rarely ever one absolute correct answer to solve a problem. In fact, you’ll find that often you’ll end up with too many answers and finding the best fit that aligns with your way of thinking and articulating it in a clear business sense will often be the most challenging part of pivoting to this path.
What is your favorite class you’ve taken during your time at Weatherhead School?
I enjoyed Strategic Issues and Applications with Simon Peck the most. It was a great culmination of all the core classes we have taken and found ways to apply it in real business cases. Simon is a charismatic storyteller that makes topics such as the British frozen pea industry in the 1970s a captivating study into the benefits of technological advantages in a competitive setting.
What are your plans upon graduation?
I would love to find an opportunity in investment banking or asset management. I also enjoy the product management I’ve dabbled in thus far, so I am open to any opportunities that are presented to me, as long as it is challenging and equally rewarding.
What is the culture like in Weatherhead School?
There is a wonderful balance of academic and social aspirations within the community and it is seen through the culture at Weatherhead. Not only is everyone extremely driven and focused on achieving their academic goals, but people still see the importance of networking and making lasting connections; from the students, to the faculty, all the way up to the staff.