Hundreds of students enroll in the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business each year, so what about Kellstadt attracts them and how is Kellstadt supporting their success? In this Q&A series, we’re inviting students as well as recent alumni to share their perspective on why they chose to study at Kellstadt and why they’re glad they did.
Eric Tamerlani
Next up is alumnus Eric Tamerlani, who received his bachelor’s degree in political science from DePaul University and is now in Kellstadt’s MBA Program in the full-time cohort, with a concentration in entrepreneurship. Tamerlani worked in professional politics for several years before returning to DePaul to pursue a DePaul MBA. After graduation Tamerlani hopes to work in product or project management for a tech company. He also has aspirations to eventually start his own business.
Why did you choose Kellstadt?
Being a career changer, I felt like I could add value to my new profession with a business degree. I chose Kellstadt specifically because it has a very well-rated entrepreneurship program, and having gone to DePaul for my undergraduate degree, I already knew I enjoyed being part of the community here.
What are you enjoying about Kellstadt?
I enjoy the broad array of courses and topics covered in the MBA program. I feel like I’m receiving a thorough business education and I’ve learned a lot in a relatively short amount of time. It is very refreshing! But what I enjoy the most about Kellstadt is the diverse student body and the engaging class discussions that result from that diversity. The cohort is made up of people from all sorts of professional backgrounds, so I’m exposed to perspectives I otherwise would not have been exposed to had I not attended Kellstadt.
I have also had the opportunity to join, and lead as its new president, the student organization Kellstadt Partners. This student club serves the Kellstadt community by organizing events around the city for students to enjoy. I’ve found it very rewarding coming up with ideas and hosting fun things that I hope enhance the student experience here and give people a chance to get to know one another outside the classroom. It’s been a great experience making new friends through the club and exploring the city together.
What Kellstadt course has left the biggest impression on you so far?
I really enjoyed the pitch presentation in our Business Innovation & Design class. This was a project we worked on throughout the class, starting with customer discovery at the beginning of the quarter and ending with a shark-tank style pitch presentation to the class at the end of the quarter. We used the creative tools we learned in class to identify a solvable problem, determine a business solution/product, and then pitch our original product idea to the class. The entire process was illuminating and fun, and I think it gave my fellow students and I a fairly realistic view of what it takes to develop a new product and find the best way to sell our idea to investors. With my concentration in entrepreneurship, the pitch presentation was an invaluable experience!
What would you to say to someone who is considering studying at Kellstadt?
I would say go for it! You won’t regret the decision to attend, as DePaul offers a very good business education and a very welcoming community. I was admittedly a bit nervous when I decided to go to business school, it had been nearly ten years since I had been in a formal academic setting and, as a career-changer, I wasn’t sure if I was making the right choice for my future. But I’m so glad I pushed through and decided to enroll. As it turned out, a lot of people pursuing their MBA were in a similar point in their lives. I’ve really enjoyed working with my fellow students as we push one another to excel in our studies and make the most of our experience at DePaul.
Read the other spotlights in this series:
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