2016 MBAs To Watch: Elizabeth Maggio, Texas A&M (Mays)

Elizabeth Maggio

 

Texas A&M University, Mays Business School

Age: 29

Hometown: Lincoln, NE

Undergraduate School and Degree: University of Nebraska, Business Administration

 

Where did you work before enrolling in business school?

Morgan Stanley, Sales Associate (Private Wealth Management)

University Catholic Center, Director of Development

Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? Hewlett-Packard, Houston, TX

Where will you be working after graduation? HP Inc., Senior Financial Analyst for Managed Print Services

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

MBA Student Advisory Board, Elected Class Representative

FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) Campus Development Council, Inaugural Council Member

Texas A&M MBA Recruiting Ambassador, Volunteer

Texas A&M MBA Mentorship Program, Volunteer

The Big Event, Volunteer

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am most proud of being selected by my classmates and peers as their MBA Student Advisory Board Representative. My classmates trusted me to represent them, their feedback and concerns to the MBA program director and staff, which was a tremendous honor and responsibility. One of my accomplishments as student representative was working in collaboration with the dean, MBA program director, and alumni office to create and solicit funding for a student directed MBA Alumni Endowment fund.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am most proud of establishing a robust giving program and sustainable development plan for the University Catholic Center non-profit. Since 2008, the non-profit sector has faced challenges with funding, and this was true for the Catholic Center when I took the position as director of development. I initiated a 90-day plan to meet our immediate needs. In less than six weeks, I was able to raise over $101,000 (an increase of 33% over the same time during the previous year), and launched an increased giving campaign which raised more than $27,500 in special gifts to meet our most immediate needs and secured commitments of $1,800 (22% increase) in new monthly donations to support the ongoing operations of our ministry. I am most proud of this accomplishment because it established a foundation for which the Catholic Center is continuing to grow and make an impact in the community.

Who is your favorite professor? Rogelio Oliva, who teaches Operations Management. Dr. Oliva’s passion for his subject motivated me in many ways: I wanted to learn more, to dig deeper, and to gain more than a precursory level of understanding. This had nothing to do with the subject matter, as operations management is actually one of my least favorite subjects, but the desire to rise above my own unfamiliarity with the subject made this an unforgettable class.

Dr. Oliva pushed each of us and forced us to give more effort than we even knew we could. He challenged us and made sure that each and every time we attempted an answer that we had thoroughly thought through every aspect and that every answer was based on solid deductive reasoning. I walked away from this class with a framework of how to approach problems and how to creatively find solutions, even when it led to dead ends.

Favorite MBA Courses? Operations Management and Investment Analysis

Why did you choose this business school? Texas A&M University has many rich traditions and the Aggie alumni network is one of the strongest, not only in the U.S., but around the world.  These were two of the main reasons I chose to attend business school at Texas A&M. Additionally, the opportunity to be surrounded by classmates coming from diverse professional and geographic backgrounds while still in Texas was something that was very important to me.

What did you enjoy most about business school? I enjoyed having the experience in business school of learning from my classmates who came from a wide variety of professional and cultural backgrounds. In today’s world, it is highly likely that I will be working with clients and colleagues across the global. My classmates at Texas A&M gave me the opportunity to experience global reach and how to approach issues with a global perspective in mind. This was especially evident in our cohorts as we discussed ethical business practices between the U.S., Latin and South America, and India.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from business school? The biggest lessons I learned in business school is that my capacity for managing multiple projects and deadlines while lacking sleep and under stress is greater than I ever realized. I need to rely more on others and less on myself. And I need to trust others and let go of that overwhelming desire to be in control at all times. To put it all in a nutshell, business school taught me that I can’t do it all on my own and that the most successful business leaders know both their strengths and weaknesses, and then build teams around themselves to fill the gaps.

What was the most surprising thing about business school? The most surprising thing about business school was the amount of alumni support I received. I knew that Texas A&M had a very strong alumni network, but the extent to which alumni were willing to help was unbelievable. During my summer internship, I reached out to an Aggie who was currently working at the company. He not only offered me his advice and guidance on how to succeed within the company, but also offered to connect me with others outside of the company if I was interested in other industries. He was more concerned that I find the job I wanted and could use my skills to add value rather than pushing his own agenda.

What was the hardest part of business school? The hardest thing about business school was striking the right balance between school, job search, extracurricular activities and personal life. I got engaged and planned a wedding during business school, so managing my time between academic commitments and personal commitments presented a new challenge. However, I feel this experience prepared me in a way for my post-MBA life when challenges of balancing a career and family life can be even more intense.

What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? Own your story. By that, I mean that each person applying to business school has his/her own unique path that has lead them to this point in his/her professional career. It is important to leverage the experience you bring to the table. Personally, I came to business school from a non-profit background, but I was convinced that this actually allowed me to add significant value to the program and my classmates, as opposed to coming in with a more focused business or finance background.

“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I had accomplished my goal of creating a sustainable fundraising program when I was serving as director of development for a local non-profit in Austin, Texas.”

“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…consulting for non-profits, identifying opportunities to drive efficiencies so these organizations would have greater impact in the communities they serve.”

Which executive or entrepreneur do you most admire Warren Buffett. I admire Buffett’s straightforward manner and dedication to his investment philosophy.

What are your long-term professional goals? My previous professional experiences helped me to realize my long-term career goal which is to become a CEO or executive officer for a national or international non-profit organization, creating strategic plans and collaborating with others to drive organizational success to positively impact the community. My MBA and current role working in corporate finance will help me build the foundation I need for long-term career success. Specifically, I am continuing to deepen my knowledge in business management, financial analysis, strategic operations, and leadership skills, all while growing my professional network.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I would like to thank my husband and my parents. They supported me in my professional pursuits. When new opportunities opened up in New York and Texas, respectively, my husband and parents encouraged me to leave the stability of my current job in order to pursue opportunities that were outside of my comfort zone (and realm of expertise). Ultimately, it helped me to expand my knowledge base and leadership experience.

Fun fact about yourself: I hold the Nebraska high school state record for the mile, 4:49.33

Favorite book: The Partner by John Grisham

Favorite movie: Field of Dreams

Favorite musical performer: Chris Young

Favorite television show: “Law & Order”

Favorite vacation spot: Rome, Italy; or San Diego, CA

Hobbies? Traveling, baking, learning new languages

What made Elizabeth such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?

“It is an honor and a privilege to offer my support of Elizabeth Maggio.

From the very beginning of her time at the Mays Business School MBA program, Elizabeth established herself as a natural leader. Principled, hard-working, intelligent, and enthusiastic, she was (and still is!) extremely well liked by her fellow students, Mays staff, and faculty. It was truly a joy to have Elizabeth as a student in my class, as well as to interact with her outside of class. Despite our sometimes grueling, intense, compressed program, Elizabeth always showed up with an infectious positive spirit and a willingness to not only work hard but also to influence her colleagues in an inspiring manner.”

Professor John Kraijeck

Executive Professor of Business Communications

Texas A&M University, Mays Business School

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