In April, Johnson welcomed 140 admitted students to campus for its annual Destination Johnson (DJ) event. Visiting students and their families spent the weekend learning about Johnson’s Two-Year MBA program, the school’s incredible academic and co-curricular opportunities, and resources available for Cornell MBA students.
More than 240 current students and their partners worked as volunteers to host, feed, inform, and entertain future members of our Johnson family throughout the weekend. From team building exercises to immersion information panels and social events, attendees saw our ambitious, diverse community come to life firsthand.
DJ attendees gathered in the Statler Hall Auditorium for an official welcome by Judi Byers, executive director of admissions and financial aid, and Mark Nelson, the Anne and Elmer Lindseth Dean of Johnson.
“Working in admissions, we consider events like Destination Johnson to be one of the most rewarding moments of the admissions process—a chance for us to celebrate with you, and in doing so, reflect on the many steps we’ve taken together throughout the admissions process.
“Together, you’ve shown us that you not only have the intellectual curiosity and resilience to be successful in our classrooms, but the self-awareness, motivation, and drive to become the very best version of yourself—and you will, here at Johnson.”
—Judi Byers, executive director of admissions and financial aid
Dean Nelson expressed his excitement for the future and the next generation of Johnson students. “This is an amazing time in the life of Johnson,” he said.
Characterizing the Johnson community as one where people are “fiercely dedicated to one another,” Nelson described a number of opportunities that comprise the academic experience of a Cornell Johnson MBA student, such as the immersion curriculum. He also spoke at length about Johnson’s footprint in New York City with offerings on the Cornell Tech campus. From this, he sees Johnson “bringing together Ithaca and New York in ways we never could before.”
“What defines Johnson, and ripples out to define our college and define Cornell, is that people are remarkably driven but also remarkably supportive. They have each other’s backs as they’re driving each other forward at the same time.”
—Dean Mark Nelson
Hernan J.F. Saenz, III, MBA/MILR ’98, head of the Global Performance Improvement Practice at Bain & Company, delivered DJ’s keynote address.
Saenz spent two-and-a-half years at Cornell, where he earned both an MBA from Johnson and a master’s degree from the ILR School. Following graduation, he went to work for Bain & Company. When he first joined the company in its Boston offices, Saenz says there were 45 hires and most of them were prior Bain employees or summer associates. Of the group, he was the first promoted manager and partner, which means, he said, “this place trained me really well.”
“When I came here, I ran into things I did not expect. I did not expect to still be friends with faculty that taught me more than 30 years ago. I did not expect such a selfless community.”
—Hernan Saenz
Saenz said he was also surprised by the many opportunities he had at Johnson to push himself to grow as a leader. The same was true inside the classroom, said Saenz. “I was able to do consulting projects and even wrote a business plan that I could’ve funded, had I not decided to go to Bain. It’s that sort of incredibly practical training that has helped me find so much success,” he recounted.
Sabina Bellizzi, MBA ’20, and James Feld, MBA ’20, both student council co-chairs, addressed DJ attendees. They emphasized how you can be yourself at Johnson and offered words of advice to the incoming class: “Work hard, play harder!”
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosted a Consortium lunch and presentation for new members of Johnson’s Consortium family. The newest Forté Fellows also gathered for a welcome event.
Read more about ODI’s initiatives and partnerships:
Admitted students took tours of Sage Hall and the Cornell campus on a cloudy, yet warm day! Friday evening featured the Taste of Ithaca reception with a sampling of local foods and beverages in Sage Hall.
Joint Ventures (JV), a group for families, partners, and spouses of MBA students, was present throughout DJ weekend. JV leaders spent time with incoming families by leading tours, answering questions, and providing a unique perspective. When you take on a two-year MBA journey, it’s a family decision.
Read more about JV and MBA families:
Laura Georgianna, executive director of Leadership Programs, gave the incoming class a taste of how Johnson builds high-performing teams in a hands-on leadership activity during Saturday’s session.
Read more about team-building and leadership at Johnson:
Current and admitted students packed the Dyson Atrium in Sage Hall for the Club and Housing Fair. Club representatives helped to show the breadth and depth of student organization options at Johnson. There are more than 70 student organizations for Johnson MBAs, each offering opportunities for leadership.
@CornellMBA_Adm on Twitter: There are lots of opportunities to get involved at Johnson! Our Club Fair is happening now at #DestinationJohnson! #CornellMBA
DJ guests walked to the Breazzano Family Center for Business Education for professional and industry club mixers. Groups represented included:
Read more about student organizations at Johnson:
- Park Perspectives: Starting the sports analytics club
- MBAs give back: Coordinating the Community Impact Auction
- Johnson’s student Marketing Association picks 2019 Super Bowl ad wins
- 21 companies, 5 days: Johnson’s High Tech Club treks west
- Present Value: Creating a podcast to spread Johnson’s ideas and values
Representatives from the Career Management Center (CMC) presented on resources available at the CMC, an overview of employment statistics, and a selection of internships that the Class of 2020 will be participating in this summer. During this session, students and alumni spoke about their experiences in consulting.
Read more about Cornell MBA careers:
- 2018 Two-Year MBA Employment Report: Rising salaries, expanding opportunities
- Aligning values: My internship as a summer consultant at NPR
- Just Tech It: Recapping the 2019 Johnson Women in Technology (JWiT) Conference
- Marketing Executive Coaching Program connects students, alumni, and marketing execs
- 3 ways Johnson helped me succeed during my summer internship
“Johnson highlights” sessions featured panels on entrepreneurship at Cornell, the Johnson NYC curriculum, and women’s careers in business. These discussions on specialized topics emphasized Johnson’s unique offerings and differentiators while outlining some incredible opportunities for incoming MBAs.
Read more about entrepreneurship at Johnson and Cornell:
Read more about Johnson and NYC:
Read more about Johnson’s women in business:
One of the hallmarks of a Johnson education is its immersion curriculum. Admitted students heard from a panel of representatives from each immersion: investment research and asset management, digital technology, investment banking, corporate finance, semester in strategic operations, strategic product and marketing, and sustainable global enterprise.
Read more about Johnson’s immersions:
Saturday’s lunch featured a buffet meal and topic tables, which brought great conversation among attendees. DJ attendees gathered for drinks, dancing, and celebration on Saturday night at Duffield Hall. The event was complete with a band and DJ. In true Johnson spirit, the M[BA]sh showed incoming MBAS how your classmates can easily become your friends—live band, DJ (disc jockey!), and all.
The weekend concluded with a brunch hosted by the Women’s Management Council (WMC). WMC president Caitlin Namnoum, MBA ’20, introduced alumna Kate Rubenstein, MBA ’05, managing director for portfolio operations at The Blackstone Group, and Risa Mish, professor of practice of management.
@ecdick on Twitter: Capping off an incredible #DestinationJohnson weekend with warm, wise words from the #Women’s Management Council president Caitlin Namnoum, faculty @risamish, and ’05 #CornellMBA alumna @Kateru00 #belonging #accountability #gratitude #community
