‘One of the best decisions I made was applying to Kellogg my senior year of college.’

Fueled by her career motivations, an MBA student shares how she navigated her application process to a deferred MBA program and how she maximized her time before enrollment.
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Kellogg
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Entering her second quarter of her first year at Kellogg, Izzy knew business school was in her future, so she took advantage of the school's deferred MBA Program to secure a spot in an upcoming class.
“Choosing when to matriculate was huge. It allowed me to soak up as much as I could during my time at Google before I decided I was ready for my MBA,“ says Saker of a perk for applying to Kellogg Future Leaders, a deferred MBA program.


Izzy Saker ’25 enrolled in the Two-Year MBA Program after applying via the Kellogg Future Leaders Program. Knowing she wanted to continue her education upon graduation, applying to business school during her last year of undergraduate at Brown University was a natural next step. Saker shares how going through the application process empowered her in her career development and this past first quarter provided her with clarity on how to make the most of her time at Kellogg.

Read to learn more about how she plans to leverage the school’s community to support a career pivot as well as advice to undergraduate students considering an MBA.  

 

What motivated you to explore a deferred MBA program? 

 I love learning. As I was finishing up my senior year at Brown University, I knew that my academic experience couldn’t be over. At the same time, I was a public policy major with a keen interest in data privacy. After four years of policy classes and internships, I realized I could more easily make the career change I was hoping for in tech if I dove headfirst into the industry itself. I knew what I wanted to do, build the guardrails to make data collection a safer process, but I did not have the management skills to effectively execute that goal in the corporate world. 

What made Kellogg your ultimate choice?

I'm an extrovert who thrives when collaborating with others. I knew I wanted to go to a school that celebrates differences — both professional and personal — as I truly believe the most successful work is done by groups with vastly different backgrounds.

Kellogg not only promotes that diversity but gives its students so many spaces to work together and build something out of that diversity. Many MBA programs are full of students from varying backgrounds, but at Kellogg, I noticed there are intentional spaces made to foster collaboration between students and that excited me.  

When thinking about the application process, what do you feel helped you craft a strong MBA application?

I thought about why my MBA was going to help me reach my career goals. Once I went through that exercise — which I encourage everyone to do whether or not they are considering getting an MBA — the answer came to me quickly.

I was passionate about data privacy, and I realized that it would take me longer to make the changes I wanted to see in tech if I went the policy route, so I knew I wanted to navigate the business management route instead. I just needed business management skills to execute my goal.

Now, at Kellogg, I’m realizing I may have an even easier time executing this goal if I consider early-stage tech investing and find the founders who are building the companies that I believe are setting the global standard for data collection and privacy. As a mentor of mine pointed out recently, I’m now able to clearly state that I want to find private-sector solutions to public policy issues.  

You decided to wait a few years to enroll after getting accepted into Kellogg. What was your game plan once you heard you had secured a spot in an upcoming class?

First off, choosing when to matriculate was huge. It allowed me to soak up as much as I could during my time at Google before I decided I was ready for my MBA. Honestly, this flexibility in choice and allowing me to come to Kellogg when I felt I was most ready speaks to the kind of business school Kellogg is — one that prioritizes its students and aims to maximize their academic experience. 

My recommendation: matriculate when you feel like you aren’t learning something new every day at work. 

Swinging in her hammock, Izzy, an MBA student at Kellogg, finds ways to create joy during her day to help balance out her academic responsibilities.
Saker worked three years at Google before enrolling in the Two-Year MBA Program and is ready to use her business school experience for a career pivot into finance.

You've wrapped up your first quarter at Kellogg. Is there a class, interaction, activity or experience that stands out for you?

 I truly admire my professors. We’ve all been there before, it is easy to feel like a second priority to your professors whether they are pursuing work outside the classroom, conducting research, etc., but at Kellogg I have been blown away by how all of my professors truly prioritize us students. It is just awesome.  

Do you have any parting words for undergrads who know an MBA is in their professional trajectory but aren’t sure about when to apply? 

Easily one of the best decisions I made was applying to Kellogg my senior year of college. There is a plethora of reasons, but the first one is the Kellogg community in the workplace is strong. Getting to connect with individuals post-graduation who are Kellogg alumni is extremely beneficial and is something you can leverage before you have even matriculated!

Don’t take this for granted. On a more personal level, working full-time has ups and downs. During the downs, it always feels good to know that Kellogg is waiting for you whenever you are ready.  


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