First Voices: Building confidence and finding home

From navigating imposter syndrome and finding their voice in the classroom to balancing financial realities with academic demands, first generation MBA students face unique challenges.

This series spotlights their journeys, showing how personal resilience, peer connection and mentorship — among other forms of support — act as powerful sources of strength and encouragement. These students embody what redefining success on their own terms looks like and are intentionally shaping the future of business.

In this installment, meet Tram Nguyen ’26 JD-MBA Program, who previously worked as an internal consultant at TIAA, a Fortune 100 financial services firm, supporting executives and senior leaders solve enterprise-wide business and strategic problems.

Here, she reflects on how peer support and pre-program experiences helped her carve out a space at Kellogg and shares tips for first-gen students seeking connection during their MBA journey. 

Kellogg: How can a first-generation student find a sense of community and belonging during their b-school experience at Kellogg? 

While there are many outlets for connection, three come readily to mind: 

Attend small Group Dinners (SGDs)
There’s a big SGD culture at Kellogg. Usually, someone drops a spreadsheet, and you just sign up. That’s it. I found myself seated at tables with people I’d never met — sometimes sharing a home-cooked meal and other times exploring tucked-away restaurants across Chicago.

There was no agenda and no pressure — just real conversation and the kind of laughter that happens when everyone is new and open. Over time, those dinners became a rhythm, something steady and grounding that made me feel like I belonged here. 

Go on KWEST
Before classes began — before the Slack channels, cohort mixers and recruiting chatter — KWEST Mexico City aka “KWESTico City” was my first real introduction to Kellogg. As part of KWEST, a student-led pre-orientation trip for incoming first-years, I had the chance to meet classmates not through icebreakers or networking events but through shared adventures in a new city.  

Somewhere between rooftop dinners, late-night bus rides and unexpected laughter, I found my people. We weren’t trying to impress each other — we were just showing up, day by day, as ourselves. In a program where social circles can form quickly, KWEST offered something slower, deeper and far more lasting. It made Kellogg feel like home before I even stepped into the Hub. 

Bonus: I got to explore a cool city while at it. My KWESTico City friends pulled me into parts of Kellogg I never imagined I’d be a part of — from Bollywood Bash and Diwali to late-night Mario Kart tournaments and casual trivia nights that turned into weekly traditions. Because of them, I didn’t just attend these events; I felt welcome in them. 

Join Special K!
I joined Special K! to find two things: a community and myself. There are so many ways to be involved such as behind the scenes, on the board or as part of the production team. It was creative, chaotic and incredibly meaningful. Yes, it demanded time and energy, but it gave back so much more.  

Special K! served as a space to process what Kellogg really meant: to laugh, honor and challenge it. I got to witness stories that made me feel seen while offering my own in return. What surprised me the most wasn’t just how funny or sharp the show was but how deeply it built community.  

I’ve met some of my closest friends through it — people I might never have crossed paths with otherwise. We were all pulled together by a shared project that made this big place feel smaller and more human. 

Kellogg: What student organizations and activities are available for first-generation students? 

While everything is open to the student community — nothing about being a first-gen MBA limits where someone can belong — the First-Generation Student Association is a great starting point for anyone looking for a place where their experience is understood without needing to explain it. We host board game nights, picnics and buddy programs to help first-gen students connect with one another in ways that feel natural and low-pressure. 

There’s also a strong and proud group of MBAs who identify as both first-generation students and from low-income backgrounds. And for anyone navigating both — know this: you're not alone. There are people here who get what it’s like to budget hard, send money home or hold a job while in school.  

At a place like Kellogg, where there are so many events and social opportunities, it can feel overwhelming to keep up financially. That’s why it matters to have a community that gets it: a group that knows how to have fun without spending a lot, who will make cookies in someone’s apartment, go on long walks, play cards or find creative ways to attend events without breaking the bank. 

Whether it’s the Climate Conference, Women’s Business Association, Black Management Association or Ultimate Frisbee Club — someone’s background is an asset, not a barrier. Some of the most impactful and visible student leaders on campus are first-generation MBAs. 

Our community is real, and it’s growing. It’s here to help everyone thrive — not just fit in. 

Read next: Campus connections: How MBA students are cultivating community