Chelsea Taranovich
Class of 2024
Hometown: Centerport, New York
Undergraduate University: SUNY Oneonta
Class Year: 2019
Major/Minor: Psychology
Employer: Pulmonary Associates of Richmond
Position: Directory of Strategy
What prompted you to return to school and earn an MBA degree?
I always knew I wanted to further my education beyond my undergraduate degree. Initially, I planned to attend law school, but my journey took an unexpected turn when I faced challenges with the LSAT—most notably, a Wi-Fi failure during my first attempt that prevented me from completing the exam. After working full-time and signing up for another LSAT exam during the pandemic, I realized that law school might not be the right path for me.
Instead, I chose to stay in my role in commercial banking, where I gained valuable experience in commercial loan operations. Despite this, I often felt that my psychology degree wasn't fully aligning with my career goals. With my fiancé deployed on a Navy supply ship and stationed in Norfolk, I saw an opportunity to redirect my focus. During his time abroad, I decided to pursue an MBA at William & Mary. This decision allowed me to leverage my time effectively and align my career aspirations with my educational goals.
Why William & Mary?
William & Mary checked all my boxes as I was researching grad schools. The campus is beautiful, the faculty and staff are highly regarded, and my experience with the admissions team was nothing short of excellent. The business school at William & Mary is a rigorous program with an outstanding reputation, and I was looking for a challenge. The Mason School exceeded my expectations, and I am so grateful for my experience. Coming out of such a challenging academic program taught me many personal and professional lessons. I expected to join a tight-knit community of like-minded individuals, and that is precisely what I got. Beyond the technical skills I needed, I gained friends who are like family and a network I know I'll always be able to rely on.
What are some highlights from your time in the MBA program?
The most memorable experience was being elected to lead the MBAA Women in Leadership club. I was so excited and proud of what we accomplished. Through networking and social events, my co-chairs and I began building a club and a community for underrepresented people in the business world. It was important to me, especially since the clubs and participation suffered greatly during the pandemic. Other highlights during my MBA experience were traveling to Munich and Innsbruck on a Global Business Immersion trip. We got to tour many businesses, including the IBM Watson Tower, where we played with their robotic dog! Another local trip was with a finance class, where we toured the Port of Virginia and spent time on their cranes. I also participated in other clubs' activities, like the Mason Military Club's tour of the Nautilus in Norfolk. The people who joined me in these experiences are what made them so special. I wouldn't have such an exciting highlight reel without those around me—my classmates cheered me on, challenged my perspective, and, most importantly, helped me grow into a confident leader.
How have you applied what you learned in the program to your work?
During my internship, I used what I had learned from the Intro to Business Analytics class to work on some Python coding in a spreadsheet, automating the workflow and thoroughly impressing my boss. After I completed the program, I was hired full-time as a director, and I've been able to utilize my technical skills—financial and data analysis—to lead projects and implement new developments. While technical skills are essential, I've been able to leverage my soft skills just as much, if not more! In my personal and professional life, I can carry myself with unwavering confidence, knowing I bring something unique to the table.
What value did the MBA degree have on your professional growth?
I went from having titles like "coordinator" and "specialist" to "director" with this degree. I pivoted out of an industry I felt didn't fit my personality into one where I'm comfortable and enjoying much more flexibility. Previously, I thought I had little opportunity to grow and would get stuck in whatever role I was in. Now, I feel the sky is the limit, and I'm set up to grow immensely for the foreseeable future.
