Biography
Coming from a background of public health and biology, New Jersey-native Annie Mergner knew she needed to sharpen her business acumen. “Prior to pivoting into consulting, I knew being at a top-tier program would really help build a strong foundation so Emory quickly rose to the top of my list,” Annie says. “Being in the Atlanta area and knowing that goes out on my resume would be an awesome way to get into companies, especially with the strong alumni network that we have here.”
Building a strong network was one of the key reasons Annie ultimately chose Emory as she was drawn by the close-knit two-year program. “I've made a ton of super close friends and everyone is so dedicated to everyone else's success, which I don't think you always get at top programs,” she says. “You can really tell that it's not just a cohort that we have here, but I think admissions is really intentional about actually crafting a class of people that are going to go above and beyond for each other and I really, really appreciate that.”
Beyond building upon her network, Annie has learned important skills during her time such as how to operate effectively on a team and how use communication to drive the decision-making process, skills she plans to take with her when she starts her job post-graduation at McKinsey & Company. One of Annie’s most influential experiences was participating in Goizueta IMPACT, a project-based, experiential learning program where students work directly with companies to solve real-world problems. “It was really great being able to be on a team with my peers and delivering an output,” Annie says. “It was really the cherry on top, and it was very helpful in my summer experience, and I know it will also be really helpful to me in my full-time career post MBA.”
While her time at Emory is coming to a close, Annie appreciates all of the opportunities and friendships she gained along the way. “I wish that I had maybe taken the time to slow down a little bit even through those stressful moments to really just relish in the fact that I get to be here, and I've got all these great opportunities and people around me, and soon I'll be back in the workforce. Graduation is quickly approaching, and I wish that I could do it all over again. I definitely will be doubling down and making the most of the rest of the time that I have left in the program."