麻豆村

With nine years in the military and a master鈥檚 degree in engineering/industrial management already in her professional toolbox, Maressa Guynn (MBA 2025) is pursuing a new goal鈥攖o become a management consultant in corporate America. But she knew she needed guidance to evolve from being a Naval Officer to becoming a business leader.

鈥淎fter college, the military was the only thing I鈥檇 experienced,鈥� Maressa said. 鈥淚 sought out several mentors who have done what I want to do, and they all recommended getting an MBA.鈥�

Though she considered several schools, the Tepper School checked all the blocks for her. First and most, 鈥渢he Tepper MBA program is one of the Top 20 Business Schools with outstanding employment outcomes鈥攁nd the Carnegie Mellon brand is [powerful]. Second, I鈥檓 originally from outside of Pittsburgh. I left when I was 18, but now my partner and I have a one-year-old baby and I wanted to be closer to family. And third, Tepper is part of The Consortium, which is a great network that鈥檚 really important to me.鈥�

Fostering a Culture of Diversity and Inclusion Drives Business Profitability

The Tepper School is among 23 business schools that partners with , an organization dedicated to diversity throughout management education. Being a Consortium student, alongside her involvement in other forward-leaning organizations such as (MLT) and (ROMBA) opened her eyes.

鈥淚n the military, I learned it鈥檚 important to get to know a person and their motivations,鈥� the 33-year-old veteran explained. 鈥淧eople who are underprivileged or marginalized have grit, the ability to survive and thrive, and once you realize they鈥檝e done a lot to get where they are, you have a deeper understanding of them.鈥�

In shifting her focus to the world of business, Maressa鈥檚 involvement with The Consortium, ROMBA, and MLT has strengthened her appreciation of the value of DEI&B.

鈥淭he more diverse businesses are typically more profitable: Their people bring more to the table and it鈥檚 good for business leaders to take DEI&B seriously,鈥� said Maressa. In fact, a recent McKinsey & Company study revealed that companies in the top 25 percent for racial/ethnic and gender diversity were respectively 36 percent and 25 percent more likely to have superior financial returns; several other sources site similar business advantages.

She is anticipating her summer internship at McKinsey & Company in Washington, DC, will help her gain perspective on what industry she鈥檇 like to work into. 鈥淏ut, right now, I鈥檓 wide open and excited to tackle business problems across the sectors.鈥�

ROMBA is dedicated to educating, inspiring, and connecting business students to impact change in the classroom and workplace. Maressa attended the 2023 ROMBA Chicago convention and serves on the planning committee for this year鈥檚 event in Los Angeles. As the world鈥檚 largest annual gathering of LGBTQ+ professionals, it offers panels, workshops, receptions, and a career fair featuring 100+ corporate partners. In March, she will also attend ROMBA鈥檚 Out Women in Business conference in LA.

鈥淐olleen McMullen [Executive Director, Engagement] and the Tepper School [Engagement] office staff have been extremely supportive of me going and I鈥檓 excited to represent the school at this year鈥檚 ROMBA events while continuing to build my network.鈥�

鈥淚t Depends鈥�

鈥淭he most important thing I鈥檝e learned at Tepper is the concept of 鈥榠t depends.鈥� There are a million different ways to go, and you must consider the areas where things could change,鈥� said Maressa.

鈥淚n business, you need to be a jack of all trades, but it鈥檚 hard to be good at everything. When I came to Tepper, I wanted to strengthen my weakest points 鈥� finance and accounting 鈥� so I could at least talk the talk and know what鈥檚 going on in meetings.鈥�

Beyond her initial intention, however, she says the finance curriculum was a shock because it was such a formative experience. 鈥淚 have really fallen in love with my finance curriculum. Working with Professor Chris Telmer [Associate Professor of Financial Economics] and our teams was great, and I took charge on my part of our final project.鈥�

Mentorship and Advice for Tepper MBA Students

鈥淚 was looking for an MBA program that would challenge me. Tepper is a great place to root yourself and it has lived up to its reputation for academic rigor. People I know have already used what they鈥檙e learning here while interviewing for positions.鈥�

Two early Tepper School mentors continue to impact her: J.R. McGrath, Executive Director of Masters 麻豆村s, and Tony Gomez, Senior Associate Director of Masters 麻豆村s. 鈥淭ony was one of my first contacts at Tepper and we鈥檝e kept a relationship going, and J.R. has been very influential as well.鈥� Her first real boss in the Navy, a Commanding Officer, helped connect her to his peers who have made the jump to getting out of the military, she adds. 鈥淗e鈥檚 also shared a lot of life lessons about being a parent and a spouse, and I鈥檓 indebted to him for all his help.鈥�

鈥淧ut yourself out there,鈥� she advised. 鈥淪eek out people who have the exact job you want or think you want and do some cold calling. You might only get one 鈥榶es,鈥� but it might be the only 鈥榶es鈥� you need.鈥�

Her personal experience as the daughter of a single mother helped her grasp another truth: When you have down days, know they will not last forever.

鈥淣ow that I have a family to worry about, I think about my upbringing. I didn鈥檛 have a lot of opportunities, and my mother was going to college while raising me, so I can only imagine she had down days. My mom is an indelible force in my life, a guiding light.鈥�

As a 鈥榬etired鈥� athlete and award-winning field/track star, Maressa remains passionate about working out. She loves to cook and bake (especially sourdough bread which she bakes from a three-year-old starter that she鈥檚 named 鈥楳arge鈥�), and of course, family life surrounding Sage, her one-year-old son.

鈥淭he best advice I鈥檝e ever received is to fill my plate, but not fill it too much,鈥� she said. Then, with a laugh of self-awareness, she adds, 鈥渢hat鈥檚 something I really struggle with as I have more responsibilities, like raising a child. It鈥檚 very hard to resist the urge to be the 24-year-old me who wants to do everything.鈥�