Julianne Zhang
MBA 2019
- Hometown: Sugar Land, TX
- Pre-MBA: M&A Consultant
Julianne Zhang
Post Graduation Goals:
Run my own snack company
Highlight of my Week:
This is a big week for me with LOWkeynotes, start-up interviews, and papers. Giving my LOWkeynotes is the highlight - I’ve prepped for this all quarter and finally getting to deliver it was so rewarding. Can’t wait to see the video!
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Favorite GSB Memory So Far:
Planning and leading a Food and Agriculture Global Study Trip (GST) to New Zealand this past winter. My co-leads and participants made it worth it.
Monday
08:00am
This is my last clinic with my Arbuckle Fellows! The Arbuckle Leadership Fellows program teaches second-year Stanford MBA students how to develop others by coaching and mentoring first-year MBA students. Clinic is a group of fellows to bounce ideas off of so we can improve our coaching.
10:00am
During these small breaks in my day, I love catching up with my classmates. I met up with a section mate and caught up before walking to class.
10:30am
Founder of Men’s Warehouse came to Paths to Power to talk about how to manage our rises in organizations. “He guarantees it!”
02:00pm
I’m leaving for Spring break with classmates in a few weeks so I am finalizing our itinerary. Got to dust off my Mandarin skills for the trip!
04:00pm
This is our final group rehearsal for LOWkeynotes. As a part of the program, you have a tribe of fellow presenters who support each other. Love this group and our coach Hilary!
06:30pm
I go to our Passing the Torch reception where current and new Arbuckle Fellows meet and celebrate the end of our roles. The Fellows community made all the 8am classes worth it!
08:00pm
Take a break with some dessert. We had an auction gala last week where I won freshly baked desserts every two weeks for the rest of the year. Strawberry shortcake this week!
09:00pm
TALK is one of my favorite traditions. One of my friends is going tonight. I love learning about my classmates and leave the evening inspired!
Tuesday
08:00am
I’m up early to make it to Building Sales Organizations. This is one of my more intense classes given how much they cold call but a former Dropbox sales executive came in today and told us about how they scaled into an enterprise #business.
10:00am
Dan Gordon, founder of Gordon Biersch, spoke to our class today about how to built his brand, and sent everyone home with some of their famous beer!
12:00pm
The weather has been dreary so I eat lunch in the MBA lounge. There is always so much going on from coffee chats to people playing Mario Kart. I definitely choose to do work here when I really just want to socialize.
02:00pm
One of the luxuries of living on campus is going home for a nap whenever I want. Excited for an hour of shuteye.
03:00pm
As a part of my Arbuckle Leadership Fellow role, I coach three MBA1s through Fall and Winter quarter. Today is my last session with my PLC so we chat about how the sessions have been and I ask him how I could have improved as a coach.
04:00pm
Interviews for summer start-up accelerators - wish us luck! We are working on an oat-based snack and have been busy creating new flavors and rebranding our website with new content. Working with my co-founder has been energizing and as we have worked on our idea, I have gotten more conviction to explore it after graduating.
06:30pm
There are 30 people total giving LOWkeynotes this week and I am trying to attend them all. My Tribe member Dave is in this hour so excited to support him. He crushed it!
08:00pm
There are no classes on Wednesday, and my close group of girlfriends have planned a fun night starting with soup dumplings because we have been traveling a lot recently. I am so happy to have a group of strong female friends who I can count on. My GSBers!
Thursday
07:30am
Today is the big day! Giving my LOWkeynote in the evening and I’m feeling nervous but excited to finally give my talk. Treating myself to breakfast - wish me luck!
08:00am
Got cold called in class and lived to tell the tale. I am definitely awake for the rest of the day now!
10:00am
My friend is coming to visit this weekend and I’ve had a busy week so am tidying up to get ready for her. I’ve been really busy this quarter and it’s going to be so nice to have her here for the weekend. I have a full itinerary including a visit up to San Francisco to show her around.
12:00pm
The GSB Show is in April and the show’s dancers do a flash mob in Town Square to get people to buy tickets!
01:00pm
There are two papers standing between me and spring break and I am trying to not procrastinate and get them done.
06:30pm
LOWkeynote done! My topic is on the importance of family dinners and seeing my friends come out to support me meant a lot. I am so happy to go first and now get to enjoy the rest of the speeches. Improving my public speaking has been a big goal for me at the GSB and I am really happy to have gotten to experience the program.
08:30pm
In theme, time for a group dinner! My BPL partner and I eat dinner with a few other pairs in preparation for the big night.
10:00pm
BPL is one of my favorite social traditions at the GSB. 300 people at the Patio with some competition. I am a Commissioner so help to run the logistics of the event and tonight is a fundraiser for Challenge 4 Charity. My team is ready to win!