Jan. 22, 2019
Tyler Gear, International MBA candidate
Why did you choose to attend the International MBA program?
My brother went through the International MBA program from 2006 to 2008. He spoke highly of the program and the impact it had on his career,
so coming to the Moore School was an opportunity I wanted to pursue after completing
my undergrad at Clemson.
Who at the Moore School has most impacted you?
I have to credit Chuck Kwok here. He’s a challenging professor teaching challenging material, but he sincerely
cares about his students. I’ve taken every class of his I can and considered a Ph.D.
in Finance at his suggestion. I’ve stuck with the finance specialization in the International
MBA program because of how well he prepared me in that field. Take his global corporate
valuation class if you get the chance.
What have you enjoyed most about your program?
The Moore School’s greatest asset is its ability to bring together a diverse group
of individuals that are driven and wildly intelligent. Regularly butting heads with
people smarter than me taught me to approach problems from different perspectives
and learn to work well within a group.
What is the most valuable thing you've learned through the program?
An MBA teaches you to make decisions with incomplete or inadequate information, which
is a critical skill in the real world. In most cases, the issues we’re addressing
don’t have simple or correct answers — it comes down to weighing the available details
and making a tough call. Being able to practice that skill in a controlled environment
is invaluable. Coming to terms with making the wrong decision is even more important.
What's next for you?
I’ll be working at Ernst & Young (EY) in Charlotte, North Carolina, in their transfer pricing department under partner
Sean Trahan starting July 2019.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I hope to still be at EY, assessing if I want to continue in the Big Four
sphere or move into a new area.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention?
The International MBA program is unique in its requirement to send students abroad.
I wish more programs would embrace the attitude that living abroad is perhaps even
more valuable than academic study. There are few experiences more humbling and enlightening
than being a stranger in a strange land, so I hope international travel remains an
integral part of the International MBA curriculum.