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Meet Our MBA Consultants: Mark Lellouch

October 24, 2014 :: Admissionado Team

Each week, we sit down and get to know one of our MBA Consultants.

Mark-LellouchNot to brag, but we have an amazing team of people, and there’s more to them than just their top school pedigree or their devilish good looks. When you’re choosing an MBA consultant, you don’t just want someone in your industry or who went to your dream school. You need an MBA consultant who will be able to work with you, connect with you, and push you to be your best… and that’s not the same person for everyone. Some people need an empathetic touch; others need a drill sergeant. That’s why we think it’s so important for you to get to know our guys before you get to work.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Admissionado MBA Consultant Mark Lellouch.

So Mark, where are you living these days?
New Mexico

And your MBA is from…
Stanford GSB

Why did you go for an MBA?
When I applied to schools, I thought I wanted to continue in strategy consulting. Once I got to the GSB, I realized I didn’t really wanna wear a suit all day long and spend so much time away from home. So I decided to call up national park superintendents in the American west out of the blue and see if I could create my own internship. After about a dozen calls, I was able to make things work at Sequoia (home to the giant trees) and Joshua Tree (home to world famous rock climbing). I haven’t looked back since. Some of the business challenges I tackle as an independent consultant today are similar to what I might have done as a management consultant, but the big picture issues are much closer aligned with my values and interests. And I don’t have to wear a suit very often.

What’s your all-time favorite memory from business school?
My study groups. I connected with a few classmates very quickly and the friendships that developed from there made the studying 100 times more enjoyable. The academics were challenging, especially the first year — like drinking out of a fire hydrant — but our tight-knit group of 4-5 musketeers had a blast together. The friendships you form in b-school will last you a lifetime.

What do you like most about being an MBA consultant?
Working one-on-one with really bright people and helping them reach their dreams, whether they’re changing careers or moving full steam ahead on their current path. I think my character is well suited to consulting, and I find myself caring for people and what they’re up to very quickly. So, in short: the awesome responsibility and rewards of being a mentor.

What’s the COOLEST place you’ve ever been?
I don’t know if I can pick one coolest place I’ve *visited* — there’ve been many — but lived is easy: on the south rim of the Grand Canyon, a stone’s throw away from the edge. I was working on a business plan for the national park at the time. My favorite activity, besides contemplating the void after work and hiking into the canyon on weekends, was to ride my bike at full speed at night along the path that borders the rim. I guess I’m lucky I never took the so-called “12-second tour” off the edge.

What’s your biggest weakness?
French cheese — the smellier, the better. On real bread, please.

Get to know more about Mark Lellouch, Admissionado MBA Consultant.