During high school in upstate New York, Dan Fisher joined the Future Business Leaders of America. It shaped both his thinking and his intended career path.

From that experience, he reflects, “I knew that I wanted to work in a challenging business environment that touched different functional groups. As I went through college and then into industry, I realized that consulting aligned perfectly with my aspirations.”

After graduating from the University of Rochester, Dan accepted a position in Dallas with RealPage, the nation’s largest provider of software to residential property managers. His experience there in sales was high consultative in nature, he says, but it wasn’t the same as consulting. He knew that, to switch fields and pursue his true interest, he’d need an MBA to broaden his business knowledge.

The experience of his then girlfriend (now fiancée) suggested a pathway. She had enrolled in the Vanderbilt MBA program the year before Dan became a student. “Over that year I not only saw her transformation at business school, but I created lasting relationships with her classmates as well,” says Dan, who can frequently be found playing Ultimate Frisbee in Nashville’s Centennial Park. “Fast-forward one year, and I’m going through the same experiences. Owen has left an indelible mark on both our lives.

“If your primary goal is to learn as much as possible from professors here, they’re available and willing to help at nearly every hour of the day. If you’re focused on gaining practical experience, opportunities abound. And if you’re looking to build your professional network, you won’t find a group of more intelligent, driven and fun classmates. Owen is exactly what you would like it to be.”