Dramatically changing career directions is nothing new for Sophie Wright. Feeling burned out after the COVID-19 pandemic eased, she left what she describes as a “very secure job in the corporate world to take a risk” and work at a restaurant alongside her best friend, a chef.

“It was scary, and many people advised me against making such a change,” says the Colorado native. “I did it anyway, and it was the best experience of my life. The people I worked with, the skills I gained, and the life lessons were beyond anything I learned sending emails from my couch during WFH [work from home].”

Three years later, Sophie was ready for another big move. She sought a new professional challenge and was eager to learn in a more structured environment. But she wasn’t sure which career direction she wanted to pursue. “I saw business school as an opportunity to step back, explore new areas, and gain the tools and perspective I needed to take the next step with clarity and confidence.”

Coming from New York, where she had worked since 2019, Sophie admits that she was “a little skeptical” at first about whether Nashville could provide the quality of life, energy, and professional opportunities she had enjoyed. “Nashville completely won me over,” she says. “There’s truly no place like it. The mix of Southern charm, creative energy, incredible food, and live music give the city so much character. It’s vibrant, welcoming, and full of surprises in the best way.”

The close and supportive feeling of community at Vanderbilt—which Sophie previewed through conversations with students and alums as she considered MBA programs—came as no surprise at all after she began her two years on campus. “I wanted to be part of a program where people genuinely supported each other,” she says.  

As the epitome of that spirit, she cites a classmate who came across a LinkedIn post for a marketing position with VISA. “She decided the position wasn’t for her, but she went out of her way to send me the link and encouraged me to apply,” Sophie says. She took the advice, reached out to the Career Management Center, then received an introduction to a Vanderbilt alum already working at VISA, who met with Sophie and recommended her for an internship. The internship led to a full-time offer and a “dream-come-true” opportunity to return to New York.

“It feels like in many other situations as competitive as this, people wouldn’t pass along the application, but instead I was encouraged and supported,” Sophie says. “It speaks volumes about Vanderbilt and the community we have built.”