Meet The NYU Stern EMBA Class Of 2021

Matthew Meade

NYU Stern Executive MBA Program

Location: DC

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Innovative trailblazer who embodies authenticity, integrity, and respect while fostering the development of future leaders.

Hometown: South Orange, New Jersey

Fun Fact About Yourself: My life purpose has always been to inspire. I grew up with my mom in a family of five brothers and two sisters and times were tough financially. As a result, I reflected on all of the key principles throughout my life that propelled me to become a business professional and EMBA student. The result of that reflection became a book I authored called Wisdom on the Way to Wall Street, which highlights the 22 life principles I applied in hopes that they too will influence and impact younger generations.

I also create up-tempo music to inspire through sound.

Undergraduate School and Major: I attended the University of Virginia where I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce with a concentration in Finance and Management.

Current Employer and Job Title: JP Morgan Chase & Company – Vice President

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I’ve worked in a few lines of business over the course of my career. With that came several opportunities to break ground and leave my mark in sales, finance and risk. Notably, I had the opportunity to work on a global team that created an automation solution that transformed a business process across the Risk organization within JP Morgan. As with any transformation, there were challenges. Being able to lead the team through adversity and in the end celebrate the finished product that made a long-lasting impact on the company was a journey I’ll always remember.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of the MBA programming that led you to choose this business school – and why was it so important to you? What drew me to Stern was the world-renowned and diverse faculty.  The climate of business today is to embrace and reflect global perspectives. Therefore, the opportunity to learn from professors that model this, as well as the chance to build networks within two major US cities (New York and DC), was what made me select Stern to pursue my EMBA.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I’ve always been a strong believer that on-the-job experience is a great way to learn concepts specific to the role you are in. However, after working in the industry for several years, I recognize now more than ever that learning key fundamentals through education and then being able to apply those skills in the workplace would propel me towards achieving my overall career goals.

What has been your biggest difficulty in incorporating MBA studies into your professional and personal responsibilities? The biggest challenge to balancing work, school and my personal life has been the sacrifices I’ve had to make. I am a business owner, a professional who manages a global team, and now a member of a new team within the program. As a result, I’ve had to reprioritize what I can and cannot commit to.

What do you enjoy most about business school so far? 
The family-oriented cohort. We are more like family than classmates. It’s great to learn from diverse, seasoned professionals across multiple industries. I also enjoy the fact that I am able to learn something within class and then immediately apply it to my current role.

What is the top item in your career bucket list? My main career objectives are to continue to network and learn from seasoned professionals within organizations.  These skills are vital in leading me to my goal of being a C-Suite Executive.

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