2019 Best EMBAs: Jasper Daniel, Yale SOM

Jasper Daniel

Yale School of Management

Adaptable, curious, an agent for positive change and a lifelong explorer.”

Age: 32

Hometown: It’s complicated (London, Singapore, Delhi, and now Hoboken, NJ)

Family Members: My wife (Abigail), and my Mum and Dad (Phebe and Joseph)

Fun fact about yourself: I have had the privilege of living in 9 cities, 4 countries and 3 continents.

Undergraduate School and Degree:

Doctor of Engineering: University Of Cambridge

Master of Engineering: Imperial College London

Where are you currently working? Johnson & Johnson, Senior Manager, Global Strategic Marketing

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles: Volunteer as a mentor with TrueMentors (Hoboken), Women’s Leadership and Inclusion (Somerville, NJ) and Global Business and Society (Yale SOM).

Volunteer at my local church, Hoboken Grace (Hoboken)

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? This MBA for Executives program is really defined by the incredible leaders who make up the cohort. Getting to know my classmates has been one of the highlights of the program for me. One of my proudest achievements at Yale SOM is co-founding the Panel Of Peers (also known as POP). POP is a student-led platform that is run each class-weekend where three students in the program sit on a panel discussion about a relevant business topic and share their experiences and expertise as their peers listen and learn about the panelists’ industries, insights, and personal stories. Since the first POP session at Yale SOM, we have had the opportunity to run panels at business schools across the globe.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Throughout my career, I have had leaders and mentors who have invested in my professional and personal development. This has been particularly important as I have taken up new roles across functions, industries, and regions. I am most proud of the opportunities I have had to mentor and guide young people in their careers at the intersection of business and science. I am grateful for every opportunity I get to pass on the lessons that I have learned throughout my career.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? This is a really difficult question—my education and transformation through the MBA program have been so immersive and comprehensive. It is very difficult to choose one professor or one course that stands out over the rest. That said, I particularly enjoyed learning from Professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld in his class on Corporate Governance. His ability to teach, moderate the class and invite global thought leaders made the experience engaging, educational, and memorable.

What was your favorite MBA course and what was the biggest insight you gained about business from it? My favorite MBA course was Introduction to Negotiations, taught by Dr. Daylian Cain. This class showed me a new way of thinking about negotiating that creates winners on all sides of the table by growing the “pie.”

Why did you choose this executive MBA program? I chose the Yale SOM MBA for Executives program because of the unique way in which the program blends mission and passion with knowledge and leadership. The school’s mission “to build leaders for business and society” is an active part of the program that shapes the students to think and act in a way that elevates and inculcates those values.

What did you enjoy most about business school in general? The direct translation of the lessons learned in the classroom to my day job on Monday.

Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family, and education? I am so grateful to my wife, Abigail, who has been an immense source of strength and motivation throughout my program. I really got to experience her strength and resilience when she started on the same program at Yale, a year later. One of the things I am most looking forward to after graduation is to return the favor and to support her as she completes her own transformational journey.

What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? Speak to people who have been through the program, then speak to your family, friends, colleagues and get their guidance.

The hard work required and stress this program will place on you is made worthwhile because of the incredible people that you will work with, who are going through the same journey as you. In the end, your transformation will speak for itself. You won’t regret it!

What is the biggest myth about going back to school? “I am too old to learn” – This is a complete myth. I am convinced that the older I get the more my mind is able to comprehend and retain. I hope to be back at school again soon!

What was your biggest regret in business school? Not being able to attend classes from Monday to Thursday – I wish I could have dedicated more time to do all the optional readings and more.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I admire all my classmates – but especially the mums in the program who juggled work, family, school work and then still showed up with the most positive energy each week! Hats off to all the mothers in the program!

“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…(A long time ago) I started working in business without any prior experience or knowledge to guide me. I am grateful to my mentors and leaders who took a chance with me and gave me increasing levels of responsibility. However, this experience has been really transformative – this ground-up education in business has equipped me for greater success in my work.”

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? I have the unique privilege of working in a job that satisfies my intellectual curiosity, my love of science, and my passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world. My long-term goal is to continue making a positive impact and to continue to learn and grow as I hope to broaden my sphere of influence and impact.

In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you? Someone who sought to find the best in everyone and every situation.

What are the top two items on your bucket list? Overcome my fear of the ocean and learn to surf.

What made Jasper such an invaluable addition to the class of 2019?

“Jasper is an excellent example of a student who embodies the program and strives to make the most out of his experiences.

While attending the Global Network Week in Accra, Ghana, Jasper was inspired by his visit to the University of Ghana Medical Center (UGMC) and the challenges that they face trying to launch the facility. The building and equipping of the hospital, with capacity for a 650-bed, world-class “super-tertiary” facility in the heart of Ghana’s capital city Accra, was completed in 2016 but has yet to open. Along with a classmate of his, they developed a comprehensive business plan to aid in shaping the value proposition, and positioning for the facility. They plan to present their recommendations to the UGMC, and under the guidance of leaders in Ghana, can make a lasting impact for the West Ghana region.

Alongside his classmate Brad Wayman, they launched Panel of Peers (POP). The objective of these sessions was to provide a platform for their peers to share on their education and experiences, create an opportunity for their class to present on a panel as well as moderate, and create a safe environment to give and receive feedback. Since their first POP session over a year ago, they have organized over 25 sessions around various topics, as well as expanded beyond the EMBA program and implemented it globally at each of the EMBA Global Network Weeks held in June at member schools of the Global Network for Advanced Management.

Their leadership and commitment have helped build a truly unique EMBA community where students have developed strong bonds across the two classes and have also expanded those EMBA connections beyond Yale SOM to the broader Global Network community.”

 Johanna Palacio

Assistant Director, Faculty Support Services, Yale School of Management

DON’T MISS: THE ENTIRE LIST OF THE BEST & BRIGHTEST EXECUTIVE MBAs OF 2019 or RANKING THE BEST EMBA PROGRAMS IN THE U.S.

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