Sarah Prescott
The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business
Age: 45
“Strategic & passionate leader at the intersection of real estate and technology. Connector of amazing people.”
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Family Members: Wife – Dr. Nichole Prescott, and twin daughters – Morgan & Taylor Crain. Supportive Parents – Sally & Mike Loessberg and Gary & Sheryl Looper.
Fun fact about yourself: I am part of 3 straight generations of twins – my father has a twin sister, I have a twin sister, and I have identical twin daughters!
Undergraduate School and Degree: University of Texas at Austin – BA, Economics with Business Certification
Where are you currently working? EliseAI, a New York-based technology company that develops conversational AI and automation platforms for the housing and healthcare industries.
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles: I love playing and watching all sports, especially Longhorn women’s sports. I enjoy traveling with my family and after graduation we are headed to Peru to hike Machu Picchu. In Austin I serve on the Board of Governors for LifeWorks, a non-profit that aims to solve youth homelessness.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am most proud of being elected President of the Graduate Business. I approached the role as an opportunity to practice what I was learning in the program. I focused on building connections, representing diverse perspectives, and creating connection between the students and the program. That meant showing up consistently – not only in formal settings, but in one-on-one conversations, listening to feedback, and advocating for improvements that enhanced the experience for everyone. Earning the trust of my classmates, professors, and program leadership is something I will carry with me long after graduation.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Winning the Global Blackstone AI Acceleration Challenge while I was working at American Campus Communities was a defining moment in my journey. Competing against 80+ Blackstone portfolio companies and hundreds of submissions, I developed an AI concept designed to drive revenue and operational value across the Blackstone portfolio. The process required translating a bold idea into a clear, executable strategy and delivering it through a concise three-minute pitch.
What made this achievement meaningful was not just winning (and going to Corfu as part of award!), but it was more about realizing that I could operate at a higher level. It shifted my mindset from being a leader who executes transformation to one who shapes it. Also, it reinforced the importance of storytelling which we focus on a lot in the Executive MBA program.
Who was your favorite MBA professor? There are many excellent professors at McCombs, and Dr. Melissa Murphy stands out as particularly impactful. Her course on high-stakes negotiations distinguished itself by moving beyond theory and into real-boardroom practice. Through live negotiations and structured simulations, she created an environment where we were required to refine our approach in high-pressure scenarios. Dr. Murphy also reinforced the value of polished, intentional public speaking as a core leadership skill which has already had an impact on my professional journey. It’s safe to say this class was critical in negotiating my next role right after graduation!
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? I chose the McCombs Executive MBA program because the program combines academic rigor and real-world application, which allowed me to immediately apply what I was learning in my role. Being based in Austin, one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving economies, also provided a unique advantage. With the continued growth of the tech sector and increasing focus on AI and digital transformation, McCombs is positioned at the center of meaningful industry evolution, which aligns directly with my professional interests and goals.
My decision was also influenced by my undergraduate connection to the University of Texas. My degree in Economics from UT laid a strong foundation for how I think about markets, incentives, and long-term value creation. That education had already paid dividends throughout my career, and returning to McCombs felt like a natural continuation of that journey. The EMBA program has allowed me to build on that foundation, expanding my capabilities as a strategic leader.
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? The biggest lesson I gained during my MBA journey was personal. I realized that for much of my career, I had been unintentionally limiting my own potential. Whether it showed up as imposter syndrome or a quiet hesitation to fully step into bigger opportunities, there was a part of me that questioned whether I truly had the capacity to take on the most complex, high-impact challenges.
The Executive MBA experience challenged that narrative in a very real way. Over the course of the program, I balanced a demanding Vice President role at American Campus Communities, the rigor of graduate coursework, and the most meaningful seasons of my parenting – supporting my twin daughters as they graduated high school and transitioned into college. There were moments when the volume of responsibility felt overwhelming, but I continued to show up, perform, and as a result, lead.
What I came to understand is that my perceived limitations were not reflective of my actual capabilities. I can navigate complexity, lead through ambiguity, and deliver results at a high level even when the stakes are significant, and the demands are constant (in fact, I’m quite good at it!). That realization has been both empowering and clarifying.
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? During the EMBA program, I experienced one of the most rewarding seasons of being a mom. I was supporting and cheering on my twin daughters through their senior year of high school – highlighted by a varsity softball run to State – and then helping them transition into college and dorm life. One moved to Miami University in Ohio, and the other joined the Honors Program at Texas State.
There were many moments where everything overlapped – work deadlines, class deliverables, and dorm move-ins. What made this experience unique is that we were all navigating college at the same time. We were each adjusting to new expectations, managing coursework, learning how to use platforms like Canvas, and paying tuition. It created a shared understanding of both the excitement and the pressure that comes with this stage of life. There were long days and tight schedules, but there was also a sense of alignment in what we were all working toward. Instead of viewing the demands as competing priorities, I began to see them as connected experiences.
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? Commit fully. The value of an Executive MBA program is directly tied to the level of engagement you bring to it. This is not a passive experience; you will get out of it exactly what you are willing to invest. Build relationships intentionally, lean into the diversity of perspectives around you, and take advantage of every opportunity to learn both inside and outside the classroom.
Most importantly, don’t hold back. It can be easy, especially for experienced professionals, to stay within what feels familiar or to underestimate the value of fully engaging. This program is an opportunity to redefine how you show up as a leader. Say yes to the hard things, contribute your voice, and allow yourself to evolve.
What was your biggest regret in business school? The typical regret of “I wish I had done this sooner” doesn’t fully resonate with me, because timing plays such an important role in this experience. The value of the Executive MBA is deeply tied to where you are in your career and life and, for me, this program came at exactly the right moment.
If anything, my only reflection is how quickly it all goes by. The pace of the program is intense, and there are moments I wish I had paused more often to fully absorb the experience in real time. Between balancing work, family, and coursework, it’s easy to stay focused on what’s next rather than fully appreciating what’s happening in the moment.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? AI was a meaningful and consistent component of the McCombs Executive MBA experience, both through formal coursework and practical application. I chose an AI for Executives electives course with Dr. Maytal Saar-Tsechansky, which provided a strong foundation in how AI can be applied strategically across industries. After this program, I developed both the confidence and the strategic lens to pursue opportunities in this space. I recently accepted a new role with a technology company in New York that specializes in agentic conversational AI, where I will be working to help scale these solutions within the real estate industry.
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? I chose the Executive MBA program because I wanted an immersive, in-person experience alongside leaders who were equally committed to growth and development. Learning in a classroom setting with peers who bring significant real-world experience across several industries elevated the quality of every discussion. Concepts were not just theoretical, they were immediately challenged, validated, and expanded through the lens of diverse industries, leadership styles, and lived experiences. That dynamic created a level of learning that simply cannot be replicated in a part-time or online format.
How did you finance your EMBA and what did you do to make tuition and associated costs more affordable? I chose to self-fund my EMBA as an investment in my leadership and long-term career. Making that commitment required discipline, prioritization, and thoughtful financial planning, but it also reinforced my accountability to fully engage in the experience and maximize the return on that investment.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My long-term professional goal is to serve as a Chief Product or Chief Strategy Officer, where I can shape enterprise direction, drive innovation, and position organizations to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven landscape. Throughout my career, I have operated at the intersection of technology, operations, and strategy, and the next step is to expand that impact beyond execution and into defining where the organization goes and why.
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