Maggie Essmann
Indiana University, Kelley School of Business
“An enthusiastic leader and avid traveler with a love for LEGOs, crochet, and Netflix docuseries.”
Fun fact about yourself: I’ve traveled to all seven continents!
Hometown: St. Charles, IL
High School: Wheaton Academy
Major: Management, International Business, & Leading Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Organizations (LDEI)
Minor: Spanish
Favorite Business Course: BUS-Z 449: Strategic Human Resources
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
Awards and Honors
- Hutton Honors College
- Fred and Della Spencer Scholar
- KISI Changemaker Scholar
- Hutton International Experiences Program Grant Recipient
- Founders Scholar
- Dean’s Scholar
Involvements:
- Kelley School of Business, Peer Tutor
- Women & Co., Global Awareness Committee
- Kelley Institute for Social Impact, International Internship Mentor
- Starbucks Coffee Company, Barista
- Women’s Club Volleyball, Member
Where have you interned during your college career?
- United Airlines (Chicago, IL): Internal Audit Intern
- Puente Desarrollo Internacional (Constanza, Dominican Republic): Marketing Intern
- H. Hanson (Aurora, IL): Marketing Intern
Where will you be working after graduation? United Airlines, Associate Auditor
Who is your favorite business professor? My favorite business professor is Sarah Fairchild Sherry, who taught Technology & Business Analysis (BUS-K 304) during my sophomore year. Sarah fostered a classroom environment that encouraged learning and made it easy to ask questions. Her class was equally engaging and challenging, pushing us to think critically while ensuring we felt supported. After taking her class, I became a peer tutor for the same course, where I was able to help create a supportive learning environment for other students.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in business school is the value of building and maintaining strong relationships. Almost every business class I’ve taken has involved group work, and the people you meet and collaborate with in college often become the ones you’ll work with after graduation.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Focus on truly learning, not just on your grades. While grades matter for opportunities like workshops and internships, the real priority should be understanding and retaining the material. Each year builds on the last and if you don’t grasp the concepts from the beginning, you’ll fall behind and make it more difficult to catch up later.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? Reflecting on the past four years, if I could go back, I would prioritize taking more business classes outside of my majors. As a Kelley student, I had the privilege of completing ICORE during my junior year, which is a semester-long, team-based program that integrates four key business disciplines: finance, operations, marketing, and leadership. I highly enjoyed my ICORE semester and gained a strong foundation in each of these areas. However, I realize that I could have expanded my knowledge even further by taking courses in business sustainability and information systems, which are becoming increasingly important in business today.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? One way Kelley has integrated AI into courses is by allowing professors the autonomy to decide whether students can use it. Throughout my time at Kelley, I’ve experienced a variety of responses on the topic; some professors encourage AI as a tool, while others strictly prohibit its use. My main insight about artificial intelligence is that it’s a double-edged sword: it’s simultaneously helpful and destructive, wrapped up in a compelling tool that’s difficult to ignore. I think AI is a great resource when used as a tool, but it shouldn’t replace genuine effort or critical thinking.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am most proud of interning abroad in a second language. During the summer of 2023, I lived in Constanza, Dominican Republic for two months, while working for Puente Desarrollo Internacional, a non-profit organization that used data analysis to address community needs. This internship was organized by the Kelley Institute of Social Impact (KISI), and it was the only internship they offered that required Spanish fluency. Living in Constanza, a town of 59,000 where few spoke English, I relied entirely on my Spanish skills. As the only KISI intern in the DR, I navigated daily life, worked with Puente’s social medias, and volunteered in the community – all while communicating exclusively in Spanish. This internship stretched my language and adaptability skills, making it the achievement I am most proud of doing.
Which classmate do you most admire? A peer I most admire is Carly Wiegel. Carly has a drive for success unlike anyone I have ever met. When she is passionate about something, she pursues it with determination, giving it her all and consistently achieving excellence. Carly is one of the most intelligent, hard-working, and dedicated individuals I know. She is a true friend, and I can always turn to her for personal and professional advice. Carly represents the best of Kelley.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I will always be grateful for my parents and their unwavering support throughout my academic career. They have selflessly sacrificed their time and energy to prioritize my growth and education, shaping me into the person I am today. Their encouragement created a love for learning and the determination to become the best version of myself.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
1. After interning for Puente Desarrollo Internacional, a nonprofit organization, I realized how much value I was giving back to the community in Constanza, Dominican Republic. It was the first time I saw the direct impact of my work, and it left a lasting impression on me. In the future, I hope to continue to volunteer and support local nonprofits.
2. I have always dreamed of working abroad. The idea of packing up my life and moving abroad has been on my mind, especially after traveling internationally in high school. That dream only grew stronger after spending two months working in the Dominican Republic and five months studying in Barcelona. I am incredibly grateful for those opportunities and remain eager to pursue similar experiences in the future.
What made Maggie such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?
“Maggie was a Marketing Intern for Puente Desarrollo Internacional in Constanza, Dominican Republic during the summer of 2023 after her sophomore year, and this internship was facilitated by the Kelley Institute for Social Impact (KISI). One of Maggie’s most remarkable qualities is her ability to lead by example. She is a silent leader who inspires others through her actions rather than words. Despite being the only intern in Constanza, and the first one from Indiana University (IU), Maggie did not hesitate to get involved. She joined the women’s city volleyball team, practiced with the men’s volleyball team, and integrated herself into the community with ease. Her enthusiasm for developing her Spanish language skills and her willingness to immerse herself into the local culture were truly commendable and she set a high bar for future interns with Puente. I had the opportunity to visit Maggie at her internship and it was evident the impact she was making not only with her work, but in the relationships, she formed with her host family, friends she made, and she translated Spanish to English for me the entire time I was there.”
Stacie Ballard
Assistant Director
Kelley Institute for Social Impact (KISI)
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