Kelsie Cole '26 MBA: A story of strength, leadership and steady growth
Every MBA journey is transformative, but some stories stand out for the courage and quiet determination behind them. Kelsie Cole, graduating with her MBA in business analytics, is one of those students whose growth came from a series of small, powerful steps that added up to her success.
Cole entered the MBA program carrying more than the typical academic load. She was recovering from brain surgery for a tumor, navigating cognitive and physical challenges and rebuilding her confidence one day at a time.
“I did not share that with my peers or professors at the time,” Cole said. “And I never felt like I had to. When I needed support, people gave it without requiring me to explain or justify why I needed it. Looking back, I believe school played a major role in my recovery.”
She showed up — to class, to group projects, to her career — with a commitment to learning that inspired those around her. Her faculty describe her as a leader who stepped up when her team needed her most, navigating challenges with clarity and empathy.
When I needed support, people gave it without requiring me to explain or justify why I needed it. Looking back, I believe school played a major role in my recovery.
Cole credits one of her first professors, John Mentler, for helping her through a very difficult first term when she felt she didn’t even know what questions to ask. Over the course of the term, Mentler spent many hours explaining concepts in different ways until they made sense.
Cole is also grateful for Professor Bin Zhu, who holds high standards while also providing strong support. “Her ability to connect class material to the real world is incredible,” Cole said. “Her feedback helped me grow as a student and as a professional.”
Her greatest champion, however, was her fiancé: “He consistently reminded me what I was capable of, especially when I had a hard time seeing it myself,” Cole said.
Cole took on a lot – extending her experiences far beyond the classroom. She participated in the OSU alumni mentoring program, which helped her think intentionally about her career path and learn from professionals who had already navigated similar transitions. She also completed a business analytics internship, gaining hands‑on experience applying data to real organizational challenges and building confidence in her ability to use analytics to solve practical problems.
When I learned to set my ego aside and truly collaborate, when I asked for help without feeling ashamed that I needed it, and when I felt proud of myself for a difficult project even though I did not receive an A.
Alongside school, she worked in nonprofit operations and grants management, where she strengthened her skills in budgeting, systems and organizational strategy. Later, she transitioned into her current role as a financial analyst, where she continues to build her expertise in finance, procurement and data‑driven decision‑making.
“I saw growth when I took the lead on group projects,” Cole said. “When I learned to set my ego aside and truly collaborate, when I asked for help without feeling ashamed that I needed it, and when I felt proud of myself for a difficult project even though I did not receive an A.”
One moment she says that stands out was participating in the Peer Insights series. This gave her the chance to reflect on her experiences, share what she’d learned, and recognize that she had something valuable to offer others.
These experiences helped her connect what she was learning in the MBA program to real‑world challenges in finance, operations and analytics — and they reinforced her belief that she is capable of far more than she once imagined.
For Cole, one of the most meaningful lessons of her MBA experience was learning to see discomfort not as a sign of failure, but as a sign of growth. “Some of the best learning comes from discomfort,” she shared. Instead of shying away from difficult concepts or unfamiliar tools, she leaned in — and discovered she was far more capable than she once believed.
“This program helped me rebuild confidence in myself,” she said. “Growth does not always look like perfection. Sometimes it looks like asking for help, trying again, and realizing over time that you are capable of more than you thought.”
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