Deferred MBA opportunities provide a significant range of benefits as students consider continuing education opportunities. Candidates take on the application process while still enrolled as a student in their undergraduate or graduate programs, allowing them to remain focused in an academic mindset and environment. Once accepted, students can defer their enrollment for a specified number of years while acquiring full-time professional experience, allowing the freedom to explore a variety of industries. Those who are accepted gain access to a network of like-minded professionals in their chosen MBA program, and many programs offer professional development opportunities ahead of matriculation.
The Galante Engineering Business Program is proud to support the pursuit of deferred MBA opportunities among Galante Fellows, offering resources such as training grant funds which cover most costs associated with applications, and numerous educational info sessions. The following alumni members of the Galante Program serve as excellent examples of deferred MBA success:
Thomas Cerier, Harvard MBA Program
Thomas Cerier completed his undergraduate studies in Mechanical Engineering before acquiring his graduate degree in Engineering Management. He gained his early professional experiences in research, product development, and investment with NeoGraft Technologies, Generate Product Development, Selux Diagnostics, IDEA, Specialized Bicycle Components, and Sage Product Development.
Thomas then began his full-time career in Silicon Valley with roles as Manufacturing Design Engineer at Apple and Business Analyst with McKinsey & Co. Thomas will soon be relocating to Boston before matriculating into the Harvard Business School MBA class of 2026, where he is excited to grow his network by meeting industry professionals. To connect with Thomas regarding deferred MBA and other opportunities, please visit his LinkedIn page here.
Daniel Sneyers, Stanford MBA Program
Daniel Sneyers graduated from Northeastern with a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Master’s degree in Operations Research, with additional academic experiences studying philosophy and economics at University of Cambridge in the UK and financial markets & private equity at Tsinghua University in China. He acquired early professional experience in consulting, management, and investment at PwC, Apple, Loggi, and Hercules Technology Growth Capital.
Daniel began full-time as Associate Consultant with Bain & Co. – a former internship employer – working in Boston before transitioning to his current role as Private Equity Associate at Advent International in Palo Alto ahead of enrollment in his deferred MBA program with Stanford Graduate School of Business. Daniel is eager to continue growing his network as part of his new program, to connect with him please visit him at LinkedIn here.
Ziad Hassan, Harvard MBA Program
Ziad Hassan acquired both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Industrial Engineering while also being active as President of CASE at Northeastern. His early professional experiences include internships with TAQA, Boston Consulting Group, and Amazon Robotics.
Since graduating, Ziad has acquired several years of experience working in Ed-Tech, first with Cengage Group in roles ranging from Strategy Analyst to Strategy Manager, and he is now working as Director of Transformation Strategy with Academic Partnerships. Due to his passionate work as Head of Strategy with Early Admit and his eagerness to extend academic opportunities to others, Ziad is exceptionally versed in opportunities and pathways available to deferred MBA candidates, and has himself committed to Harvard Business school for his deferred MBA program. To connect with Ziad, please visit him at LinkedIn here.
Isabella Cardona Barber, Harvard MBA Program
Isabella Cardona Barber graduated from Northeastern with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Science in Engineering Management. Her early professional experiences include research, process development, and process engineering with OncoDNA-BioSequence, Solid Biosciences, and Takeda.
Upon graduating from Northeastern, Isabella began her full-time career with Be Biopharma as Process Engineer, and she has additionally taken on the role of VP of Partnerships with Nucleate, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of biotech leaders. Accepted to a number of deferred MBA programs, she ultimately committed to Harvard Business School. To connect with Isabella, please reach out via her LinkedIn profile here.
