When Jodie Yorg, WG’19, was a first-year student in Wharton’s EMBA program, she jumped at the chance to become a “buddy” to a recently admitted student. “The Buddy Program is a great opportunity to pay forward all the great advice you received from your buddy – or share information you wish you had known as a new student,” she said.
Buddies connect before Orientation Week, but many continue their friendships throughout the program. This was the case for Jodie and her buddy Shilpa Kaji, WG’20, as well as for Shilpa and her buddy Debora Donato, WG’21. We asked Jodie, Shilpa, and Debora to tell us more about the Buddy Program. Here is what they said:
Jodie Yorg, WG’19
Currently
COO at Truly.co
Based In
San Francisco, CA
Wharton Campus
San Francisco
Prior Education
California State University East Bay, BA in English; Endicott College, MS in Education
The Buddy Program
“Towards the middle of your first year, you get the opportunity to sign up to become a buddy for an incoming student. The expectation is that you answer your buddy’s questions about the program and help them get off on the right foot at Orientation, but it’s common to stay connected beyond that. It’s not required, but everyone I know in my class took on a buddy. It’s a lovely way to benchmark your halfway point through the program and realize that you can give back. It’s also very valuable to your buddy because everyone is overwhelmed during that first week of school. Your buddy can provide advice and reassurance.”
Choosing a Buddy
“The first year is highly quantitative and, as a poet, I felt the least prepared for that part of the program. I wanted to support another woman who might feel similarly challenged. I also wanted someone local so that we could get together in person. I chose Shilpa and invited her to hang out with my classmates at a Wharton Pub night so she could meet more students and feel like she was part of the community. After that, we met a few times before Orientation, and have continued to meet for lunch or drinks.”
Sharing Advice
“I told Shilpa what to expect at Orientation, and I emphasized the importance of getting to know her learning team. I also recommended that she find a strategy for down time. I mapped out the program to show her which parts are a sprint and when she will have more down time. When she started her second year, we talked about how students have a fear of missing out because there are so many electives offered. We discussed her strategy for electives and how to find balance.”
Tips for Incoming Students
“When your buddy reaches out, don’t be shy. Talk to your buddy and ask questions. This is a chance to start interacting with Wharton EMBA students before you get to Orientation. You’ll see that being surrounded by Wharton classmates is worth the price of tuition before you even get to the learning part. And ask your buddy for survival tips about Orientation and midterms: ‘What is the hardest part?’ ‘What is the best part?’ ‘What would you do over again?’ The Wharton EMBA community is a tight-knit group that supports each other academically, professionally, and personally. The Buddy Program is a grassroots representation of everything great about the Wharton network.”
Shilpa Kaji, WG’20
Currently
Senior Director of Operations and Planning, Ecommerce at POPSUGAR
Based In
San Francisco, CA
Wharton Campus
San Francisco
Prior Education
New York University, BA in Urban Design and Economics
The Buddy Program
“When I was admitted, Jodie reached out to me and shared a lot of information. She was the person I could ask all those ‘dumb questions.’ She invited me to come to a Wharton Pub night, and it was wonderful to feel like part of the Wharton family. I talked to Jodie and her classmates about the highlights and challenges of the program. She became a friend and advisor as I navigated through the program and my career.”
Sharing Advice
“Initially, your buddy gives you the lay of the land about studying. Jodie went above and beyond, sharing what type of technology I should purchase, including her recommendation for a specific type of iPad case. I followed her advice and felt set up for success. In my first year, when I felt overwhelmed, she talked me through it. She was a huge source of encouragement and helped me keep everything in perspective.”
The Value of the Buddy Program
“Your buddy is a great way to access the cohorts before and after you, which broadens your connections. It’s also a nice way to pay it forward with the knowledge you have learned. You may even take a class with your buddy. I went on a Global Modular Course in Japan with Jodie, and I was so inspired by her Global Business Week in Argentina that I chose that location for my GBW trip too.”
Becoming a Buddy
“Jodie was an amazing buddy and I felt a real sense of responsibility to make sure I was a buddy for someone in the class after me. I looked for a woman on the West Coast to be my buddy because I wanted to empower and support women in the program. When I met Debora, I tried to share all of the information that Jodie provided me. I wanted her to get excited about the program. Since then, we’ve met for lunch or drinks and continue to talk about the program as well as career shifts.”
Tips for Incoming Students
“When you get an email from your buddy, don’t ignore it. It will only benefit you to have more first-hand knowledge about the program from someone who went through it not that long ago. Your buddy will be a huge asset for Wharton and beyond.”
Debora Donato, WG’21
Currently
Data Strategy Advisor
Based In
San Francisco, CA
Wharton Campus
San Francisco
Prior Education
Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, BS in Electronic Engineering, Sapienza Università di Roma, PhD in Computer Science Engineering
The Buddy Program
“The Buddy Program is your first personal welcome to Wharton. Your buddy is there to support you and answer questions. You’ll hear about the power of connection in the Wharton extended family, but having a buddy makes it real. I met Shilpa at the first welcome reception for admitted students. She gave me a lot of advice, which was great because I didn’t even know what to ask. She helped me get organized for Orientation Week and showed me how to prioritize the workload so I could stay on top of everything.”
Ongoing Support
“One of the main reasons I went back to school was to build a network. I did all of my prior studies in Europe and started my career there. I didn’t know anyone who had gone through this program, so having a buddy was very important to me. Shilpa and I continued to build a friendship after Orientation. We talk about school, but also about work.”
Tips for Incoming Students
“Be open to the buddy program and embrace it. It’s very useful to have someone to talk to who has been through what you are going through. When you have the opportunity to become a buddy, sign up. Relationships are important in this program and this is a great way to support each other.”
— By Meghan Laska
Posted: April 15, 2020
