Background
- Hometown: Hartland, WI
- Undergraduate Degree: University of Madison, B.S. – Personal Finance
- Pre-MBA Job: Founder, Sterny Consulting
- MBA Graduation Date: May 9th, 2026
- Hobbies: Cycling/working on bikes; eclectic music collection; watching Badger basketball!
- Fun Fact: He’s built, assembled, and soldered an electric guitar from the ground up!
Right after graduating undergrad, Andrew jumped headfirst into the business world as an equity partner in Salads Up, a startup fast-casual restaurant concept. Andrew led the financial and operational management of the Madison location, navigating the complexities of running a business in a competitive market. While the pandemic ultimately proved insurmountable for the fledgling business, the experience was a crash course in entrepreneurship and resilience.
Andrew then transitioned into the tech space, joining a high-growth B2B SaaS company where he implemented solutions for enterprise clients like Hershey’s. During his tenure, he not only streamlined implementations but also showcased his business acumen by winning the company’s inaugural pitch competition. After nearly two years, Andrew felt the pull to return to a more financial, strategy-driven role—this time within the burgeoning AI industry.
At his next venture, a tech startup, Andrew managed over $1 million in client contracts as a Project Delivery Manager. While the startup’s journey was ultimately cut short, Andrew used the opportunity to deepen his expertise in managing complex projects and client relationships. Determined to take control of his career trajectory, Andrew founded his own firm focused on helping small-to-medium-sized businesses automate their financial and operational processes. Through this experience, he realized that to unlock the next level of impact and financial expertise, he needed to formalize his knowledge through a CFIB MBA.
MBA Experience & Career Goals
Andrew decided to head back to school to roll up his hands-on business experience and gain a deeper understanding of the financial side of companies with the hope of leveraging the education into a finance focused role in IB/PE/VC or enter the ETA (entrepreneurship through acquisition) space. He chose Wisconsin specifically for its incredible ROI compared to peer schools, low cost, and ability to specialize. As a former Badger, his decision was easy.
Andrew shared that he’s excited to be back in Madison enjoying tailgates, gamedays at the Kohl Center, and being surrounded by his amazing cohort. His first semester has been a great introduction to a broad breadth of business concepts, and he has especially enjoyed CFIB’s core finance class, business valuation, as it has given him a great technical intro to finance. Our center’s prep materials (Wall Street Prep) and having a good understanding of excel were also critical to him being prepared.
In the short-term, Andrew is looking to leverage his experiences into a role with the realm of M&A, investment banking, PE, or VC. Long term, he hopes to lead or acquire a small-to-medium-sized business, combining his entrepreneurial drive with his expertise in finance, ops, and strategy to create lasting value.
Advice for Prospective Students
Andrew states that pursuing a Corporate Finance and Investment Banking (CFIB) MBA has been an exciting journey, and below are some of his takeaways so far:
- Clarify Your Goals: Before applying, take the time to understand why you want to specialize in Finance and how it makes sense to your future goals. Whether it’s to enhance your analytical skills, pivot your career, or prepare for leadership roles in finance, having clear objectives will help you stay focused and make the most of the program.
- Leverage The Badger Network: Connect with current students and alumni from the program to learn more. Networking not only provides valuable insights into the program and career opportunities but also helps build relationships that can support your professional growth.
- Engage Proactively in Coursework and Projects: The CFIB specialization offers rigorous training in financial modeling, valuation, and strategic analysis. Actively participating in classes and taking advantage of CFIB sponsored financial training will help you grasp concepts and stand out.
- Stay Curious and Adaptable: The finance industry is constantly evolving with new trends and technologies. Stay informed about industry developments and be open to adapting your strategies and skills to meet changing demands.
Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn!
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