Finding the Right Fit: Shelby Schemerhorn's Story

Choosing a graduate business program was not a quick decision for Shelby Schemerhorn. The California native and gender studies major from UCLA says she declined multiple offers from schools for more than a year while working in business development at the John Wayne Cancer Institute. Her painstaking search for a graduate business program that was the “right fit” ultimately led her to the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and its Global MBA program.

Empowering Female Students

Did you know that nearly 50% of students at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School are women? Shelby Schemerhorn, GMBA 2018, shares how the equal representation of women drove her decision to come to the Carey Business School.

I wanted to go to a business school that was similar to how I started my career and where I could find the purpose that would motivate me and would give me the hard skills training that I needed to go into management,“ said Schemerhorn. “For me, Carey was the best blend of all the business acumen that I needed for that next step in my career. I’ve always been very social-impact focused so it was the perfect blend of both those things.”

Schemerhorn says she was initially drawn to Carey by the school’s mission and curriculum, but she was also pleased to find that women were well represented throughout the school. According to the latest figures, 47 percent of Carey’s students are women.

While at Carey, Schemerhorn seized an opportunity for an internship with Johnson & Johnson. For several months, she was part of the leadership development program with the company’s medical devices division. Specifically, she worked on updating products for sterilizing medical equipment.

Schemerhorn turned her internship into an opportunity to help other Carey Business School students. In October 2017, she invited several Johnson & Johnson executives to Carey to share their experiences as business leaders as part of an event organized by the Women in Business student group. Schemerhorn was co-president of the group, which is dedicated to unlocking the leadership potential of women.

After graduating from the Carey Business School in May 2018, Schemerhorn accepted a job with Johnson & Johnson.

More about Women's Leadership at Carey

• The Women’s Leadership Initiative at Carey creates awareness of the essential role women play as leaders of businesses and society. 

• Opportunities, Obstacles Examined in Carey's 'Women in Work' Conference