Recent Yale SOM Alumni

SARAH BARBO, MBA '14

CURRENT EMPLOYER: CONSUMERS ENERGY
IMMEDIATE POST MBA EMPLOYER: INNOSIGHT

United States Army, Medical Service Corps

A graduate of Yale's joint degree program between SOM and the School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, Sarah holds an MBA and MS in Environmental Science. Prior to Yale, Sarah served as a Medical Service officer in the U.S. Army with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. 

Sarah is a strategy and innovation professional whose interests center around how to utilize innovation, strategy, and science to solve infrastructure and natural resource challenges. While working at Innosight, she helped clients in finance, healthcare, media, and additional industries develop dual strategies to strengthen existing business and to “future-proof” by identifying areas of growth for businesses of the future.

Sarah is currently a Manager in the Corporate Strategy group at Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest electric utility.  Her group assesses industry trends and technology advancements to define the utility of the future. She is also a council member of the Truman National Security Project.

Undergraduate: University of Dayton

JOHN BUTLER, MBA '16

CURRENT EMPLOYER: AMAZON

United States Navy, Civil Engineer Corps

Prior to SOM, John spent nine years in the United States Navy Civil Engineer Corps, serving in roles including contract management, facilities management and construction management. His responsibilities ranged from managing civilian contractors building $800M projects on Parris Island, to designing buildings and overseeing construction by local contractors in Afghanistan, to leading military construction forces (Seabees) on deployments to erect expeditionary structures. 

Currently, John is a Senior Product Manager in the Supply Chain Optimization Technologies organization at Amazon’s corporate headquarters in Seattle. His team owns the delivery promise given to customers at multiple points during the online shopping experience. John leads his team throughout the development and execution process of new features optimizing how those promises are made, improving the customer experience while working inside the bounds of fulfillment and transportation capabilities.

Undergraduate: United States Naval Academy [Mechanical Engineering] '05  

CHRISTOPHER ROSS, MBA '17

Current employer: Goldman Sachs & Co
                                 private wealth management

United States Army, Special Forces

Prior to Yale SOM, Chris served for 7 years in the US Army as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant, Green Beret. In this role he trained, advised, and led unconventional military personnel as well as US and foreign government officials in challenging environments throughout the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Chris now serves as a Private Wealth Adviser at Goldman Sachs & Co for a select group of ultra high net worth individuals, private investors, families, and foundations on all aspects of wealth management. Him and his team specialize in portfolio management, trust and estate planning, private lending, as well as philanthropy.

Undergraduate: University of California San Diego [Bioengineering: Pre-Medical] '08

JAMES TIPPETS, MBA '16

Current employer: Google

Ex-MCKINSEY & CoMPANY

United States Air Force

Undergraduate: United States Air Force Academy '09

ADAM VANCE, MBA '17

Current employer: Cigna health

United States Army

As a HealthService Leadership Program Associate, Adam currently falls under Cigna's Internal Audit and Finance teams.  He is accountable for identifying IT control and process gaps and for providing executive management with recommendations for risk remediation and business efficiency.  While in this role, Adam led Cigna’s first IT audit in Saudi Arabia and completed an audit of Cigna’s Global Information Technology Office in Hong Kong. 

After an exciting career in the US Army and traveling to over 20 countries, Adam joined an e-commerce start-up that was acquired in 2016.  Adam’s family continues to reside in New Haven, CT where he most recently completed his MBA at the Yale School of Management.

He lives with his wife, Sheila and two children, Grant and Emma.

Undergraduate: United States Military Academy '06