Marking the occasion, despite the location Last summer, Petty Officer 1st Class Olga Timirgalieva, a member of Sector Boston, had been recalled to active duty in Springfield, Illinois, to assist with the COVID-19 community vaccine center operations when she almost missed a huge milestone in her career. The culmination of years’ worth of hard work—her graduation from MIT Sloan School of Management —was occurring, and, due to her deployment, she would have to miss commencement. Though completing a master’s degree is already an accomplishment, Timirgalieva had also been selected for several sets of recognition, including being chosen as an MIT Sloan Siebel Scholar and the MBA Best & Brightest of MIT. She even founded a club for first-generation, low-income students, earning her the Henry Ford II Scholar award, which celebrates leadership and community contribution. Though she didn’t get to walk at graduation, she said she was where she was supposed to be. During her time at the CVC, she provided command support by measuring the equity and distribution progress by vaccination teams, which was used by state leadership to develop response strategies and tactics. “My passion in life is crisis response,” said Timirgalieva. “What I was doing in my deployment, assisting with the COVID response—I felt like it was more important for me to be there. I graduated anyway, but it was about the work I was doing right now, bringing my skills to help people right now.” The occasion of her graduation didn’t go unmarked; the command at the CVC held a small party for her in lieu of the event, and the petty officer was delighted to share her celebration with her military colleagues. MIT published several interviews with Timirgalieva, segments of which are reprinted below. Find the full interviews at https://poetsandquants.com/tag/olga-timirgalieva/ Hometown: Tashkent, Uzbekistan Which family member or mentor is your biggest inspiration or role model? My mother has been my biggest inspiration. Despite the challenges she has faced, my mother has maintained an optimistic and loving outlook, always teaching me to think about others and practice empathy. Her kindness and strong moral compass also meant staying true to herself as my mother stood up for others and spoke up against injustices she saw in the Soviet Union. I admire her courage and always remember hearing my mother’s words, “If the fear is what’s stopping you, you must do it.” Whenever I hesitate or feel anxious, I remind myself to live fearlessly and to always care for those around me, bringing them along on my journey. What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? There was not one defining moment. As a child, I was curious and eager to learn. As I got older, education became a way to defy the norms thrust onto me. For example, I was told that as a girl, I could not understand IT or be good at technology. It propelled me to learn HTML and Photoshop. At 16, I taught web design to Uzbek entrepreneurs. I also saw the inequities in the world around me—the struggle of my family and many others. My frustration and desire to help fueled my drive to bring change on a large scale. I knew education was key to enabling that. What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? I dreamed of going to college in the US, but I could not afford tuition nor was I eligible for most loans. Fortunately, during my last year of high school, I became a finalist in the highly- competitive US Department of State Future Leaders Exchange program. I was placed with a host family in Central Florida who changed the course of my life and who I continue to love as my second family. Less than a year after meeting me, my host parents, a school cafeteria worker and a phosphate miner, agreed to co-sign my student loans so I could return to the U.S. for college. It was an incredible act of generosity and trust that energized me to save on tuition by finishing college in three years and gave me the strength to keep fighting during my seven-year immigration proceedings. What led you to pursue an MBA degree? Ten years ago, I applied to an MBA program and did not get in. Following that experience, I pursued other opportunities and did not seriously consider re-applying to top MBA programs. One day, my wife and I were discussing our biggest regrets, and I realized that one of my regrets was not pursuing an MBA. My wife immediately encouraged me to apply. She believed that I had what it took to be accepted, and that an MBA program could change my life. It’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made. What made Olga such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2021? “Olga Timirgalieva was chosen at this year’s MIT Sloan Siebel Scholar, an honor that recognizes her excellence both as a scholar and a leader,” said Maura Herson, MIT’s Assistant Dean of the MBA Program. “She has been a standout leader during her time at Sloan across multiple professional and affinity clubs. Olga’s core passion is crisis management and increasing the role of private sector in humanitarian crises.” How were you able to finance your MBA as a first-generation student? I financed my MBA through scholarships, service in the Coast Guard Reserve, teaching assistantships, loans, and savings. What advice would you have for other first-generation college students? Don’t walk your path alone. Instead, reach out to seek and offer help. The first-generation student experience can be isolating, and it can take a while to learn the ropes. I used to hesitate to cold-email someone asking for a chat because I didn’t think a stranger would want to spend time helping me. Now I know that most people were lent a helping hand at some point and are happy to pay it forward. Talk to as many people as you can to gather invaluable insights, and learn what’s possible. As you learn and grow, commit to making the journey easier for others. � Issue 3 • 2021 � RESERVIST 27
