Stanford GSB is known for its bold thinking, founder energy, and intense introspection. But what’s it actually like to be there?
In this episode of The MBA Golden Buzzer, we sit down with Kate Mery de Bellegarde, Stanford MSx alum and founder of Sprouts Chef Training, to talk about what surprised her, what challenged her, and how GSB shaped her definition of success.
From navigating professors-turned-investors to skipping the most popular classes on purpose, Kate shares a refreshingly honest take on what it means to use business school to become more of yourself, not less.
Why She Chose MSx Over the Traditional MBA
Kate had already spent more than a decade building Sprouts when she decided to apply to business school. She wasn’t looking to start from scratch.
“I didn’t want to step out of my career for two years,” she said. “I wanted to reflect, get the theory, and use Sprouts as a case study in every class.”
The one-year MSx format gave her space to grow and access to a peer group of founders and executives who could speak the same language.
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The Pivot That Changed Everything
Sprouts started as cooking classes for kids. But during her time at GSB, Kate made the hard decision to shut that down and focus exclusively on job training for young adults.
“It was the biggest, scariest pivot of my life,” she said. She turned down funding from a professor to stick with the harder path because she knew that is where the real impact was.
“It came back to my brother,” she shared. “I saw what job training did for him, and I knew that is where I needed to put my energy.”
Professors Aren’t Just Teachers. They’re Investors, Too.
One of Kate’s biggest surprises was how many professors at Stanford are quietly scouting founders.
“They’re not just here to teach. They’re looking for the next big idea,” she said. Some were subtle. Others scheduled one-on-one calls with students to see who had what it takes.
But that dynamic created opportunity. “We often think professors are the ones giving value,” she said. “But as students, we bring energy, ideas, time. That is incredibly valuable too.”
Popular Classes Aren’t Always the Smartest Move
Instead of competing to get into the buzziest classes, Kate took a different approach.
“I looked for the smaller classes, the ones no one was fighting to get into,” she said. “The professors had more time. There was more coaching. And the books from the popular professors were all available anyway.”
She even created her own class, designing a personal curriculum and working one-on-one with a professor to scale Sprouts. That experience became one of her most impactful.
Think Big. But Think Happy.
Stanford encourages students to scale, lead, and go global. And Kate did just that. But she also pushed back.
“I don’t need 70 châteaux. I don’t need Sprouts in every country to feel successful,” she said. “Impact doesn’t mean burnout.”
Her biggest mindset shift was that success isn’t just about scale. It is about intentionality. A smaller, happier life can still be a powerful one.
The Value Flows Both Ways
One of Kate’s most refreshing reminders?
“We talk a lot about the value the MBA gives us. But we don’t always recognize the value we bring to it.”
Whether it is what you offer your professors, your classmates, or the alumni network, Kate encourages applicants to stop playing small.
“You don’t have to prove you deserve to be there,” she said. “You’re already bringing something worth sharing.”
GOLDEN BUZZER TIP: Think Bigger Than ROI
“Yes, Stanford is expensive,” Kate said. “And I almost didn’t apply because of that. But if you want to move faster, grow bigger, and build with support, you need to invest in yourself.”
She got scholarship support and took out a student loan. And she has never looked back.
“Bootstrapping is great. But sometimes, the fastest way to create value is to start with more.”
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