Lindsay Kruse

LINDSAY KRUSE

The Broad Residency Class of 2006-2008
Current Organization: Uncommon Schools
M.B.A., Columbia Business School
B.S., Communication, Cornell University

“For the first time in my life, I love my work,” says Lindsay Kruse, a Columbia M.B.A., Broad Resident and director of operations for Uncommon Schools, a New York-based charter management organization that runs nine schools. 

After working as a long-time management consultant for Ernst & Young (now Capgemini), managing technology, business process redesign and change management projects for Fortune 500 clients, Kruse wanted a career change.  She joined a charter organization rather than a school district because she wanted a “hands on” job where she could have a deeper impact with a smaller number of students. 

“It is incredibly intense. We aren’t turning around organizations—we are trying to prove the success of our models and scale them up,” says Kruse, referring to Uncommon Schools’ current efforts to scale from nine to 30 schools. “It is so rewarding because you can take action and get stuff done without having to play to as many constituencies as large districts. That said, we are operating very much in a world of uncertainty, where rules aren’t clear or well-defined.” 

Kruse explains that she learned a lot through consulting, but never quite felt fulfilled by the work. “There is nothing like a parent telling you how much the school means to them and their child—versus your client being happy because you made them more money.”

In 2007, Uncommon Schools experienced incredible achievement gains for its students, who are all low-income—every third-grader reached proficiency in math, and 92 percent of third-graders reached proficiency in reading, doubling scores of neighborhood district schools.

To those considering this kind of work, Kruse says, “You’re not taking a step down.  Every day I am challenged more than I was in the private sector to bring management and leadership to life.”