Ezinne Nwankwo, Fuqua MBA Class of 2020
Age: 26
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: State University of New York at Buffalo, BA in biological science
Pre-MBA Work Experience: 3 years as a biostatistician for Agility Clinical
Why business school? Why now? I am pursuing my MBA because I want to evolve as a leader and take on a more transparent role within the healthcare industry. I thought it was imperative that I enhance my general business knowledge, refine certain aspects of my leadership skill set to solve global problems, and cultivate a network of influence and expertise that would propel me into the next chapter of my career and life journey. I also wanted to be at the forefront of the healthcare revolution and push people toward more preventative healthcare measures as well as AI, data science, and predictive analytics application to manage their health information.
Why Fuqua? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? I decided to attend Fuqua because I wanted to branch out of my comfort zone in every way possible. The Team Fuqua mantra is unique in that it fosters collaboration/teamwork versus competition. Not many applicants would find this attractive. However, I saw it as an opportunity to engage with a diverse group of individuals and learn from a variety of perspectives about what exactly it means to be a global business leader. All in all, it is important to me that I am surrounded by individuals who are passionate about their goals, open to diverse thought, and oriented toward action.
As it pertains to academic and professional opportunities, I believe Fuqua offers a variety of teaching formats as well as a flexible curriculum that ensures students obtain the most out of their two years in business school. The Health Sector Management (HSM) program, in particular, played a huge role in my decision to attend Fuqua. Fuqua’s strong presence within healthcare and its ties to the Research Triangle Park only serve to further set to the school apart from other MBA programs.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2020? I think my most valuable contribution to the Class of 2020 is my hard science/statistics/programming background. As a woman and person of color, I can speak to the various experiences of having to work in a technical role where companies may not be as diverse. I want to use these perspectives to inspire minority groups such as women, persons of color, LGBTQ, that attaining success within these fields is possible.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I once scaled and nearly fell off a treacherous cliff on an outing with my younger sister in La Jolla, CA. This near-death experience inspired me to revisit the cliff and partake in hiking for leisure.
Post-MBA career interests? Entrepreneurship and venture capital
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? I would definitely re-do visiting as many schools as possible. I believe this is the most crucial aspect when deciding on a school. You can really tell whether or not a school is right for you simply by stepping foot on campus and obtaining a firsthand experience of the student culture, academics, and career opportunities offered.
–One thing you would change or do differently? I would stress less about the application process. Admissions committees really do take a holistic approach when reviewing your application. While it is important to highlight your strengths, it is, however, just as important to recognize your weaknesses and effectively communicate how they have molded your life experiences.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? I would skip being elusive about my MBA experience. I think it is important to let others know what you are going through.
What is your initial impression of Fuqua’s students/culture/community? One thing you have learned about Fuqua that has surprised you? I was surprised to learn that Fuqua is comprised of students from more than 210 diverse entities that are represented by the flags hanging in our main corridor of our building. I think this is a great testament of the cultural awareness and inclusivity that Fuqua fosters within its community. I believe these attributes are especially valuable in a business environment where global perspective can dictate the flow of an organization. Fuqua understands the values of these unique attributes and attempts to expound on them.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year? I am probably the most anxious about over-committing. Second-year students have expressed that the first year can be quite hectic as well as time-consuming with the amount of student clubs, companies brought on campus to recruit, and academic rigor of courses. Not to mention, you want to ensure that you make time to interact with your classmates as much as possible being that they will be your main network of influence for years to come. I definitely plan to utilize good time management skills, but I am also a big fan of dedicating time toward personal TLC and making sure I de-stress through meditation, running, etc.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year? I am most excited about the Fuqua Program for Entrepreneurs and New Ventures Fellows Program which are ran through the Duke Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative and Duke Office of Licensing and Ventures, respectively. The opportunity to start a business completely from scratch or take a business later in the development phase through to commercialization is both intriguing and complex.
