Clifford (Cliff) Andrews, Duke Fuqua MBA Class of 2024
Age: 28
Hometown: Lanham, Maryland (Baltimore last 6 years)
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Maryland, College Park/ Accounting and Information Systems
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 6 ½ years, Financial Services
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I was fortunate enough to work in corporate finance out of undergrad. I enjoyed my experience and learned a lot, but I did not see myself being a career corporate finance guy. I wanted to grow and increase my impact on organizations as a whole. I wanted to have more hands-on implications for an organization. I also wanted to expand my knowledge outside of technical numbers and more towards strategic thinking. I felt that business school would be the perfect way to reset my career by allowing me to broaden my technical skills and develop more vital leadership traits while increasing my network with incredible people.
Why did you choose Duke Fuqua? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose Duke Fuqua for many reasons. First, I wanted to be part of a strong network brand. Fuqua puts a lot of emphasis on working with intelligent and diverse teams. Second, I wanted to be in an academic environment that simulated real-world experiences regarding teams. In the real world, teams are usually assigned at random. The team’s composition and background do not matter. Expectations are that the job will get done. Duke emphasizes this through C-Lead. Third, I was drawn to Fuqua because of the community-like culture. I was amazed at how easy it was to connect to the Fuqua community. During the admissions process, I reached out to alums and current students s to get questions answered and their feedback on the school. This communication continued to amplify once admitted. The community felt like the perfect fit for me to grow and be my authentic self.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024?
As a manager in my previous role, I had the opportunity to work with people from diverse backgrounds and strived to get maximum effort out of my former team. As a result, I bring the ability to work with various groups and bring out the best in everyone.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I drove campus buses while an undergrad. The school paid for my training CDL fees. It was a fascinating first job.
Post-MBA career interests:
Consulting/ Asset Management
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Be open and fun with my essays, especially the “25 random facts about you” essay. The essay was the perfect opportunity to highlight some of my exciting hobbies outside work and academics.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would have looked for housing a little bit earlier. Unfortunately, I waited until late May to lock down a place and could not find housing in my preferred building.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Catching Covid-19 right before the first day of classes. I had to spend the first week of classes at home while quarantined. Online lectures do not provide the same experience as in person. Thankfully, I had a couple of classmates reach out and support me by picking up my groceries and grabbing the lecture in-class notes for me.
What is your initial impression of the Duke Fuqua students/culture/community?
A very open, diverse, friendly community filled with people who genuinely care about each other: people are available to talk to you about anything, offer rides, and do events outside class. “Team Fuqua” is real.
What is one thing you have learned about Duke Fuqua that has surprised you?
How open the classroom discussions are in class. I expected us to sit back and listen to a professor’s lecture. That’s not the case at Fuqua. Instead, the professors expect you to participate in discussions with diverse opinions and, in many cases, drive the class’s direction.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
8 AM classes and recruiting.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Going to basketball games at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
