John Grimesey, Duke Fuqua MBA Class of 2024
Age: 36
Hometown: Covington, Virginia
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Virginia Tech – History
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 13 years | U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I sought a new challenge after medically retiring from the Air Force due to combat injuries sustained in Afghanistan. I concluded that business school provided the intellectual challenge I sought and would enable me to transition to a new, fulfilling career successfully.
Why did you choose Duke Fuqua? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I served on elite teams for the entirety of my special operations career, which drew me to Fuqua’s team-centric culture, which fosters a genuinely collaborative and energetic learning environment.
What is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024?
Experience deploying to conflict zones around the globe and leading elite cross-functional multinational teams to perform the full spectrum of clandestine special operations missions differentiates the perspective I bring to the class of 2024.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I spent a summer volunteering with a non-profit to construct an orphanage in Managua, Nicaragua. I played soccer with the orphans on days off, swam in Central America’s largest lake, and backpacked to the summit of an active volcano.
Post-MBA career interests:
Investment Banking
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Complete the optional essay. The essay is an applicant’s final opportunity to answer lingering questions or convince the admissions committee that they are the right candidate for the incoming class. Leaving the optional essay undone is a wasted opportunity.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I attended every Fuqua informational webinar in the months leading up to the early-action application submission date. I experienced so many that I memorized the presentation. Fuqua admissions webinars are full of valuable information, but I may not have needed to attend them all in hindsight.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Studying for your choice of admissions test – the GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment – is one of the most tedious and time-consuming portions of the business school admissions process. I focused on my goals of earning admission to Duke University’s – Fuqua School of Business and pivoting to a new fulfilling career, which helped me prioritize my time.
What is your initial impression of the Duke Fuqua students/culture/community?
Team Fuqua isn’t a mere slogan but the community’s north star. Fuqua has one of the most sincerely collaborative cultures I’ve ever experienced, which is remarkable given my experiences in the military and the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets.
What is one thing you have learned about Duke Fuqua that has surprised you?
During our first academic term, Fuqua blocked out time for the MBA candidates to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. Volunteering gave my fellow candidates and me a break from the classroom and time to help construct homes for deserving Durham families.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I completed my undergraduate studies long ago, so it has been a while since I last took quant courses. Fortunately, the help of Fuqua’s academic resources, combined with brilliant classmates and a faculty committed to student achievement, will help me to excel despite academic challenges.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’m thoroughly looking forward to the Fuqua Veteran’s Symposium. The entire Duke University community is incredibly welcoming to people of all backgrounds, including military veterans. I look forward to helping fellow service members transition to civilian life, navigate the Fuqua application process, and pay forward the help I received as an applicant.
