Real Humans of Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Business MBA Class of 2025

Abdul-fatai Adetula, Vanderbilt Owen MBA Class of 2025

Age: 26
Hometown: Owo town, Ondo, Nigeria 
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Lagos, Nigeria.  Bachelors in Economics 
Pre-MBA Work Experience (role, company, years): Pre-MBA I worked in the consumer goods industry for 6 years across sales and channel management roles within P&G, Reckitt and Mondelez International, I went from Intern to Key Account manager to Territory sales manager, and most recently- Regional Channel Lead for Large retail and e-commerce.

Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
After spending six years in the consumer goods industry, I found myself genuinely excited when faced with business challenges, and I loved the process of dissecting them and crafting data-driven solutions. It was in these moments that I knew I wanted to turn this passion into my career. So, I decided that now was the perfect time to take the leap, and I believed that attending business school would be my best step forward in making this transition.

Why did you choose Vanderbilt Owen? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose Owen for a couple of reasons. As a career switcher, I was looking for a program that would best support my transition professionally and academically. Owen’s Career Management Center had consistently ranked high amongst other top programs, and during last year’s summer, I attended a couple of sessions with the CMC and really got a good sense of the wealth of resources available to me as a student at Vanderbilt. 

From an academics standpoint I would be able to customize my curriculum to focus on a variety of interests, particularly I was looking to concentrate in Strategy, consumer psychology and marketing analytics. 

Lastly as you have probably heard, Owen is a world-class program but with such deep personal scale – So naturally, the people stood out to me.

What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Business MBA Class of 2025?
My classmates are some of the most intelligent professionals from across industries, and I am honored to be part of the cohort. My most valuable contribution to the class of 2025 is my perspective, my opinions, and my views.  At Owen, we use the case-based method of teaching, and a large part of the experience is learning from your peers. In case discussions, I share my perspectives and views as I see them through my worldview lens, and I know this is a gift of a different perspective to someone in my cohort, the same way theirs is to me.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I love exploring, and I plan to visit ten states in America by the end of the year, I’m on four currently, so looks achievable. I also enjoy hiking and kayaking.

Post-MBA career interests:
Management consulting, Marketing Strategy 

Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Attend the information sessions scheduled by Admissions, and don’t hesitate to ask any questions you have.

–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would prioritize reflection much more before starting the essays. Many times, we have a wealth of experience, and taking some time for deep reflection helps connect these experiences mentally, resulting in better writing outcomes.

–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would have skipped worrying so much about fitting the ideal candidate mold for the program and focused more on telling my unique story. Admissions are interested in your distinct perspective and background, not just a checklist.

What is your initial impression of the Vanderbilt Owen MBA students/culture/community?
Collaborative – everyone, literally, everyone is willing to help.

What is one thing you have learned about Vanderbilt Owen that has surprised you?
Sitting at the heart of Nashville, the city’s blood runs through Owen, and you can really get a feel of this through the love for country music and food. 

What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I am anxious about getting good grades and balancing all the recruiting that’s going toward securing an internship for next summer. 

What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Social impact work- Traveling to Guatemala and helping local businesses solve their problems through the Turner Family Center.