Eliot Digby-Jones, Duke Fuqua MBA Class of 2026
Age: 30
Hometown: Surrey, United Kingdom
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Royal Holloway, University of London, Biomedical Sciences BSc
Pre-MBA Work Experience: I was a British Army Officer in the Army Medical Services for nearly 9 years. I had a number of various roles as I progressed as an Officer but my final role prior to attending business school was the Head of Operations for a deployable Field Hospital
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I was involved in a number of interesting healthcare related projects, both at home and overseas on operations. These experiences sparked my desire to have more autonomy in exploring the healthcare sector outside of being in uniform. Additionally, I was at a fairly normal junction in my military career to either leave and pursue a second career or commit to the military long term. The prospect of going to business school where I had access to a huge amount of resources and opportunities to explore my passions felt extremely exciting. Also I’m a big sports fan and the sporting culture at Duke is amazing to experience.
Why did you choose Duke Fuqua? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Duke and Fuqua ticked a lot of boxes. The collaborative nature and “leave your ego by the door” ethos of Team Fuqua felt very familiar to my military career and I was drawn to it. Also undertaking the Health Sector Management (HSM) Certificate was hugely appealing to me coming from a healthcare background. There were also an incredible amount of diverse experiential learning opportunities which appealed to me.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2026?
I’ve had quite a non-traditional military career with the opportunity to work with other areas of the public sector and multinational organisations like the UN. This combined with my outgoing and collaborative personality has meant that I bring unique perspectives to the classroom as well as the ability to galvanise teams quickly hopefully adds to the school’s culture positively.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I’ve always wanted to learn how to DJ. If I had the opportunity to learn over my time at Fuqua, I would hope to show off my skills at a social event for my classmates.
Post-MBA career interests:
I am hoping to go into Biotech or Pharma in general management roles. Healthcare continues to be a passion of mine and being involved in some exciting and innovating developments would make an incredibly rewarding career.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would reach out to as many current students from affiliate clubs or professional clubs and hear their stories. I relied extensively on Veterans Clubs of various schools, and I loved hearing all their journeys and advice. It gave me a real and candid feel for the school and helped shape my applications and school choices. There is a real “pay it forward” attitude with current students and it they’re always happy to help!
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
As an international student coming from the UK, I wish I had the opportunity to visit campus. It wasn’t realistic to do so with my job. Applying virtually sometimes felt like the whole prospect was a bit intangible until interview invites started coming into my inbox!
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Standardised Tests. Prepping and taking the GRE was the worst aspect. I relied a lot on self-paced courses and just gave myself a long lead in time to prepare and test (as well as building in time to retake if and/or when you have a test taking disaster to not take away from time needed to prepare essays)
What is your initial impression of the Duke Fuqua students/culture/community?
The passion and loyalty to the Duke/Fuqua brand is mind blowing. I was initially sceptical about “Team Fuqua” but the school takes their value-based leadership and conduct very seriously in a warm and welcoming way. There is a real sense of optimism amongst faculty and students alike.
What is one thing you have learned about Duke Fuqua that has surprised you?
The reach and breadth of Duke Fuqua and how it utilises its alumni network to benefit current students in their learning and experiences. I’ll often be surprised by how modest guest speakers are in their achievements and how willing they are to pay it forward/give back.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Moving country and completing a “triple jump” when it comes to recruiting. Despite being used to moving and changing jobs, this feels like a particularly big prospect!
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Making new friends and meaningful connections. My classmates are clearly an incredible group of people and I really looking forward to making some lifelong friends.
