Suman Murthy, Duke Fuqua MBA Class of 2026
Age: 28
Hometown: Bangalore, India
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Jain University, Bachelor of Commerce; Chartered Accountant, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Senior Consultant at Deloitte Consulting – Finance Transformation (2021-2024); Consultant at Grant Thornton – Governance, Risk and Operations (2020-2021)
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I want to start by explaining why now was the right time for me was to make this decision.
- First – I’ve always been intentional with my career. So far, I’ve built functional expertise, a consulting foundation, and explored some leadership positions, and felt like this was the foundation which can help me make the most of the opportunities an MBA would provide and I’d also be in a capacity to add value to my classmates’ learning experience. I
- Second- I’ve known my goal is to work at the intersectionality of business and impact. I have spent the last few years exploring different roles professionally as a consultant and volunteering in the accessible education space to understand how I want to contribute. I’ve found clarity in my long-term vision and I’m ready to work towards it.
- Third – this is a time for my personal transformation. I’m ready to push myself out of my comfort zone—take risks, experiment, fail, and learn. Committing to an MBA now will set me up for long-term success and growth.
Moving on to what made me decide to attend business school. There are three broad reasons as to why business school was my next stop:
1. I aim to build my business acumen and technical skills, and enhance my consulting and strategic abilities. This foundation will support my long-term goal of leveraging courses and experiential learning within the ecosystem. I also believe in the power of a strong network, and business school will help me build a lifetime network that’s crucial for my career.
2. An MBA will provide a global perspective on business challenges, offering diverse viewpoints and recognizing that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Learning directly from my peers and engaging in various experiential opportunities will expose me to different approaches and help me understand why certain strategies work for some but not for others.
3. I want to find my authentic voice as a leader. I’ve felt the imposter syndrome creep in when I’ve previously taken on leadership roles. I want to understand what others need in different situations, and unlock my full potential as a leader.
Why did you choose Duke Fuqua? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose Duke Fuqua keeping three things in mind : Career Progression, Leadership and Community
Career Progression: I chose Fuqua because of its focus on academics, and flexible concentrations which align perfectly with my goal of developing a well-rounded business acumen. The experiential learning opportunities, like FCCP and Mentored Study, allow me to test new skills. Fuqua’s focus on social impact through CASE is something particularly looking forward to diving into and gaining hands-on experience through Fuqua on Board projects in the impact space.
Leadership & Community: What really sets Fuqua apart for me is the community. Fuqua’s emphasis on IQ, EQ, and DQ in leadership is unique and deeply resonates with me. I value how empathy and influence are intertwined in Fuqua’s approach to leadership. This focus aligns perfectly with how I want to lead and approach life, making Fuqua the ideal place to build and strengthen these skills. and there’s no better place than Fuqua to build this muscle!
Lastly, I love the college town atmosphere in Durham. The city is quiet, and peaceful and helps you take a break from the Fuqua bubble when you need to step back and need a moment to slow down and gain perspective.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2026?
I bring unique experiences to my class on a cultural front. On the professional front, I bring my experience as a management consultant in an emerging economy and my work in the education non-profit space.
I’m a South Asian woman of color from an emerging economy, India, and I bring my culture and food from Karnataka, and my sense of community.
Personally, I’m unbiased and like to consider everyone’s perspective. I’m committed to forming meaningful relationships and putting in effort to understand what makes a person unique and what matters to them most. I strive to make people feel included in conversations, groups, or social circles.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I enjoy re-watching shows or re-reading books I love when life gets chaotic. For instance, I’ve watched Modern Family at least 10 times and re-read A Thousand Splendid Suns around 25 times. It’s my way of finding comfort and escape from the fast pace of daily life. On a lighter note, my guilty pleasure is binge-watching reality TV. I recently watched Season 8 of Selling Sunset in one go and that explains why I’m trying to play catch up with my to-do list!
Post-MBA career interests:
Leading global transformation projects at Deloitte sparked my passion for consulting. Despite personal struggles growing up, access to quality education is what brought me this far. I explored education volunteering activities over the last five years to pay it forward, which fueled my long-term vision. I foresee my career evolving at the intersection of business and impact.
I want to continue working as a Management Consultant – transitioning from Finance Strategy to Business and Growth Strategy verticals and learn how organizations solve complex problems and transform vision into action.
The long-term goal: I hope to lead internal Growth & Strategy at organizations that are focused on accessible education. This will set me up for success to work as an impact accelerator with early-stage social ventures in India working towards accessible education.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
One thing I would absolutely do again as part of my application process is to trust my inner voice and push myself to take a chance on myself, however challenging it may be.
While evaluating schools, I initially made the mistake of relying on external sources like admission consultants, who suggested that I didn’t stand a chance at top business schools because I was Indian, had a lower-than-average test score, and was applying in Round 2. This left me feeling crushed and questioning my chances. However, deep down, I knew it was important to trust myself and take the risk to apply to my dream universities. Because what’s the worst that can happen, right? They’d reject me, and I’d have to try again.
I charged on and gave it my all, relying on my trusted network of family, friends, and mentors. I leaned into my lived experience, told my story, and shared what I wanted to accomplish, and was fortunately accepted into some of the best schools. I’m so grateful that I didn’t let external noise faze me and instead believed in myself to pursue my dream.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
The admissions process was by far some of the most chaotic and confusing months of my life. This definitely put me under a lot of stress and took a toll on me—mentally and physically. Though I knew I wanted to go to business school, I hadn’t set up a timeline for the entire process to stay ahead. If I could do it again, I would make sure to plan things out more systematically and be more proactive to avoid the stress of last-minute completion. This way, I can focus on enjoying the process rather than just stressing about the outcome.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The requirement of taking the GRE while working a full-time consulting job is definitely one part I would have skipped if I could. While I’m sure it helped strengthen my application, I’m a nervous test taker and usually don’t attempt an exam without being fully prepared. I had to push back my exam dates at least 10-15 times over the course of a year due to ongoing projects with critical deadlines, travel, and other commitments.
What helped me get through it was returning to the basics of how I studied in school—making flashcards, creating concept notes, and maintaining an error log to ensure I didn’t have to re-learn concepts I had already studied. I strictly followed GregMAT’s 2-month plan, and their structured and flexible timetable was invaluable. Additionally, I alleviated some of the pressure by accepting that I might need to take the test multiple times if necessary. I reminded myself that, at Duke Fuqua, the admissions process is holistic and values diverse experiences and who I am as a person. This perspective helped me stay focused on the broader picture and not let the test overshadow my entire application journey.
What is your initial impression of the Duke Fuqua students/culture/community?
My initial impression of the Duke Fuqua community was that it’s a place where people truly recognize who you are as a person beyond just numbers, or titles you hold. Everyone, including the admissions team, is so approachable and personable. I saw the Fuqua Hoexperience through the eyes of a longtime friend and knew, this is exactly the kind of business school experience I want.
I was impressed by the personal connections I made during my journey just as an applicant — we bonded over things like curly girl routines, our love for food, and how our mothers are our role models. What stood out to me is the genuine interest people show and the personality-forward approach of the community. I truly felt like Duke Fuqua would be a safe space to push myself out of my comfort zone and make lifelong connections.
What is one thing you have learned about Duke Fuqua that has surprised you?
One thing that has really surprised me about Duke Fuqua is how accessible the entire Duke campus and its activities are. Beyond the Fuqua School of Business, there’s so much to explore and enjoy. Whether it’s grabbing a grilled cheese at the Divinity School, taking a class at the Law School, accessing the Wellness Center, visiting the Duke Lemur Center, or unwinding with a picnic at Sarah P. Duke Gardens, the campus offers a wealth of experiences that are all within easy walking distance. It’s also surrounded by the Duke Forest, so you’re amidst nature, which is a great way to relax and recharge.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
One thing I am most anxious about in my first year is finding the right balance between academics, recruitment, and the social experience of an MBA, all while taking care of my well-being and staying in touch with my family and friends in India. I want to keep in mind why I chose to come to business school, revisit my goals for my time here, and be intentional with the choices I make. I hope to find peace with my choices and decisions and avoid constantly second-guessing myself.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’m excited to get involved with CASE (Centre for Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship) in my first year to lay the foundation for my long-term vision for exploring social impact initiatives. I look forward to diving into practical experiences like CASE i3 Impact Investing and the Mentored Study, and I’m also thrilled about taking Social Entrepreneurship courses with Prof. Cathy Clark!
