TJ Clayton, Duke Fuqua MMS Class of 2025
Age: 23
Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Rhodes College; B.S. Neuroscience
Pre-MMS Work Experience: Intern, Horizon Financial Group, Summer 2021; Intern, Luther King Capital Management, Summer 2022; Summer Analyst, Geekdom Fund (Venture Capital), Summer 2023
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Originally, I was on the pre-med track with aspirations of becoming a surgeon, though I often questioned if it was my true passion. From a young age, I was drawn to entrepreneurship, pursuing various small business ventures, which led me to consider a business career as a secondary path. During my first two undergraduate summers, I balanced gaining hours in the hospital with business-related internships, preparing for the possibility of either medical or business school. By my junior year of undergraduate studies, I realized that my work in those business-related internships was where I felt the most fulfilled, confirming it as my passion. The Master of Management Studies program at the Fuqua School of Business emerged as the ideal bridge between my undergraduate studies and a career in business, offering the perfect environment to build a strong foundation in business principles.
Why did you choose Duke Fuqua? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose Duke Fuqua largely because of the Team Fuqua spirit, which truly embodies the Fuqua experience. As an athlete, I have always been immersed in team environments, and as someone who values family, the sense of connection and camaraderie at Fuqua resonated deeply with me. In speaking with current studies during my decision-making process, I quickly realized the Team Fuqua spirit would not only allow me to excel in familiar team dynamics, akin to those in athletics, but also prepare me for a professional world where collaboration is essential. Since matriculating, I have truly felt the Team Fuqua spirit connecting each classmate and team member and it has been everything I anticipated. The relationships I have built with my talented peers are invaluable, creating a family-like bond that has only enriched my experience here.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the class?
My most valuable contribution to the class is my commitment to giving back to the communities I am a part of. From the moment I was accepted into Fuqua, I knew I wanted to make a lasting impact. This led me to take on roles such as an admissions ambassador and being a member of the Duke DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) Advisory Board. I see Duke as more than just a place for education—it is a community that has greatly enriched my life within such a short time frame. My classmates and peers have made my time here incredibly rewarding, and I am passionate about investing my time and energy back into them to give back for the positive impact they have had on my experience.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
One of the most distinctive aspects of the Fuqua application is the “25 Facts” section. This unique feature provided me with the opportunity to share fun and personal insights about myself that might not fit elsewhere in the application. What makes this section particularly impressive is how it reflects Fuqua’s genuine commitment to understanding applicants as individuals, beyond just test scores or traditional metrics.
Post-MMS career interests:
I am currently working on my startup, Vendle, which I co-founded with two incredibly talented and hardworking colleagues. Vendle connects residents with service providers to handle home maintenance tasks through a reverse auction process, streamlining the matchmaking process. As we approach our one-year mark, we have made significant strides toward launching our minimum viable product and refining it further. Moving forward, I plan to continue contributing to Vendle’s growth while pursuing either an MBA or a JD to complement my entrepreneurial journey.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Do not be afraid of overreaching out to current students or alumni who are/were in the program you were applying to. The advice these individuals can give is truly invaluable and can really help you refine which program fits you. Thus, this is one thing I would absolutely do again as part of my application process.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Though I was in-season I would not have been able to make it, I wish I could have attended Blue Devil Experience and other on-campus events for prospective students. This would have allowed to meet the amazing people I have met now, but even earlier!
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would have skipped the stress of worrying about my admissions decision. In hindsight, I knew I put my best foot forward towards my application so I wish I would have taken time to appreciate the process more as opposed to being on edge because I was so eager to get into my dream school.
What is your initial impression of the Duke Fuqua MMS students/culture/community?
A cultural melting pot. Fuqua has been the most diverse environment I have ever had the privilege to work in, and it has paid dividends. I have been able to learn so much about different cultures, work backgrounds, and even different sports since a portion of Fuqua is student-athletes from every sport.
What is one thing you have learned about Duke Fuqua that has surprised you?
How much the faculty truly care about your success. I came from a small liberal arts school where this was the norm since things were so close-knit. But prior to matriculating to Fuqua, I thought big schools would be more cut-throat and colder. However, my assumption was far from the truth as the faculty here, from professors down to the program directors, make a strong effort to know each student and provide any help.
