Gracie Ghartey-Tagoe, Dartmouth Tuck MBA Class of 2026
Age: 28
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Davidson College, Environmental Studies
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Corporate Development and Strategy Manager, Home Depot, 3.5 years; Consumer and Retail Investment Banking Analyst, Wells Fargo, 2.5 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Over the past six years, I always had a gut feeling that to develop into the leader I wanted to be, business school would need to be part of my career journey. At both Wells Fargo and Home Depot, I saw how leaders asked thoughtful questions, often rooted in their academic understanding of finance. Part of my decision to pursue my MBA was to make sure that, as I grew into leadership positions, I was able to leverage foundational knowledge in finance and related topics to guide groups, lead organizations, and make decisions.
In addition to deepening my understanding of finance, I wanted to spend time intentionally developing as a leader. I’ve always had an idea of the leadership style I would like to have, but I saw business school as the perfect opportunity to spend time developing my leadership style for the future.
Why did you choose Dartmouth Tuck? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
When I was making my final decision, I knew I wanted a program where I would not only be a part of this group of people for two years, but my peers and I would be active and engaged members of the institution for a lifetime. I was able to see the Tuck community in action before I even applied to the school. Tuck students and alumni are intentional, genuine, and smart individuals who always go out of their way to support one another. Experiencing this community at every step of the application journey through phone calls and in-person coffee chats is what made me feel confident about my final decision.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2026?
I believe my prior work experience provides me with a unique perspective that I can bring to the classroom. Working in both investment banking and corporate development at a large corporation has allowed me to connect the academic concepts we learn with real-world scenarios that I encountered in my prior roles. I also know many classmates hope to pivot into these industries after business school, and I hope to provide support as they explore either career path.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I have a separate Instagram account for documenting ice cream outings with friends! Growing up, my family always spent quality time together, either going out for ice cream or eating a scoop at home. I’ve continued this tradition of quality time over an ice cream cone with friends and always take a picture to commemorate the outing.
Post-MBA career interests:
Lower middle market private equity
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Interview prep with my dad. Interviews for business school can be nerve-wracking, and it only gets better with practice. I think doing interview prep with my dad did a perfect job simulating a more serious interview process. He also wasn’t afraid to give me tough love and constructive feedback, which were both fundamental in my ability to succeed in the interview process.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would have switched to taking the GRE sooner. I took the GMAT four times and really struggled translating my performance from practice tests to test day. After the fourth test, I decided to try taking the GRE to see what happened. I ended up taking the GRE twice and submitted those scores. I wish I changed my mindset from seeing the test switch as a failure and instead just seeing it for what it was, a test that I needed to get done to submit my applications. If I had come to that realization sooner, I would’ve saved myself a lot of time, money, and stress.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
If my last answer is any indicator, I would’ve skipped the test. What helped me get through it was knowing that the test-taking was temporary and just a part of the process.
What is your initial impression of the Dartmouth Tuck students/culture/community?
It’s a place where everyone is bought into the community before they get here. Students want to provide support and show up for one another whenever they can. The culture I experienced throughout the application process is the same culture and community that I feel as a student.
What is one thing you have learned about Dartmouth Tuck that has surprised you?
How alumni show up for Tuck. The engaged alumni community is a major reason why Tuck ended up being the school for me, but seeing alumni engagement in action, specifically on campus, has really blown me away. The fact that alumni will spend time not only as in-person guest speakers in class but also will offer their time to take groups of students to lunch or dinner has really emphasized how much they prioritize giving back to the Tuck community.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Experiencing a true winter for the first time. I grew up in North Carolina and have only ever lived in the Southeast, so I know this winter will be an adjustment for me. On the bright side I’m looking forward to getting a good winter coat and learning how to ski!
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Building relationships with my classmates. One thing that really stood out to me during Admitted Students Weekend was how intentional the Admissions office was about pulling our class together. I’m really looking forward to getting to know the individuals who make up the class of 2026
