Name: Chioma Nwamah
Class: 2022
Career Interests: Consulting
Prior to attending Fuqua, Chioma Nwamah (Fuqua, ‘22) was a process automation engineer. Chioma decided to pursue an MBA to round out her commercial and business skills. During this interview, Chioma spoke about her decision to go to school, why she chose Fuqua, and her advice for prospective and admitted MBA students about how to select the right MBA program.
MBASchooled: What did you do before business school, and why did you choose to apply?
Before business school, I was a Process Automation Engineer. I wrote proposals for Automation, Digital Transformation, and Energy Management projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. I decided to pursue an MBA to round out my commercial and business skills.
MBASchooled: What were the most important questions you asked in order to help make your admissions decision?
I asked about the culture on campus and the career support available to international students.
MBASchooled: What has been your favorite experience at Fuqua so far?
My favorite experience has been working on team assignments with classmates from various professional and personal backgrounds. It’s always interesting to see classmates bring in different perspectives (shaped by their previous experiences) to solve problems. This diversity of viewpoints has been a significant part of my learning experience here at Fuqua. Specifically, working with my very diverse CLEAD team for the past year has pushed me to explore new topics and discover new interests.
MBASchooled: After spending a semester at Fuqua, what’s something that you now know about Fuqua that you wish you knew when you applied?
First, I wish I knew that a pandemic would hit the world and change our lives forever. I wish I knew how quickly time flew during the first few months of the program. The first few months are typically filled with recruiting, lectures, assignments, and meeting new classmates. It is easy to get overwhelmed at this time. I probably would have taken more time to rest and recharge prior to the start date.
MBASchooled: Oftentimes, the word “culture” gets thrown around when talking about MBA programs. Can you characterize the culture at Fuqua ? Can you share an example of an experience that you think personifies what this means?
We fondly refer to our culture as Team Fuqua and this culture permeates all the interactions within the community. Like many other international students, I had challenges with getting the F1 visa from my home country and had to travel to a different country to apply. I received so much support from classmates and faculty here at Fuqua. The support from the Fuqua community kept me focused in the face of everything else that was happening in the world at that time. This experience made me realise that “Team Fuqua” was more than a student – to – student code of conduct. It was a commitment upheld by the entire Fuqua community.
MBASchooled: Now that you’ve been at Fuqua for a semester, is there a specific moment or highlight where you felt confident that you made the right decision?
I got my moment of clarity during the recruiting process. The support from current and past students was amazing. It fully dawned on me that I would always have a supportive community to help me navigate different stages of my career. I knew that I was in the right company.
MBASchooled: As an MBA Admissions Ambassador, you talk to many prospective MBA students. What questions should admits ask before making a decision?
Prospective MBAs should ask about the schools differentiator – what makes an MBA program different from others.
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for admitted students on how they can make the best decision?
I had a tough time deciding on an MBA program. I tried so many strategies to help me decide – I created a checklist, built a spreadsheet, spoke to current students in each school, pored through MBA chat forums, flipped a coin (when it came down to 2 options); eventually, I just went with my gut. My advice to admitted students is, gut-check your decision. Sometimes, your heart knows where you belong 🙂
MBASchooled: What are you excited about for Admit Weekend? What should prospective applicants take advantage of?
I’m excited to get to meet the next batch of applicants and share my experience with them. Prospective applicants should take advantage of tips and guidance shared by current students.