Dr. Veronica Valencia Victoria (Class of 2024) is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and could also be considered a doctor of reinventing herself. Originally from a small town in Colombia, she moved to the U.S. when she was 12 years old, ultimately becoming the valedictorian of her high school. Inspired by her family, she became a physical therapist and supported patients over 4 years. After the loss of a friend and fellow healthcare worker during the pandemic, Veronica was driven to start a scholarship in his name and pursue an MBA to expand her impact in the health sector. After graduation, she will work in consulting at Deloitte.In this episode, Veronica shares how her family has shaped her and helped her build a resilient mindset, allowing her to take risks, pursue new opportunities, and do things she once thought were impossible.SCHOLARSHIP LINK: https://giving.usf.edu/how/herdfunder/miguel-martinez-jr-memorial-scholarshipNote: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Kandasi Griffiths (Class of 2024) had a goal to see the world. And after living in 17 places on 4 continents, she is certainly on her way! After college, she taught English in Paris, organized conferences in the UK, and learned jewelry making in Italy, before pivoting to international development. She worked in Afghanistan, Jordan, Tanzania, Guinea, Benin, and Togo, learning about global health and seeing how she could best contribute to community development. Kandasi then founded a social enterprise called SR Collaborative (srcollaborative.com), focused on supporting women of color change agents and their ventures. She came to Fuqua to pivot to impact investing, which she will pursue at Social Finance after graduation.In this episode, Kandasi shares her fascinating stories and the lessons she's learned, about the world and about herself.Episode Editor: Jenna Houchins (MBA/MPP '24)Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Annie Forrest (Class of 2024) grew up in a small Appalachian town called Richlands, Virginia, where her family has lived for 8 generations. She left home for the University of Virginia, where she became an advocate for sexual assault and relationship abuse prevention. She then moved to New York City to continue this work full time at the One Love Foundation. And after 9 years away, she came back to Richlands and became inspired to work on uplifting rural communities.In this episode, Annie shares her inspiring journey of leaving and ultimately returning home. She also talks about the Appalachian region, tips for healthier relationships, and reflections on her nontraditional MBA path.Content Note: This episode contains mentions of sexual assault and relationship abuse. Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Dr. John M. de Figueiredo (Faculty Director, Duke Center for Institutional and Organizational Performance) has taught strategy, law, and economics at Duke for more than 14 years and has received 8 teaching awards. However, when trying to start his career in academia, he was rejected from every PhD program he applied for, all because someone lost his GRE answer sheet! In this episode, John discusses how rejections, constant setbacks, and serendipity have led him to new opportunities, such as becoming a consultant in Europe and working for the famous Michael Porter (creator of "Porter's Five Forces"). He also shares his insights on how firms should manage strategy implementation, how he trains students for the "real world", and how MBA graduates can be successful in both work and in their personal lives.This episode features questions submitted by David Shang (’24), Robertino Tucci (’24), and Rosa Mecklemburg (’24).Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Queen Nwokonneya (Class of 2024) has big ambitions to improve people's lives in developing countries. Originally from Abuja, Nigeria, she discovered a passion for international and economic development, which brought her to the UK for school and back to Africa for work. Through her pre-MBA career, Queen advised the Lagos government on urban renewal policy, worked with her hometown community to plant 5,000 trees, helped vaccinate over 100,000 children, and more. In this episode, Queen shares many of her lessons learned - about leadership, relationship building, and developing both solutions and systems for long-term change. Episode Editor: Jenna Houchins (MBA/MPP '24)Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Erin Worsham spends her days helping people create positive impact in the world. She has been at Duke for a total of 19 years, first as an undergrad music major and now as the leader of Fuqua's Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE), Erin has developed a rich understanding of social impact, from her time as a Stanford MBA student to her jobs at the World Bank, USAID, Booz Allen Hamilton, and now Fuqua. In this episode, Erin shares experiences and advice on being a "nontraditional" MBA student, challenging yourself, staying humble, building “tri-sector leadership" (private, public, nonprofit sectors), pursuing a career of significance, and more. She encourages all of us to use our personal and professional passions to better the world and empower others to do the same.Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Happy (?) Tax Day! To celebrate, we're bringing you a special episode with our professor and resident tax guru Scott Dyreng - featuring advice on taxes, life, and everything in between.Scott Dyreng grew up on a turkey farm in rural Utah and made his way to writing op-eds for the Wall Street Journal. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Scott has seen the world (Chile, UK), started a family (with six children), built a blueberry farm, and taken several detours before ending up at Duke. In this episode, he shares his journey, with insights on faith, finding your values, and forging a home wherever you are. Scott also shares hilarious tax stories (seriously) and concrete tax tips for students - so make sure to listen until the end!Check out his podcast "Tax Chats" for more tax lessons and laughs: https://taxchats.org/Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Kanchan Nebhwani (Class of 2024) comes from an Indian family, but grew up in South America and the Caribbean. She learned about entrepreneurship from her family's furniture business and she eventually came to the U.S. to become a founder herself. Kanchan and her brother co-founded Drūmi, a premium mattress company with a mission to protect coral reefs and clean up the oceans they grew up swimming in. In this episode, Kanchan shares how she forged her own path, defined her own labels, and stayed positive through professional and personal challenges.Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Kelsey Worsham and Rhea Philip (Class of 2025) join us for this episode in honor of Women’s History Month. The newly elected co-presidents of the Association of Women in Business (AWIB), Kelsey and Rhea share a passion for female empowerment and supporting other women, as well as pride in being a successful woman in business themselves. In this episode, we discuss a range of topics, including advocating for yourself and others, the female tech industry, navigating sexism in the workplace, allyship, and, of course, the famous "Barbie" monologue. It's an episode full of insight and inspiration for people of all genders who care about advancing women in business.Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Louis Wu (Class of 2024) left China at the age of four with his mom to pursue the American dream without speaking a word of English and with no support system. Lost in the hustle and bustle of New York, Louis found comfort in books, becoming a lifelong learner. Always putting others first, he  often put his life on 'hold' to help the people he loved. Later in life, Louis broke free from conventional expectations of an immigrant child to pursue his passion for education, despite a natural talent for finance. In this episode, Louis shares invaluable life lessons about resilience, service, and his desire to use the MBA to amplify the impact he will make.  Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Steve Misuraca (MBA '09) has served the Fuqua community for nearly 17 years. His MBA experience was likely similar to yours - living in Station Nine, overcommitting, early rejections, pivoting his career path, and questioning what he wanted to do with his life. Since 2009, Steve has worked on staff and has supported over 5,000 students, through roles in Admissions and Student Life. In this episode, Steve reflects on his journey, his values, and his lessons from being a student, leader, husband, and father at Fuqua. Steve: "What is the purpose of life? To find your gift. But what makes life really meaningful? It's to give it away. If you can find a way to give your gift away to others, it will bring you intense joy and happiness." Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Tara Coley, founder of BE Bakery (one of Fuqua's new community partners), is the final guest in our "Black Entrepreneurs" series for Black History Month 2024.With host Janice Cater (Class of 2024), Tara covers the origins of her baking career - dropping out of college, enrolling in pastry school, and making 500 donuts per night. She discusses her entrepreneurial journey, from the challenges to the rewards to the lessons learned along the way. She shares valuable advice for all founders about delighting customers, managing burnout, learning new skills, networking, being kind to yourself, and paving the road for others.Check out BE Bakery on Instagram (bebakery.llc) and the Cary Farmers Market on Saturday mornings!Episode Organizers: Mercedes Jones and Uzo Biosah (Class of 2025), Representatives of  Black Business Students Association (BBSA) and Business in Africa (BiA)Episode Producer: Mitchell Woodruff (Class of 2024)Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

In collaboration with Black Business Students Association (BBSA) and Business in Africa (BiA), we are excited to bring everyone a special episode in honor of Black History Month. Joy Akinfenwa, Kwabena Anim, and Abimbola Olurotimi (all Class of 2025) are shining examples of innovation, resilience, and creativity in the business world.First, we have Joy Akinfenwa, who not only created her own co-working space in Nigeria but also penned and published an inspiring children's book. Listen to the hardships she faced as an entrepreneur and her courage to persevere. Next, we'll hear from Kwabena Anim, who carved a niche for himself in the petroleum distribution industry in Ghana. Hear how he was inspired to be part of Ghana’s energy solution after power outages jeopardized his mother’s life as well as his schooling.And finally, we'll chat with Abimbola Olutorimi, who is currently working on a startup, Hillman Hall, a social club dedicated to bringing communities together. She shares her inspiration behind the business and the importance of bringing your identity into your entrepreneurial endeavors.Special thanks to our guests, co-hosts Janice Cater and Isaac Ayo’ Oyegbade, and BBSA/BiA club representatives Mercedes Jones and Uzo Biosah for making this episode possible. Episode Producer: Mitchell Woodruff  Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

It's our 2nd annual Valentine's Day episode! Hear about first dates and soul mates from four Fuqua couples.First, we have Audrey Lopez (Class of 2024) and Vijay Kailash. Audrey moved from Colombia to a random Airbnb in Charlotte, North Carolina...and ended up getting engaged to her host.Second, we have Vanessa Solórzano Alvarez and Guillermo Alvarez (both Class of 2024). They started with an awkward conversation at a wedding in Guatemala...and later got married in the same venue.Third, we have David Shang (Class of 2024) and Casey Wu. David asked Casey to be his senior prom date in Shanghai...and nearly a decade later, he asked her to marry him.Fourth, we have Meghna Dhankhar and Basil Thanklice (both Class of 2025). They found each other while applying for internships in Mumbai...and are now doing the same with all of us in Durham!Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Saki Kudo (Class of 2024) grew up in a small town in northern Japan, with a population of 5,000. Since then, her world has gotten much bigger, living in Tokyo, Philadelphia, Michigan, Alabama, and now North Carolina. In this episode, Saki shares about expanding her horizons and connecting with others - picking up ballroom dancing, working for Toyota in the U.S. Deep South, and becoming a Philadelphia Eagles fan. Saki shows us that if a young Japanese woman can connect with carmakers in Alabama, we have much more in common than we think. Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the official view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Alleah Salone's (Class of 2025) first job was in the McDonald's drive through. Her most recent job before coming to Fuqua was at Silicon Valley Bank, where she experienced what was, at the time, the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history. In this episode, Alleah shares about getting into finance, leaning on her family and her faith, and dealing with surprises when things don't go according to plan.Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the official view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Alyssa Barnea (Class of 2024) was a corporate event planner, or in other words, a professional problem solver. She has solved problems with celebrity chefs. She has solved problems in Barcelona. She has even solved problems for Ukrainians unable to return home at the start of the war! In this episode, Alyssa tells her wildest event stories and shares lessons learned, to help us create better and more special experiences for others.Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the official view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Sunny is one of Fuqua's baristas by day and a musician by night. Originally from Durham, she has been singing, rapping, and performing onstage for 15 years and has self-released five albums ("Sexuality", "Sunny Speaking", "Blue Jeans", "Popstar Icon", "Guilty Pleasure").In this episode, Sunny covers the ups and downs of her musical journey, from auditioning  for "American Idol" (twice) to being criticized by a world-famous record producer. She shares about believing in herself, finding her voice, and chasing her dreams  - lessons that can benefit all of us at Fuqua.Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the official view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Aurni Zaman (Class of 2024) currently serves as the President of COLE, the Coach K Center for Organization, Leadership, and Ethics. She's thriving in her second year of MBA, but it wasn't an easy journey to get here. Aurni shares her challenges during her first year at Fuqua - social isolation in a new country, imposter syndrome, mental health, and recruiting consulting and not getting any offers. She also covers her life before Duke - growing up in Bangladesh, being a makeup YouTuber, and founding her country's first ever scented candles business. We applaud Aurni for being open about how her struggles and failures made her who she is today. Remember that whatever challenges you're facing - no matter how big, small, or silly they seem - you can push through and come out on the other side as a stronger and happier person.Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the official view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Jaime Blaustein (MBA '18) recovered from 7 years of drug addiction before coming to Fuqua, pursuing investment banking, and becoming a mental health CEO. Combining his experiences in recovery with his business skills from Fuqua, Jaime co-founded the Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center. As CEO, Jaime supports people with mental health conditions and substance use disorders to recover and rebuild their lives. Jaime’s journey is a powerful story that reminds us of the importance of resilience, hope, and service to others.DUKE RESOURCES:-Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS): 919-660-1000 NATIONAL RESOURCES:-Al-Anon (Support for Friends & Family): 1-888-425-2666-Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration: 1-800-662-4357-Suicide & Crisis Hotline: Dial 988Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the official view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.