Meet the MBA Class of 2023: Maureen Ojukwu, Duke University (Fuqua)
“I am spontaneous, progressive, compassionate, artistic, charismatic, nocturnal, talkative, curious and snigger rapidly.”
Hometown: Vancouver, WA
Enjoyable truth about your self: I performed mas (quick for masquerade) at Caribana (Toronto’s Carnival Celebration of Caribbean Tradition) in 2017. I wish to do the identical in Trinidad and Tobago, the place all of it started. Hopefully sooner or later within the very close to future!
Primary research and main:
Seattle College: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Loyola College Chicago: Grasp of Science in Nursing and Well being Techniques Administration
Final employer and job title:
Coding Investigator Auditor at Well being Care Service Company
The MBA program is understood for its “Group Fuqua” tradition, which relies on six paired ideas: Genuine engagement, supportive ambition, collective variety, efficient accountability, loyal neighborhood and uncompromising integrity. Which of those appeals to you probably the most – and what does this precept require of you as a Fuqua MBA? The paired precept that appeals to me probably the most is Supportive Ambition as a result of I wished to be in an area the place excellence and empathy coexist. Sustaining this worth as a present scholar requires fixed introspection, reflection, and honesty. I attempt to stroll by means of life with an angle of abundance, not shortage. The success of others doesn’t negate or belittle my very own as a result of our core values, passions, motivations and backgrounds will not be precisely the identical.
I usually keep in mind that everyone seems to be on their very own particular person journey. My purpose is to be an actual supply of assist, encouragement, and kindness to my classmates whereas serving to to domesticate that sense of belonging. I count on that by giving my colleagues my time and vitality on this approach, I’ll strengthen the Fuqua neighborhood. I believe the idea of supportive ambition is uncommon on this context. I’ve seen the alternative most of the time – poisonous competitors and devious ways within the pursuit of success. Personally, I’m impressed by constructive reinforcement and it may be affirming when individuals round me are excellent.
Which phrase finest describes the Fuqua MBA college students and alumni you’ve gotten met and why? I might describe Fuqua MBA college students and alumni as “welcoming”. The actual sense of camaraderie that naturally shows amongst Fuqua college students and alumni is contagious and second to none. As an applicant, I all the time bought a pleasant response each time I contacted somebody related to Fuqua – be it a scholar, an alumni member, or an admissions officer. I’ve spoken to some extraordinarily achieved, gifted, and clever individuals, however have by no means been perceived with vanity or superiority. The members of the Fuqua neighborhood are heat and enthusiastic. To be clear, my earlier experiences with Fuqua can’t be categorized as false positivity or compelled happiness. Setbacks and failures are to be anticipated. Having the area to redefine these disappointments as alternatives for development strengthens resilience and improves self-confidence.
Aside out of your classmates and the varsity tradition, What was the important thing a part of Duke Fuqua’s MBA program that made you select this enterprise college and why was it so essential to you? The construction and variety of Fuqua’s curriculum was an enormous draw for me once I was placing my utility collectively. There are various choices for electives throughout the program and a number of ranges and certificates can be found. On the time of my utility, I used to be primarily within the areas of resolution sciences, operations administration and technique. As a profession changer, I noticed these concentrations as a possibility to higher focus my studying, to align my curriculum to my desired profession path and to higher place myself for recruiting. I additionally thought of the Certificates in Well being Sector Administration (HSM), particularly when mixed with the situation of Duke’s Analysis Triangle and the college’s well being system. Though I’ve adjusted my priorities a little bit since then, all of those choices have been doubtlessly useful instructions for my college years.
Which course, membership or exercise do you discover most interesting at Duke Fuqua? I look ahead to working with the Duke MBA Consulting Membership (DMCC) throughout my time at Fuqua. I welcome the chance to immerse myself totally within the session with a purpose to be optimally positioned for recruiting within the coming months. Fuqua is a powerful college of counseling and I count on my participation on this membership to disclose invaluable sources, instruments and an unparalleled skilled community. As well as, I plan to complement my recruiting preparation with the Fuqua Consumer Consulting Practicum (FCCP) studying supply with a purpose to put concept into follow and acquire additional insights into the business. I’ll act fully exterior of my consolation zone and discover a brand new world and approach of doing issues. Finally, I count on my participation within the counseling membership to be a novel and rewarding alternative for monumental development.
Describe your biggest success in your profession to date: I’ve labored in numerous fields all through my profession in nursing. I’ve moved throughout the business, engaged on each the supplier and value facet of healthcare in amenities that vary from public hospitals to outpatient departments and enormous college hospitals. As a clinician, I’ve worn many hats – cheerleaders, affected person advocates / champions, well being educators, officers, medical auditors, and case managers.
One case I’m significantly pleased with occurred whereas working as a nurse in an company. I used to be despatched to a specialised facility the place I cared for six sufferers for 16 hours. Once I got here on shift, all of my sufferers have been on ventilators. By the tip of the shift, I had efficiently eliminated three out of six of those sufferers from their ventilators. They might now breathe independently with out a machine doing this for them. It took a number of ingenuity, persistence, and technique on my half to do that. That is important as this hospital was in a useful resource poor setting. We have been understaffed throughout the board, from nursing assistants to docs. (The inadequate staffing was the explanation I used to be there). I should not have cared for six sufferers (my most publicity ought to have been 4), nor ought to I’ve labored 16 hours (a typical hospital nursing shift is 12 hours). It was additionally the primary time I used to be within the facility, so I needed to get used to the ward rapidly along with my sufferers. That was an insanely busy shift to say the least, however fortunately I used to be in a position to get these three individuals a lot nearer to leaving the hospital and returning house to their family members.
How has COVID-19 modified your perspective in your profession and life generally? The COVID-19 pandemic compounded all of the the reason why I needed to change my profession. The pandemic exacerbated any current well being business stressors that solely apply to caregivers. It compelled me to acknowledge and mirror on my core values and helped me examine why nursing was inconsistent with these values and due to this fact not a viable option to meet my long-term skilled targets. Usually, COVID-19 has taught me the significance of pausing, celebrating, and transferring purposefully by means of life. Whereas care has confirmed to be very invaluable and efficient work, a purposeful transfer requires a profession leap for me and my particular person targets.
What made you determine to do an MBA at that time and what would you like after commencement? A mixture of non-public components and business traits led me to do an MBA. Finally, I turned pissed off with the expensive, fragmented, and inefficient nature of the healthcare system. I used to be disillusioned with the expectation of caregivers to bypass these structural issues with inadequate assist, autonomy, or institutional / systemic energy. After graduating, I wish to enter the administration consulting business as a generalist. Whereas healthcare is a enterprise, its distinctive intricacies, together with rationing of scarce sources, life and loss of life, can not deal with it like some other business. After diving into this space as a specialist, I wish to take a step again and grapple with the enterprise issues of varied industries. I might admire if I may method a unique sort of problem in my work the place a mistake doesn’t have the potential to trigger somebody’s loss of life. Maybe with this information I can get again into the well being world in the long run and be higher positioned to result in sustainable change.
What different MBA applications have you ever utilized for? I additionally thought of Michigan Ross and UNC Kenan-Flagler.
What recommendation would you give potential candidates to be accepted into Duke Fuqua’s MBA program? My recommendation to potential candidates is twofold. Don’t undergo this utility course of alone at first. Please assist. In the event you’re like me and have not had anybody in your circle, you may be tempted to only go it alone. Don’t do it. I can not stress this sufficient. Attain out early to the scholars and alumni of the faculties you might be contemplating. Discover assist in an effort to do your finest and keep away from fully avoidable missteps.
Second, spend time excited about your self, your motivations, and your aspirations. (That is an on-going endeavor, and should you get it proper, it “by no means fairly ends”). As you flip your ideas inward, ask your self “what else” and “why”? Everybody at Fuqua is extraordinary and extremely achieved. Awards and achievements apart, ask what else excites you? and “What else defines you”? This program tends to draw a sure sort of individual and you want to attempt to decide if that is an setting that you’re comfy in. Exploring the “whys” behind your previous actions and future targets may also help you embody the spirit of authenticity, which is essential to Fuqua.
DON’T MISS: MEET DUKE FUQUAS MBA CLASS OF 2023
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