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13 May 2025, 23:00
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| FROM Fuqua Student Blogs: Building a Startup and Staying True to My Goals |
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When I arrived at Fuqua, I knew I wanted to build something meaningful, but I didn’t expect to launch a startup while balancing a full MBA schedule, graduating with a 3.9 GPA, and successfully recruiting for Amazon’s MBA Leadership Development Program. As an international student, I’ve experienced the complexity and stress of the U.S. immigration process firsthand. But the real “a-ha” moment came during my internships at venture capital firms. I saw promising startups struggle to hire top international talent. Many of these companies passed on brilliant candidates — often my own classmates — because they didn’t want to deal with immigration paperwork. That insight hit hard. The system wasn’t just broken for students — it was broken for companies, too. So, I decided to build a startup to help fix it. Leveraging AI as an Entrepreneur Our platform, Let’s Get Visa, simplifies the immigration process using AI, making it easier and more affordable for students and small businesses to navigate. My team and I pitched our venture at the 2025 Duke Startup Showcase, hosted by Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and won the Dean Yep Jr. Prize, an award honoring the late Fuqua alumnus.  Balancing academics, a startup, and recruiting was no small feat. There were long nights, missed events, and plenty of moments where it felt like I was sprinting in every direction. But staying anchored in my goals helped me manage it all — dedicating my days to coursework, evenings to the startup, and focused effort on recruiting when the time came. To incoming international students, here’s what I’ve learned: [*]Be laser-focused. There’s no shortage of options and opinions in business school. The key is knowing what you want and not getting swayed by what your peers are doing. Your journey is your own.[/*] [*]Be clear on what you need. Whether it’s visa guidance, alumni support, or clarity on your goals, ask early and often. Fuqua has the resources, but you need to activate them.[/*] [*]Stay true to your “why.” You’ll hear about job offers, career pivots, and startup wins all around you. Celebrate them, but don’t lose sight of what brought you here.[/*] [/list] This past year taught me how to build under pressure, stay grounded amid noise, and turn a personal challenge into a real solution. If you come to Fuqua with a clear sense of purpose and a willingness to hustle, you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve. The post Building a Startup and Staying True to My Goals appeared first on Duke Daytime MBA Student Blog. |
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30 Jun 2025, 23:00
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| FROM Fuqua Student Blogs: Leading With Curiosity in the Age of AI: My Conversation With Professor Ronnie Chatterji |
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Taking a class on quantum computing within the first few days of joining business school wasn’t exactly how I thought I’d run into one of the coolest minds in AI. Professor Aaron Chatterji, lovingly known as Ronnie, sat down with all the incoming Fuqua MBA students to talk about the future of a quantum computing hub in Durham, North Carolina. When I pictured the future of computers, I imagined shiny labs in Silicon Valley or sleek data centers in Singapore, not a charming city in the middle of the Carolinas. But the world is full of surprises, and Ronnie had a way of making even quantum computing feel close to home. So, when I got the chance to interview him one-on-one about the future of artificial intelligence, it didn’t fully register that I was sitting across from the chief economist at OpenAI. He didn’t appear saddled by the weight of a fancy title or speak in tech jargon. Instead, he talked to me like a peer, someone who understood that curiosity is just as valuable as credentials. I came into Fuqua after three years as a consultant working in generative AI mergers and acquisitions at Accenture. I’d seen the corporate side of the AI boom, but here was someone who had shaped policy at the White House and now steered economic thought at OpenAI. He was... approachable. Insightful. Grounded. Our conversation wasn’t about sci-fi futures. It was about how to prepare for the careers, communities, and classrooms that AI is already reshaping. And boy, was I worried about that. We covered everything from responsible tech to the global talent race and how MBA students like me should be thinking about career strategy in an AI-powered world. What stood out the most was Ronnie’s ability to zoom out and zoom in at the same time, connecting national policy to personal development with a clarity that felt rare in a world where everyone wants to believe they’re the next big expert. Here are three big takeaways I’ve been sitting with ever since: 1. You’re Not Competing With AI, You’re Collaborating With It Fancy tech jargon like prompt engineering used to mean nothing to me until I realized it was just a glorified way of saying: “entering the right things into the machine to get it to produce the output you want.” When Ronnie said the trick to AI is learning to wield it, I finally understood the nuance. It gave a deeper meaning to the idea that AI isn’t here to replace jobs or people; it’s here to build and work with you. But only if you’re willing to meet it halfway. Just like a car, if you don’t learn how to steer the wheel, you’re not going anywhere. In an increasingly interconnected world, the faster we adapt, the more we keep up. 2. Responsible AI Starts With Responsible Institutions It’s easy to talk about AI like it lives in the cloud: abstract, untouchable, the stuff of tech giants and sci-fi shows. To be honest, if a 5-year-old asked me what the cloud is, I probably still couldn’t explain it. But Ronnie made one thing clear: the true power of AI lies in the hands of people, not platforms. He reminded me that the U.S.’s secret weapon is the ecosystem of trust we’ve built between universities, the government, and businesses. When these three work in sync, we can create AI that serves people. However, we can’t live in the Candyland of AI gumdrops and sunshine and expect that everyone will be altruistic, trustworthy, and well-intentioned in their practices. So, let this serve as a reminder that our ecosystem is fragile. Without intention, transparency, and values baked into every line of code and policy decision, AI could easily deepen inequality, fuel bias, or erode public trust. While it’s tempting to think AI is “out to get” us, the reality is, we’re still the ones shaping it. The question is whether we’ll do so with short-term thinking or long-term responsibility. Because AI doesn’t decide how it’s used. We do. 3. Your Curiosity Matters Most As a full-time MBA student smack in the middle of a tech revolution, I’d be lying if I said I haven’t wondered if I’m learning fast enough to stay relevant. Between the daily avalanche of new tools, shifting job descriptions, and industry jargon, it sometimes feels like the real class I’m enrolled in is Adaptability 101. Ronnie’s advice? It’s not about chasing the next shiny tool or memorizing the latest AI framework. It’s about staying insatiably curious. AI is flattening the barriers to knowledge. Anyone can ask a question, but tomorrow’s leaders are asking the right questions, right now. Whether you’re an engineer, an economist, or a consultant (like me), your real skill is being deeply, creatively, and relentlessly interested in the world. That starts with the people around you. I didn’t expect one of my first exciting opportunities at business school to be interviewing a former White House economist turned OpenAI executive, but that’s the magic of Fuqua and of Ronnie Chatterji. The truth is, AI isn’t some untouchable, far-off phenomenon dictated by an engineering degree. It’s already shaping the jobs we’ll take, the problems we’ll solve, and the lives we’ll lead. After this conversation, I’m more certain that it’s not about keeping up with AI but leading it with intention. And that leadership starts right here in Durham. The post Leading With Curiosity in the Age of AI: My Conversation With Professor Ronnie Chatterji appeared first on Duke Daytime MBA Student Blog. |
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07 Jul 2025, 23:00
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| FROM Fuqua Student Blogs: My Journey from a Nuclear Submarine to Private Wealth Management |
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When I left the U.S. Navy after five years as a nuclear submarine officer, I wasn’t entirely sure what the next chapter would look like. What had originally drawn me to submarines was the need to be a well-rounded leader, someone who could safely operate a nuclear reactor while also navigating the complexities of an uncertain, high-pressure environment. I knew I wanted to continue solving complex problems, guiding others through ambiguity, and building trust-based relationships. Finance and pursuing an MBA appealed to me for those very reasons, but I wasn’t yet sure where I would fit within the industry. Now, as I graduate and begin my career as a Private Wealth Advisor at J.P. Morgan, I can confidently say that Fuqua helped me discover my path and prepared me to thrive in the finance world. Exploring Finance and Private Wealth Management During my first year at Fuqua, I explored many areas of finance and was ultimately drawn to private wealth management by the people. At Fuqua, the finance and investment concentrations provided me with the breadth of financial knowledge required to succeed in private wealth management. From courses as foundational as Investment and Corporate Finance to more nuanced topics like cryptocurrency, Fuqua allowed me to learn a range of subjects from world-class professors with experience in those respective areas. The field combines analytical rigor with human connection. It’s not just working with spreadsheets; it’s about working with families, founders, and individuals who are making some of the most important financial decisions of their lives. That blend of strategy and service reminded me of what I valued in the military: leading with integrity, staying calm under pressure, and helping others navigate complex situations with confidence. As a private wealth advisor, I’ll channel those same values by guiding clients through volatile markets, helping families make high-stakes decisions like planning for generational wealth, and acting as a steady, trusted voice during moments of uncertainty. Just like in the Navy, the mission is clear: serve with purpose and earn trust every day. Building Skills and Confidence Through my concentration, I built a strong foundation in topics like capital markets, portfolio theory, and financial planning. I appreciated how the coursework emphasized both quantitative acumen and practical, real-world application — something I needed coming from a non-finance background. Just as valuable as the coursework were the people. I was constantly learning from classmates who had worked in banking, investing, or startups. Whether it was prepping for interviews, collaborating on cases, or asking “basic” questions without fear of judgment, I always felt supported. One example that stands out is from my classmate who interned at a boutique investment bank for the summer. Our group had to develop assumptions on our final project for corporate restructuring to value a company based on those future projections. He not only came up with sound and defendable assumptions, but he took the time to explain the reasoning behind them as well. That’s one of the unique things about Fuqua — you’re surrounded by smart, ambitious people who are humble and generous with their time. Applying It All in the Real World My summer internship at J.P. Morgan Private Bank brought everything together. I supported senior bankers in crafting investment strategies and researching prospective clients. With a dynamic focus that spanned sectors like energy, health care and private equity, I built pitch materials for executives, entrepreneurs, and families. One project I particularly enjoyed involved developing a prospecting plan based on 10b5-1 trading activity, pre-scheduled stock sales that executives use to avoid insider trading concerns. By analyzing public information, we identified executives relocating to Dallas-Fort Worth and connected them with relationship managers who had relevant industry expertise. It was a great example of how analytical thinking and personal relationships intersect in this career. Outside the classroom, I had the opportunity to serve as a Fuqua/Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics (COLE) Fellow, mentoring first-year students and helping guide their leadership journeys. I also tutored first-years in statistics and entrepreneurship courses — another way to give back while reinforcing my own learning. These experiences helped me grow as a communicator and mentor, which are essential skills for my finance career and any client-facing role. A New Chapter Private wealth management may seem like a far leap from nuclear submarines, but at the core, both careers are about responsibility, judgment, and building trust. Thanks to Fuqua, I’ve been able to reframe my experience, build new capabilities, and step confidently into this next chapter. For prospective students wondering if an MBA — especially from a place like Fuqua — can help you pivot into finance: absolutely. You don’t need to come from a traditional background. You just need to be curious, motivated, and open to growth. The post My Journey from a Nuclear Submarine to Private Wealth Management appeared first on Duke Daytime MBA Student Blog. |
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