Duke Daytime MBA Student Blog

My decision to pursue an MBA at Duke came during a critical moment in March 2020, working on the frontlines of the pandemic as a nurse in a makeshift intensive care unit for COVID patients.

Every student interested in technology asks the same question: “Should I have a tech background to work in the industry?” And the answer is “No!”

Companies from different industries come to Fuqua’s campus with fascinating challenges, so I was very intentional when handpicking just a few of them to participate in, focusing on gaining exposure to industries I was genuinely interested in.

The Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum (FCCP), was the perfect opportunity to learn more about the tech industry and a great way to build onto my existing skillset.

Before coming to business school, I worked in the largest bank in Brazil. Choosing to enroll at the Fuqua School of Business, my goals were to achieve hands-on experience at a company where tech was the core business.

This past year, Fuqua launched a new set of core summer term introductory courses. One class was Technological Transformation of Business, which discussed how technology and specific companies revolutionized and disrupted markets, institutions, businesses, and ultimately, society.

We co-founded the Duke MBA FinTech Club in the Spring of 2018, with the goal of fostering a community passionate about financial technology at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and to create an ecosystem that supports MBA students in pursuing careers within the industry

Ninety of my first-year classmates signed up for Tech Trek and bought tickets to travel across the country during their fall break, with high expectations to learn more about the recruiting opportunities and visit the headquarters of companies such as Google, Amazon, and Microsoft.

For most new MBAs, your past career no longer defines where you’re going once you walk through Fuqua’s doors. I was no exception.