Duke Daytime MBA Student Blog
Hannah Ford
I earned my MBA in 2018, graduating as a Dean's Scholar and receiving the Dean's Recognition Award. During my time at Fuqua, I served in leadership capacities as a CASE and COLE fellow. I was also awarded the Boston Consulting Group Fellowship, McGowan Fellowship, and a CASE Scholarship as well as selected by classmates for the Authentic Engagement Award.
In August 2018, I was appointed a Post-Graduate Leadership Fellow for Carolina Performing Arts and Arts Everywhere at UNC-Chapel Hill. Through the fellowship, I've had the unique opportunity to gain valuable leadership experience as a thought partner and strategic adviser to the special assistant to the chancellor for the arts at UNC-Chapel Hill.
I care deeply about the ability of the arts to bring people together and thus have focused my career on supporting the important work of arts institutions. As an MBA fellow at American Ballet Theatre, I supported strategic planning and contract negotiation efforts. Prior to business school, I worked as director of development for the D.C. Youth Orchestra Program where I built a fundraising strategy to help the organization reach financial sustainability. I learned fundraising best practices through progressive development roles at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Prior to that, I graduated summa cum laude from Vanderbilt University.
Why Fuqua?
I chose Fuqua because of the school’s genuine focus on building leaders of consequence. This is something that I heard Dean Bill Boulding speak about again and again whether in the media or on campus. I also felt that it was evidenced in the unique opportunities Fuqua offered through CASE and the Fuquans I encountered. I found Fuquans to be genuine, kind, and wanting to have a positive impact on the world. Whenever I reached out to Fuquans, they always offered me an hour or more of their time and to put me in touch with others. This was unique.
Fun Fact from My 25 Random Things
My great-grandmother Frances Nolde is one of my heroes. She had her own radio show, performed on Broadway, and flew planes in the 1940s, even winning a transcontinental air race. Last year, my grandfather and I received, on her behalf, a Congressional Medal of Honor for her efforts flying with the Civil Air Patrol in World War II.
Articles
How CASE Prepared Me for a Social Impact Career
Daytime MBA Class of 2018