Being Black at Goizueta
Deciding to go back to school for my MBA was nerve-wracking. I’ve always lived in culturally safe spaces where I was accepted as a Black woman, personally and professionally; and I knew that any school I chose for my MBA would not grant me the same experience.
As background, I was born and raised in one of the largest Black-majority counties in the United States – Prince George’s County, MD. I attended Howard University, a historically Black university (HBCU) and “The Mecca” of Black excellence. After graduating from Howard in 2017, I immediately moved to Atlanta, a city known for its vibrant Black community and culture. It’s safe to say my upbringing, life experiences, and the spaces I’ve chosen to occupy have primed me to unapologetically embrace my Blackness. So, when I started my MBA journey a few years ago, it was imperative that my MBA program allowed me to do the same. I wanted to enter a top program with charm and an aptness for diversity and inclusion.
In my pre-MBA career, it was apparent that although Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) make up the growing majority of the U.S. population, BIPOC representation, especially within the ranks of corporate America, remains negligible. This is one of my top reasons for wanting to attend business school—to be a change driver for more representation of Black and minority talent in business schools and in the business world. (Special shoutout to The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management!)
When exploring programs, Goizueta Business School stood out for a handful of reasons—its location, community, and academic emphasis on principled leadership particularly as it relates to producing inclusive leaders. In fact, Goizueta recently added Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) as an academic concentration for the Full-Time MBA Program (One- and Two-Year). My interactions and experiences with the Goizueta community first as a prospective student, and now as a current student felt like finding a hidden gem. I knew from the get-go that this community was special.
As a Black woman at Goizueta, I feel supported, valued, and appreciated.
Of course, there are nuances to every experience, but being here feels like a safe space where I can show up as my 100 percent authentic self. If there’s anything I have learned since starting business school, it’s that IQ is not the only value one can add. Academics are important but I’ve learned that my value comes from how I can connect with others and create lasting and meaningful relationships beyond the classroom.
Looking back, each touchpoint with Goizueta students, alumni, faculty, and staff were reflective of the school’s culture. Yes, academics are important but equally important is the impact you make on business and society.