Alexandra Wilson
"The Daytime MBA cohort is the most diverse group I have ever been a part of - on every metric. The diversity here has enhanced class discussions with cultural and professional anecdotes, widened my perspective on economic and cultural issues, and made it more fun to make new friends."
Daytime MBA
Prior Education:
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Spanish Studies, Speech Language Hearing Sciences, 2018
Why I Chose Fuqua
I chose Fuqua because of the school's demonstrated commitment to the fields of energy and sustainability—two concentrations, multiple student clubs, the Center for Energy, Development, and the Global Environment (EDGE), the long-standing Energy Conference, and the broader Duke Climate Commitment. I knew my interest in these areas would be nurtured and expanded.
I also chose Fuqua because of the people. I met my soon-to-be classmates at Blue Devil Weekend and was so impressed by their passion, intelligence, kindness, and openness. The longest-lasting feature of business school is the relationships built, and I knew I would build great friendships at Fuqua.
I set out to achieve many things—consult through the Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum (FCCP) course, play tennis more often, be heavily involved in clubs, and be exposed to new topics in the sustainability and energy industries. I’ve been successful in all these areas!
Before Fuqua
Before business school, I was a project manager for an electrical contractor building substations for new wind and solar farms. I oversaw our subcontractors, ordered equipment and materials, tracked project progress, managed site operations, and reported on quality and safety. Prior to that, I spent two years with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps doing community service around the USA. My teams and I built homes with Habitat for Humanity, restored desert habitat with the Mojave Desert Land Trust, and grew produce for the local community in Oregon, among other projects.
After Fuqua
I am looking into leadership development programs to continue learning about various business functions. New skills are cemented through practice, so I want to spend months with different teams and determine where I can make the most impact.
5 Ways to Make Friends at Fuqua
- Invite small groups of new acquaintances for dinner. Building friendships requires time, especially quality time. More intimate gatherings are perfect to dive deeper and share meaningful parts of yourself.
- Attend Blue Devil Weekend. You meet other admitted students, and it is great to walk into orientation and see familiar faces.
- Go on walks with your section mates. This is truly the perfect activity because you spend time outside, you add movement to your day, and you get to strengthen your connection with new friends!
- Join clubs. We are here to form meaningful connections, and clubs are a great way to find people with interests or backgrounds similar to yours. Meeting energy and sustainability-oriented people through clubs has been one of the highlights of my time at Fuqua.
- Don't worry about who is going to be there, engage with who shows up. There are incredible people at Fuqua, and every event can be an opportunity for introduction. Stay open to more great relationships, and don't let fear of strangers stop you from participating in something interesting to you!
My Fuqua Activities
Duke MBA Energy Club
FuquaVision
Center for Energy, Development, and the Global Environment (EDGE) Impact Scholar
Net Impact
Food & Agriculture
Tips for Acing the Admissions Interview
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Understand what "Team Fuqua" means
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Show your personality
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Distract yourself for the 15 minutes leading up to the interview—call a friend, scroll on social media, listen to your favorite music