James Beavers
“I felt that the MQM program would provide me the strongest path towards my career goals so that’s how I determined Fuqua to be the right fit for me over other schools. While that business decision has already proved to be fruitful, the amount of personal connections and friendships I’ve made during my time here has definitely surprised me. There is something about Fuqua that seems to attract not only the brightest minds but some of the friendliest and kindhearted ones too!”
MQM: Business Analytics
My Program Track
Industry:
Prior Education:
Florida State University
Why I Chose Fuqua
I chose the MQM program over other business analytics degrees for a few reasons. First and foremost, I found Fuqua’s alumni network to be the strongest and friendliest out of all of the business schools I was considering. By prioritizing both post-grad outcomes and quality of education, Fuqua instantly shot up to the top of my shortlist of schools. Further, having a business background and zero coding experience, I knew the right blend of business and technical skills would be crucial for my success in a business analytics master’s program.
(And Duke basketball was definitely a non-zero factor in my decision process!)
Before Fuqua
During the summer after my sophomore year at Florida State University, I interned with the Division of Bond Finance at the Florida State Board of Administration. I was brought back after the summer internship and worked there until I graduated two years later. I oversaw how the State issues bonds for various projects and developed a strong passion for public infrastructure financing. Having the opportunity to see how cities develop from the initial financing stages convinced me that this is the career path I wanted to strive towards, combining my passion for finance with my desire to pursue a career that serves my community.
After Fuqua
I plan to pursue Analyst positions at Investment Banking firms. More specifically, I am targeting analyst positions within the municipal finance teams at those firms.
5 Fuqua Non-Negotiables
- Get outside of the classroom – Yes, you come to Fuqua to learn and take advantage of the resources available to you—but this is also a time in your life to grow outside of the classroom and office. Go explore the world or pick that hobby back up that you’ve been neglecting!
- Camp out for Duke Basketball Tickets – Duke basketball is the pinnacle of the sport, and camping out with your classmates for a chance at season tickets is a great bonding experience.
- Walk the Al Buehler trail – Just when I thought about giving up, a brisk walk on the Al Buehler trail in between study sessions was all I needed to revitalize my confidence for finals. Strongly recommend.
- Go to other Duke sports games – Basketball is not the only sport here at Duke, and you will be pleasantly surprised to find out that we have a pretty well-rounded collection of teams to root for.
- Go to Fuqua Friday – Free food and drinks may already be enough to convince you, but if you need more, Fuqua Friday is an opportunity to connect with other students and faculty in a less professional setting.
What I Love About Durham
Durham offers all the amenities you’d expect from a larger city while still retaining a warm, small-town charm. It’s easy to appreciate the character and welcoming spirit the city exudes. Durham is also located in a perfect location for experiencing all four seasons in a manner I prefer—cold in the winter but never too cold, and vice versa in the summer. I've even gotten to see it snow multiple times, and we got to enjoy proper snow days. Overall, I truly feel at home here, and it will be hard to leave once May comes.
MSQM:HA students "meet" in Durham without leaving home
Global Executive MBA
Top Areas of Career Focus
Financial Services (20%)
Consulting (5%)
Sales/Business Development (5%)
Energy/Chemical/Gas (9%)
Marketing/PR/Advertising (6%)
Consumer Goods (3%)
Average Age
Average Work Experience
Countries Represented
Women
Non-US Citizenship
Master of Management Studies: Duke Kunshan University
Undergraduate Majors
Business/Accounting (51%)
Economics (22%)
Liberal Arts (14%)
Engineering/Natural Sciences (10%)
Other (4%)
Average Age
Average Work Experience
Countries Represented
Women
Non-US Citizenship
Master of Management Studies: Foundations of Business
Undergraduate Majors
Liberal Arts (33%)
Business/Accounting (24%)
Engineering/Natural Sciences (18%)
Economics (17%)
Other (8%)
Average Age
Average Work Experience
Countries Represented
Women
Non-US Citizenship
Weekend Executive MBA
Top Areas of Career Focus
IT (16%)
Financial Services (14%)
Health Care/Health Services (10%)
Manufacturing/Operations (9%)
Sales/Business Development (8%)
Consulting (8%)