Rob Saylor
“During my first Durham residency, I realized that the cohort’s value at Fuqua was immeasurable. With 20+ years of leadership, business, and finance experience, I could fully engage with the program and contribute meaningfully. The cohort, consisting of remarkably talented professionals averaging 12 years of experience and 35 years of age, was a source of inspiration and motivation.”
Global Executive MBA
Industry:
Prior Education:
Towson University
Why I Chose Fuqua
Choosing Fuqua was driven by personal, professional, and aspirational factors. As a first-generation college graduate and career-long accountant, I valued an MBA's transformational opportunities, building upon my 20+ years of leadership, finance, and business experience. Fuqua's Global Executive MBA program's flexibility, East Coast roots, extensive network, access to an incredible curriculum and professors, and top-tier reputation made Fuqua the clear choice for my MBA investment.
The strength of Fuqua's network played a pivotal role in my decision. The opportunity to hear and learn from alums' success stories and their eagerness to connect underscored the program's collaborative spirit and potential to enrich my learning experience.
Fuqua's commitment to experiential learning is unparalleled. The opportunities, such as the Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum, Mentored Study, and global residencies, offer chances to apply core coursework to real-world challenges. These experiences and a diverse and accomplished cohort enriched my understanding and broadened my perspectives.
Ultimately, Fuqua delivered beyond my expectations. The curriculum, the vibrant community, and the global outlook contributed to my personal and professional growth. My MBA journey has been an invaluable investment, equipping me with the confidence and renewed purpose to navigate the next phase of my career.
Before Fuqua
I’ve spent more than 20 years navigating multiple highly matrixed global organizations and complex industries across Fortune 1 to 500 companies and public accounting. My career to date has been in the accounting space of the CFO organization with a focus on technical/policy/M&A, corporate/segment, and external reporting efforts.
After Fuqua
I plan to lean into my finance, strategy, and decision modeling studies while leveraging my progressive accounting experiences to pivot out of the Controllership organization and into finance or business areas. My endgame is creating optionality during the “back-nine” of my career – success in the CFO/finance channel or CAO organization.
My Top 5 Global Executive MBA Experiences
- Exploring new countries and continents, sparking my goal to visit all seven continents and the wonders of the world—Africa, Australia, Antarctica, Machu Picchu, Pyramids, Petra, Colosseum, and the Great Wall of China—I am coming for you!
- Team Fuqua! — #Team4ForLife
- Infinite Insights and Memories—LinkedIn post about my GEMBA adventure
- Global immersion experiences and focus on global markets and institutions during international residencies.
- Becoming an official Blue Devil!
Maximizing Your Global Executive MBA Experience
First and foremost, know your answer to “why an MBA” and have a clear plan to maximize your return on investment. Start by assessing where you are in life and your career, identifying areas where the program can help you grow. For me, pivoting out of accounting meant diving headfirst into finance, strategy, and decision modeling courses. If you have a passion for traveling, ensure you make the most of the international residencies—they are a unique opportunity to combine learning with cultural immersion.
Additionally, find your groove and pace early on. The program can be intense, but embracing the journey is key. Build meaningful connections with your cohort—they will become lifelong friends and valuable collaborators. Finally, be open to stepping outside your comfort zone, whether it’s through experiential learning projects or exploring unfamiliar cultures, providing incredible insights and personal growth. Enjoy every part of the adventure!
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%)