Alumni: Recent Alumni Transformational Leadership Award

Rony Cepeda Mekosh MBA '22

Senior Manager, REDF

Rony Cepeda Mekosh is a Senior Manager at REDF, a venture philanthropy and impact investing organization that invests in employment social enterprises (ESEs) to create jobs and opportunities for people overcoming barriers to work (e.g., justice system involvement, homelessness). Rony helps lead tailored capacity-building services, including due diligence of grantees, to help ESEs become more resilient and strengthen their impact. Throughout his work, he has helped several social entrepreneurs scale their impact by providing more job opportunities and wraparound supports to people in need. As a collective, the social enterprises supported by REDF have led to the employment of 133,500 people with barriers and $2.5 billion in earned revenue.  

Driven by his firsthand experiences with economic inequality while growing up, Rony is passionate about fostering strong communities through innovation and opportunity. He previously worked as a consultant promoting equitable investments in urban education through an organization called Education Resource Strategies. Rony holds B.A. in economics from Harvard University and an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. He is a proud previous CASE Fellow and Scholar (class of '22), as well as having served as a CASE i3 Associate at Fuqua. He proudly hails from Perth Amboy, NJ, and the Dominican Republic. He currently resides in New Jersey with his wife and their adorable dog. Outside of work, you can find him hiking, reading fantasy novels, hosting board game nights, or visiting a national park.

What impact has your Fuqua experience had on your career/life?

The impact that Fuqua has had on my career can be summarized in one word: community. I am privileged to be in community with like-minded friends who inspire me and push me to work harder. Similarly, I am privileged to have been taught and mentored by great staff members and professors at Fuqua. Wherever my ship sails, I can rest easy knowing that my Fuqua community will always be there to anchor and support me – and that I would gladly do the same for others. 

Professionally or personally, what are you excited about right now?

We are launching our new 5-year strategy at REDF – and I am looking forward to innovating with my teammates to expand our impact and help create more jobs for those with barriers to employment. Additionally, as I settle into my post-Fuqua career, I am looking forward to mentoring and guiding more students who are interested in weaving impact into their careers. 

What does Team Fuqua mean to you?

Team Fuqua is a type of magic that occurs in small but nonetheless significant moments. It means picking up the phone to tell a student about your industry. It means reaching out to friends who might be struggling with the statistics exam. It means giving direct and constructive feedback on how to nail that interview. Team Fuqua occurs in small moments of kindness in which we collectively build each other up.

Helen Zhang MBA '24

CEO, Co-founder, Futurise Growth Partners, Inc.
CEO, Partner, Helenistic Growth LLC

Helen immigrated to the U.S. in 2013 with little money, no connections, and a relentless drive to succeed. Balancing work, school, and family, she spent four years at Panda Express while earning her college degree—all while raising two young children. Through sheer determination, exceptional time management, and an unshakable work ethic, she earned two promotions and graduated with honors.

In 2018, Helen began her corporate career at a Fortune 500 aerospace company, where she gained deep expertise in financial strategy. 

By 2022, Helen felt called to a more entrepreneurial path. While applying to business school, she transitioned to financial services at New York Life, allowing her to make a bigger impact on the lives of others. After being admitted to Fuqua, she embraced the challenge of an MBA journey as a single mom of two.

It was at Fuqua where Helen first discovered Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) and became captivated by the world of business ownership. She launched a self-funded search for a business to acquire, but during that process, she uncovered a critical gap in the exit planning space—too many business owners lacked a clear strategy to build and sell a valuable business.

Determined to fill this gap, Helen became a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) and later a Certified Value Builder, diving headfirst into her mission of helping entrepreneurs transform their businesses, increase enterprise value, and achieve successful exits on their terms.

Today, Helen lives in the Triangle Area in North Carolina with her partner and children. On her spare time, she enjoys CrossFit, cooking, and giving back through organizations like the North Carolina Chinese Business Association, Rotary Club, Women Serving Others, and local church.

Helen’s journey is a testament to resilience, lifelong learning, and the power of taking control of your own future—a message she now shares with people everywhere she goes.

What impact has your Fuqua experience had on your career/life?

Attending Fuqua as a single mother of two was a transformative experience that reshaped both my career and personal life. Beyond the invaluable exposure to exceptionally talented peers and world-class education, Fuqua gave me the confidence, courage, and skill set to pursue entrepreneurship. The unwavering support of Team Fuqua was instrumental—without it, entrepreneurship might still be just a dream rather than my reality today.

I will never forget the classmates who took turns caring for my children so I could attend ETA conferences across the country during my MBA journey. Their kindness and generosity were more than just support—they were a testament to the extraordinary spirit of Team Fuqua, and for that, I am forever grateful.

Fuqua did more than equip me with business acumen; it strengthened my resilience, broadened my perspective, and pushed me to think bigger. The impact extended beyond me—it profoundly shaped my children’s outlook, showing them firsthand the power of perseverance, ambition, and lifelong learning.

Looking back, attending Fuqua was one of the most valuable and life-changing decisions I have ever made. I am incredibly grateful to have been part of a community that not only challenged me but also lifted me up, empowered me, and helped turn my dreams into reality.

Professionally or personally, what are you excited about right now?

Professionally, I am thrilled about the growth of our company Futurise Growth Partners and the recognition of our work in helping business owners build and realize the value of their life's work.

What does this Fuqua award mean to you?

Receiving the 2025 Recent Alumni Transformational Leadership Award was an astonishing and deeply humbling moment. Why? Because I was simply following my passion—mentoring the next generation, supporting and encouraging peers to chase their dreams, giving back to my community, and educating business owners on how to build thriving, valuable businesses that can succeed beyond them.

This award is more than just recognition; it’s a powerful reminder to always lead with impact, do the right thing, and continue adding value to people’s lives. I am truly honored to receive it and grateful to be part of the Fuqua community, where leadership is about service, transformation, and empowering others to succeed.