Veterans Day 2022: Fuqua Alumni
Rico Beans MBA '12
Veteran, United States Air Force
What do you do professionally?
Currently, I work for a technology company with responsibility for Business Development and M&A. This involves helping the company with inorganic growth by acquiring small tech companies and structuring strategic business deals. Outside of my corporate career, I am an entrepreneur. I have created two successful e-commerce firms, Snack ‘n Fun and Fun Media Designs. Snack ‘n Fun delivers snack and activity boxes for kids all over the country, and Fun Media Designs creates and develops coloring books and other print media for sale at online retailers.
Why did you join, or why did you pick the service branch you joined?
I joined the Air Force because I thought it would provide a mental challenge and technical knowledge for the future.
How did your military experience influence your journey in getting an MBA at Fuqua?
My military experience was very influential in my decision to pursue an MBA at Fuqua because Fuqua is a very military-friendly school. It has allowed me to connect with other veterans who positively impacted my experience.
What does Team Fuqua mean to you?
Team Fuqua means a family of brilliant individuals who come together collectively to make a monumental impact on society.
David Helgerson MBA '01
Veteran, United States Navy
What do you do professionally?
I am the Managing Director and Co-Head of Impact Investing at Hamilton Lane.
Why did you join, or why did you pick the service branch you joined?
My primary goal was to fulfill a commitment to public service and to our country. It was important for me to serve. This was probably an ideal that was inspired by my father and grandfather, who were each career U.S. Naval Officers.
How did your military experience influence your journey in getting an MBA at Fuqua?
Upon fulfilling my military service, I wanted to develop some tangible business skills. I was drawn by finance and the impact that private capital can have to build businesses as well as advance larger environmental and social objectives. I saw Fuqua as a place that emphasized building business excellence and ethics through teamwork and collaboration. As most military veterans can appreciate, you can accomplish great things through teamwork and the right kind of leaders to inspire and guide. I saw this ethos underlying the culture at Fuqua.
What does Team Fuqua mean to you?
Working as a team means finding common ground and agreeing to create something bigger than oneself in a way that could probably not be accomplished individually. Business schools aren’t always known for their ability to foster teamwork. Usually, the emphasis is only on the leadership skills. However, just like within the military, cultivating great teams and great leaders go hand in hand. Understanding this and the people element of building strong organizations is what Team Fuqua means to me.
Rico Beans MBA '12
Veteran, United States Air Force
What do you do professionally?
Currently, I work for a technology company with responsibility for Business Development and M&A. This involves helping the company with inorganic growth by acquiring small tech companies and structuring strategic business deals. Outside of my corporate career, I am an entrepreneur. I have created two successful e-commerce firms, Snack ‘n Fun and Fun Media Designs. Snack ‘n Fun delivers snack and activity boxes for kids all over the country, and Fun Media Designs creates and develops coloring books and other print media for sale at online retailers.
Why did you join, or why did you pick the service branch you joined?
I joined the Air Force because I thought it would provide a mental challenge and technical knowledge for the future.
How did your military experience influence your journey in getting an MBA at Fuqua?
My military experience was very influential in my decision to pursue an MBA at Fuqua because Fuqua is a very military-friendly school. It has allowed me to connect with other veterans who positively impacted my experience.
What does Team Fuqua mean to you?
Team Fuqua means a family of brilliant individuals who come together collectively to make a monumental impact on society.
David Helgerson MBA '01
Veteran, United States Navy
What do you do professionally?
I am the Managing Director and Co-Head of Impact Investing at Hamilton Lane.
Why did you join, or why did you pick the service branch you joined?
My primary goal was to fulfill a commitment to public service and to our country. It was important for me to serve. This was probably an ideal that was inspired by my father and grandfather, who were each career U.S. Naval Officers.
How did your military experience influence your journey in getting an MBA at Fuqua?
Upon fulfilling my military service, I wanted to develop some tangible business skills. I was drawn by finance and the impact that private capital can have to build businesses as well as advance larger environmental and social objectives. I saw Fuqua as a place that emphasized building business excellence and ethics through teamwork and collaboration. As most military veterans can appreciate, you can accomplish great things through teamwork and the right kind of leaders to inspire and guide. I saw this ethos underlying the culture at Fuqua.
What does Team Fuqua mean to you?
Working as a team means finding common ground and agreeing to create something bigger than oneself in a way that could probably not be accomplished individually. Business schools aren’t always known for their ability to foster teamwork. Usually, the emphasis is only on the leadership skills. However, just like within the military, cultivating great teams and great leaders go hand in hand. Understanding this and the people element of building strong organizations is what Team Fuqua means to me.