Amanda Vigneaud
"When I first heard about “Team Fuqua,” I could not have imagined the profound impact it would have on me. Not only have I formed deep and lifelong relationships with colleagues across disciplines and geographies, I’ve witnessed how infusing values like decency, integrity and wisdom into school culture has transformed each of us in our leadership journey."
Weekend Executive MBA
Industry:
Prior Education:
Wellesley College
B.A. Political Science & Religion, 2011
Reflections
I started Fuqua as a full-time working mom of two and quickly recognized how demanding my new lifestyle would be. My approach has been to view my family, career and personal commitments not as limitations, but as assets that enrich my experience and motivate me along the journey. It’s been a refining experience, but ultimately was worth the work. While I tell prospective students not to underestimate the personal and professional commitment pursuing this degree with require, I also encourage them not to diminish the profound and transformative impact it will have on you as a learner and a leader.
I was working at the world’s premier global development agency, leading an expert team of analysts to foster strategic partnerships that advance dignity and lift lives out of poverty. This role included diversifying our partner base, strengthening capacity to improve operations, and advancing policy to implement sustainable, large-scale organizational change.
I plan to continue building purpose-filled partnerships that drive impact at scale. I am excited by the potential created when the best of business meets the good of government and am looking forward to leveraging my knowledge of both to tackle some of the greatest issues of our time.
What Pushed Me Out of My Comfort Zone
In my first year, I participated in the Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum, which offers Fuqua students a chance to consult real-world clients under the supervision of an expert Duke faculty member and a Fuqua alumni mentor. I supported a venture capital firm and spent 6 months updating the company’s portfolio carbon impact model. Both the consulting experience and the scope of work were entirely outside my technical areas of expertise, which stretched me professionally and intellectually. The FCCP program helped me and my team navigate the project from start to finish and proved to be an invaluable support at every stage of our team’s journey. At the same time, FCCP was an opportunity to put to test the notion of “Team Fuqua.” I am confident that our team was able to provide superior services to our client because of the groundwork in leadership and teamwork that had been laid for us earlier in the program. Overall, I could not have asked for a better learning environment.
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%)