Kyle Burnett
"One reason for getting my MBA was to network with a wide range of individuals and learn from them. As part of Team Fuqua, an alumnus told me you would learn just much from your fellow cohort members as your professors, and he was right. You often hear about the authentic family atmosphere at Fuqua, and now I know the program was the best choice for me—I do not regret my decision at all."
Weekend Executive MBA
Industry:
Prior Education:
Howard University
BBA Management, 2004
Reflections
My evolution at Fuqua has been enormous, something I didn’t know was possible. From a professional standpoint, my business acumen has improved immensely regarding Finance, Accounting, Strategy, and Economics. All of these topics are key to understanding how we drive revenue. My company is large, and different teams own these subjects, so having the ability to bring it all together is something few individuals can do. Bringing it all together and communicating my perspective clearly and concisely is something I wasn’t able to do before Fuqua. From a personal perspective, I was suffering from imposter syndrome and questioning my abilities to compete at the highest levels. Those walls have started to come down with each passing term, and the Kyle Burnett that walked into Fuqua in 2021 will be proud of the Kyle Burnett that walks at graduation in 2023.
Before Fuqua
I am the Planning Manager for the Jordan Brand for one of our major North American accounts. My responsibilities include direct interaction with external partners regarding internal product and financial strategies, as well as collaboration with multiple teammates across the company to ensure internal and external parties are aligned on critical strategies.
After Fuqua
My career plans are to shift to an overarching business strategy role that allows me to develop and execute strategies in a larger format. I cannot wait to continue applying the information from the Foundations of Strategy and Strategy Implementation courses to my daily life.
Five Random Things About Me
- I am all about life experiences and checking off items on my bucket list. When I turned 25, I decided that I wanted to go skydiving, and it was just a freeing experience, but I would never do it again.
- While working at Macy’s, I had the fantastic opportunity to be a clown in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC. The parade has been going on for nearly a century, so to be one of the millions who have participated in this parade is a true honor.
- Through my job, I had the opportunity to play a pick-up game in the “World’s Most Famous Arena,” Madison Square Garden. Our team won, and I finished with a decent 12 points, four rebounds, two steals, and one block.
- By working for the best sportswear company in the world, it comes with the territory, but I own over 200 pairs of sneakers. The challenge wasn’t purchasing the sneakers—it was trying to house them in my New York City apartment.
- I have attended sporting events on five different continents, with a Rugby match in Cape Town, South Africa, a Liverpool FC fixture (soccer match) at Anfield, and a Muay Tai Kickboxing Match in Bangkok, Thailand, a few of my favorites.