Piper Hampsch

"I have more appreciation for diversity in lived experiences and backgrounds since starting in the program, and I often do more listening than speaking in terms of leadership. My closest friends and teammates hail from so many different countries and undergraduate institutions, so I’ve been able to learn and grow from my peers around me more than ever before."
MMS: Foundations of Business
Industry:
Prior Education:
Duke
Statistical Science
Why I Chose Fuqua
I was certainly attracted to the tight-knit community culture and Team Fuqua reputation, and having been embedded in Duke for years prior to the MMS program, I knew Fuqua would supplement my undergraduate experience through additional resources and a new batch of classmates.
Truthfully, I saw Fuqua as a high school for adults: you can build close interpersonal relationships across programs and with administrators, much like I did as a teenager, but this time around I would be surrounded by a high-caliber, curious, and diverse group of professionals. What is branded as “experiential learning” inside the classroom would extend outside as well, and I’d be consistently challenged to get outside my comfort zone as a student and as a person.
Coming from a more quantitative background, I was eager to gain broad business exposure and prepare myself for any career trajectory. Fuqua was a no-brainer based on its best-in-class resources, experiential learning inside the classroom and out, and preparation for the future.
I was fortunate enough to intern with the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Blackhawks in the two summers prior to pursuing an MMS degree. These experiences allowed me to reflect on my professional strengths and weaknesses, and I’ve been able to hone in on these characteristics as I march through the program.
I’ll be working with the Dallas Cowboys as a Strategic Football Fellow after graduation, leveraging my technical background in sports analytics and the business acumen I’ve developed at Fuqua. In this fellowship, I’ll help collect and analyze wearable player tracking data for advance scouting and player evaluation, while also supporting coaches, scouts, and front office staff in any data-driven football strategies. I’m thrilled to continue learning and growing in one of the most notable NFL franchises. Go Cowboys!
5 Things to Do On and Around Campus
- Be the Ultimate Duke Fan. Maybe I’m biased because I’m a student-athlete, but watching your fellow classmates who compete on varsity athletic teams for Duke has been a highlight of my experience. Football and basketball are mainstream, sure, but there are 18 other Duke teams playing throughout the year that you can watch, typically for free!
- Bloom at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. If you can hold out until mid-March, blooming season at the Gardens is the most beautiful spot on campus. When the weather gets nice, expect lots of students gathered in the open green spaces.
- Get in Tune with Nature at Eno River State Park. This scenic destination about 10 minutes from campus harbors one of Durham’s best-kept secrets. There are plenty of trails for the active type, but you can easily sit, swim, or picnic at Eno, as well.
- Explore the Fast Food Scene on Hillsborough Rd. This strip has almost every fast food restaurant you can think of: McDonald’s, KFC, Chik-fil-A, Dunkin, Waffle House, Wendy’s, and of course, North Carolina favorites like Bojangles and Cookout. If you’re wanting some comfort food, Hillsborough can help you out.
- Sweat it Out. Take advantage of the recreational and group fitness offerings at Wilson Gym on West Campus or Brodie Gym on East! There is always an opportunity for cycling, yoga, HIIT, or strength classes during the week, or you can check out local studios like Midtown Yoga, CorePower Yoga, or CycleBar.
Fuqua’s Supportive Community
I never expected the trifecta of my life to intertwine together so seamlessly; my athletic, academic, and social endeavors flow together throughout my day rather than tug me in different directions. Fuqua and the MMS program have been so supportive of each towards my student experience, and they alleviated any stress I had balancing my time and energy while in the program.
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%)