Benjamin Ellis

As physicians, we aren’t given much—if any—education or insight into the world of business. We’re taught to identify gaps in our knowledge—to accept that we don’t know what we don’t know—and to educate ourselves to keep our patients safe. We advocate fiercely for our patients, but rarely for ourselves. When I decided to pursue an MBA, my goal was to expose myself to new concepts—maybe even learn a language that could help bridge the gap between physicians and administrators. Along the way, I’ve gained the tools to better understand the arena in which I operate, and as a result, I’m beginning to understand who I am in a business context and what I bring to the table.

I can truly say the entire Weekend Executive MBA experience has been transformative. The instructors are world-renowned, and my peers are phenomenal. My confidence in finance and the business world has skyrocketed. Gaining the ability to understand accounting, finance, and negotiation has helped me successfully navigate contract discussions within my organization. As the saying goes, “know your worth,” and I’m amazed by how much this journey has led to a deeper self-realization of mine. It’s like learning a foreign language—then one day, it clicks, and suddenly you have access to an entirely new world. I came to Fuqua to learn about business, but I’ve also learned a great deal about myself.