Alumni Q&A: Joyce Shin

1. As someone who made their first gift to Fuqua just last year, what was the turning point that made you decide to support the school financially?
Giving back has always been a part of the reason I wanted to join the Duke Fuqua community— whether it’s through time, community, connections, or financially. I know the impact that financial support can have on students’ lives and various initiatives, so it was an easy decision to make. The thought that was going through my head was probably, “I get to give back” (sometimes it’s difficult to give, even if you want to). It was a mental shift from having a closer association with being a Fuqua student to “officially” becoming a Duke Fuqua alumna J

2. Before giving, what were your perceptions of alumni philanthropy, and how did those change once you became part of it yourself?
To be completely honest, I didn’t have too much knowledge about alumni philanthropy. The first gift was a way to start getting acclimated and learning more about alumni philanthropy, including what the process entails, the options currently available, and how to get more involved. It also helped me start the next chapter of figuring out what would best fit my style/personality. 

3. What about the GOLD program resonated with you personally and made it feel approachable as a new alum?
The appeal of the GOLD program is that it provides a smaller cohort within the broader alumni community, which is more or less like-minded and in similar stages of life and age. We might not recognize the full value now, but as the years progress, these will be the communities and groups you will be prouder to be a part of and associated with. Especially splitting it up by decades can give a sense of “giving back to the next/younger generation(s)”, as time progresses.

4. Looking back at your time at Fuqua, is there a moment, person, or program that stuck with you and made you want to give back?
For me, it was always about the little things, so there are too many to count. During my second year, I had a few personal challenges, but it was an incredible opportunity to see many members of the Fuqua community come together in their own ways. 

I got a new perspective on how to leverage business to uplift communities from John Buley’s Social Venture Capital. When I needed to take my mind off things, I could always count on John Heater from Financial Accounting to stop by, say hi, and crack a joke. I was encouraged to think about the bigger picture from Jonathon Cummins’ Future of Work. I took David McAdams’ Game Theory because I knew very little about it, but wanted to learn (I also had the best team). I audited John Graham’s Corporate Finance because I wanted to be along for the ride without any pressure. Through the FCCP program, I connected with MMS students and had a direct way to mentor and give back to the younger generation. 

I TA’d Diversity and Talent Management for Jeanne Holmes, and she kindly gifted me a book, ‘Red Helicopter: Lead Change with Kindness’ by James Rhee. At the end of our Real Estate class with Norman Block and Bob Slater, all the students were gifted a book, “Look Out Above! A young professional’s guide to success”. The list goes on and is endless. I could almost quite literally feel how much Fuqua wanted to support and see me succeed. Reflecting back, all of them together created truly a wholesome experience. So, it was a no-brainer for me to want to give back. 

5. How did it feel to know your contribution—no matter the size—was part of something larger among recent graduates?
It’s a sense of responsibility to give back to the younger recent graduates. I could remember what it’s like to be in their shoes, and it would have been comforting to know there was a community that was there to support students. So, now being on the flip side, it’s reassuring to know and exciting to join a group that’s doing that. 

6. What do you hope future students or fellow young alumni gain from programs like GOLD—and what role do you see yourself playing going forward?
For future students, it can be intimidating to graduate from college when they’re still figuring out their lives. So I hope they gain a continued sense of camaraderie, community, support, and resources to understand that their journey isn’t over when they graduate college. I hope they’re encouraged to experiment, take a little detour every now and then, work hard at whatever endeavor they choose, continue to invest in their learning, and bet on themselves. From GOLD, I hope they know that a lot of people have been in their shoes and want to give back in various ways— and now they have an opportunity to do so. 

For young alumni, I hope programs like GOLD provide an opportunity (and excuse) to stay connected with each other. Work gets busy, people move to new cities and countries, friendships naturally drift and fade away, and life happens. Programs like GOLD can provide ways to not just stay connected but form new relationships. 

In the future, I hope to play a larger role in these communities, get involved in different initiatives, and continue to find ways to give back.