MMS: Foundations of Business Student Monsunmola Ilesamni
“I wanted graduate school to be a rich learning experience beyond the classroom, and that is what the MMS program at Fuqua has given me. I have been able to learn about different aspects of business in a very diverse class structure.”

MMS: Foundations of Business

Class of 2023
Industry:
Financial Services

Prior Education:

University of Lagos, Nigeria
Real Estate Management, 2017
Hometown:
Lagos, Nigeria
Nationality:
Nigeria

Why I Chose Fuqua

 I had some interest in finance because of my prior experience, but I also wanted to learn about business strategy, marketing and more. I chose Fuqua because I saw a community that was very enthusiastic about helping one another. During my application process, I reached out to a couple of students, and they were very helpful with any questions I had. I had also heard how the program was structured, especially how huge the team experience is here at Fuqua. I knew I’d be sure to get the best of both with the MMS program: a welcoming environment and a very rich learning experience.

Before Fuqua

I worked as a corporate and investment banking analyst in a merchant bank in Nigeria. My background before that was in real estate, but I developed an interest in finance, and I wanted to bridge my knowledge gap.

After Fuqua

I plan to get more experience in banking as I am particularly interested in infrastructure/project financing. I hope to use my knowledge from the program to help businesses achieve their project financing goals.

5 Tips for Maximizing Your Time at Fuqua

  1. Try not to feel too overwhelmed and learn how to curate time for both your school work and social activities.
  2. Attend as many events as you can because the time does go by really fast.
  3. Maximize the resources available to you during the program and this can include the professors’ office hours, library, TA Zoom sessions, CMC Career coaching and so on.
  4. Get comfortable with approaching people and making genuine connections with your classmates, teammates or students from other programs within the Fuqua community.
  5. Engage within the Fuqua community and identify with clubs that suit your interests both social and professional clubs. There are loads of them.

What I Love About Durham

I definitely enjoy the serenity here in Durham. Having lived and worked in Lagos, Nigeria, and dealt with the busy city for several years, I am loving every bit of the break I get during my school year. Also, I have had the opportunity to meet amazing people here in the community beyond the friends I have made at Fuqua, and this makes it feel a bit like home. Durham also has some really nice food spots that allows me try out different meals from different cultures.

Master of Management Studies: Foundations of Business

Undergraduate Majors

Liberal Arts (33%)
Business/Accounting (24%)
Engineering/Natural Sciences (18%)
Economics (17%)
Other (8%)

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Typical Class Demographics
MMS: Foundations of Business

Average Age

23

Average Work Experience

6 months or less

Countries Represented

27

Non-US Citizenship

43%

Women

49%
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