Meet Cornell Johnson’s MBA Class of 2018

William Payne

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University

Hometown: Louisville, KY

Fun Fact About Yourself: AAU and USATF Junior Olympian

Undergraduate Institution: Morehouse College/Business Management

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Accenture Strategy/ Business Strategy Consultant

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Increasing diversity at CAN via recruiting and training initiatives

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? Getting a true feel for the student body and campus at your desired school is key. Do not rely solely on official recruiting events. Try to coordinate one-off visits, if possible.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA?  Cornell’s medium-size student enrollment caught my eye. Students constantly spoke about the great rapport they developed with professors which enhanced their learning. Coming from a small liberal arts school, I understood the advantage of this attribute. In addition, Cornell’s hands-on Immersion curriculum was very attractive. Receiving a real-world education to prepare me for post-graduation was my top priority, and Johnson grads connect this to their success.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? (My dream job would incorporate elements of technology and finance. As our society becomes more driven by social media, both technology and finance are becoming more influential.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? I want to be remembered as a hard worker, a life-long learner, an avid listener and most importantly, an agent of change.