Meet Arizona State’s MBA Class of 2018

Chuka Ndukauba

Arizona State University, W. P. Carey School of Business

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: A man with a plan, wading through the uncertainties of different cultures and continents.

Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love carving up a cold pear fruit in different sizes and shapes before eating it…(immediately that is!)

Undergraduate School and Major:

University of Nigeria – MD

University of Sheffield – MSc Molecular Medicine

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Public and Private Health Care Providers in Nigeria – General Practice Physician

Solina Health – Health Systems Consultant

Novo Nordisk – Medical Project Manager (Middle Africa)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Transitioning from clinical practice and translational medical research to business was a challenging but ultimately enjoyable experience. It required a reorientation of my thought processes from a strictly humanitarian sense (with no realistic consideration for revenue generation) to a point where I could blend both worlds together in a rational way.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants?  That’s an interesting question for me. I took the GRE exam three years before applying to ASU because I wanted to embark on a PhD program after my graduate degree in Sheffield. It paid off in the end as it simplified my MBA application process. Therefore, I recommend that candidates prepare for and take the GMAT/GRE as early as possible to maximize their chances. Also, they should seek reputable referees who know them well enough to give very honest appraisals or references. Needless to say, candidates with less stellar profiles than MBA scholarship recipients have been known to snag admission slots by excelling in their interviews. The interviews are very powerful tools to showcase one’s suitability for most MBA programs.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? ASU’s W. P. Carey School touted a revamped curriculum that looked really interesting to me compared to many other business schools. The clincher was a module designed to foster collaboration between other faculties and the full-time MBA students. Being ranked number one in innovation (U.S. News & World Report) perhaps explains this part of ASU’s vision. The admission process was straightforward and was led by an admissions director who was genuinely happy to receive candidates from all over the world. I guess their services marketing strategy was on point!

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? The healthcare space and the pharmaceutical industry particularly appeal to me. Having worked in healthcare consulting and pharmaceutical project management, a strategy role in this sector represents my dream job. I would want a role where I get to utilize not just my formal education, but also my interactions and experiences across cultures in deriving or creating real value.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program?   I gave them a fresh perspective on the Nigerian culture as well as other sub-Sahara African countries. They found a friend in me who could be depended on for future collaboration in business, non-profit ventures or otherwise. That they once heard me thank them in my ancestral language saying daalu…