Meet Minnesota Carlson’s MBA Class Of 2019

Olawale Ojo-Fati

Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Great listener, able to make the most difficult decisions while remaining incredibly calm.

Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria

Fun Fact about Yourself: I love walking barefoot. In 2015, I participated in a charity initiative that involved walking barefooted over a 20 mile distance in a small town in Nigeria. The aim was to raise funds for a local orphanage.

Undergraduate School and Major: Federal University of Technology, Akure – Biological Sciences

Employers and Job Titles since Graduation:

Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Sales Representative (2010 – 2011)

Skye Bank Plc, Risk Manager (2012 – 2017)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I earned a science degree during my undergrad, so working in one of the key departments of a top commercial bank after graduation was tough. I had to enroll for an accounting and finance professional degree and combining study with a 50 hour weekly work schedule was hard. There were times when I was tempted to just abandon the job and start all over in a new field, but I was determined to succeed. I completed the degree after a few years, got a great hang of my job, and was majorly involved in an award-winning consolidation process of another commercial bank in Nigeria.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Rankings are a good way to decide what school to attend, but I personally think it’s better to attend a school that is the best fit for your personality. Start researching early and really spend time studying for your GMAT or GRE as they are tricky exams.

Also, take time out to visit schools you are applying to. Talk to alumni, current students, and admissions committee members and make sure you get second opinions on your application essays (not too many opinions though).

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you?  Apart from being one of the top schools in the U.S., the proximity to great companies, and having a small class size with world-class tutors; Carlson is the school that wanted me the most and that sealed the deal for me.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? 

I have made a personal commitment to keep an open mind in respect to my career goals. After my first year, I hope to have a clearer picture of what my career path would be.  Success would also be having a great network of friends and carrying out my internship in a great company.