Meet Georgetown McDonough’s MBA Class Of 2020

Loretta Richardson         

Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business

School: Georgetown University McDonough School of Business

“To those who came before: Thank you! I will continue paving the way for others.”

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

Fun Fact About Yourself: In Uganda, I had the opportunity to meet my sponsor child, Dolika. I run World Vision marathons for her –– ensuring every child is equipped to achieve their purpose. #waterislife

Undergraduate School and Major: The University of Southern California, BA in English –– Creative Writing

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Marketing & E-Commerce Specialist at Munchkin, Inc.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: While working in Corporate Responsibility at UBS Financial Bank in London, I had the privilege of selecting and managing the Barbican Music Box partnership. The Barbican Box is a portable box given to secondary students throughout East London that contains a range of stimuli to spark imaginative and original compositions. Mentored by members of The London Symphony Orchestra, the students culminate their workshop in a performance at the iconic Barbican Hall. As I watched the students perform with joy and vigor, I was proud to play an integral role in connecting UBS with its community, bringing opportunity to students and aiding in their exploration of the arts.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? The Georgetown University McDonough School of Business has done a fabulous job selecting skilled candidates with heart. Every MBA candidate I have met has a unique story, is driven by purpose and seeks to be global leaders in their profession and community. My curiosity always piques when I learn about a classmate’s work in the Peace Corps or experience working in the White House. I am excited to learn from and collaborate with my dynamic classmates over the course of our MBA experience.

Aside from your classmates, 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? Being a dual-citizen of both the US and UK, I sought an MBA program that would equip me to thrive in today’s increasingly global market. The McDonough Global Business Initiative is what made Georgetown my premier choice MBA program. Not only is our first class the Structure of Global Industries (SGI), but following we are offered a plethora of global experience courses and opportunities to travel abroad and immerse ourselves in new cultures, industries, or work with Fortune 500 companies. In addition, living in Washington D.C. will grant us unique access to speaking engagements with world leaders and networking events at local embassies and non-profit headquarters. I am confident that through McDonough’s MBA program, I will be equipped to become a global business leader and develop business solutions and strategies that will positively impact the lives of others.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am looking forward to joining Net Impact and partnering with a local non-profit or social enterprise in Washington D.C. to consult and aid them in solving key problems facing their organization. In addition, I look forward to our upcoming Global Business Experience and am excited to spend time in Asian and African countries, learning best practices and the subtleties in corporate cultures.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Coming from a non-traditional background and hoping to make a pivot in my career, I knew I had to seek advanced education opportunities in business. After conducting research and speaking to marketing professionals in influential positions, I noticed that the majority of my colleagues and mentors had one thing in common –– they had MBAs.

As a black female looking to advance my marketing career and one day enter the C-Suite, an MBA is imperative. An MBA will serve three purposes: 1) level the professional playing field as I look to advance my career in a field that I am underrepresented; 2) develop my leadership, entrepreneurial and strategic thinking skills; and 3) prepare me to thrive professionally in our increasingly global society.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I will be the first in my family to receive an MBA. Although my family values education and many have advanced degrees, it was still a challenge convincing my immediate family that an MBA was worth the financial and time commitment. They heavily urged me to, instead, pursue my creative talents in the arts. Alternatively, I decided to pursue an MBA. Every industry is affected by business and the most successful companies require savvy, strategy and innovation. In addition, businesses have the power to provoke positive change through their mission or corporate responsibility initiatives. I desire to develop profitable and responsible businesses that empower the lives of others. An MBA will sharpen my entrepreneurial, leadership and strategic thinking skills and prepare me to successfully lead influential global organizations.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I applied to MBA programs through the Consortium. The Consortium is our nation’s largest diversity network that links top-tier students to MBA programs and corporate partners. The common application allows an applicant to apply to (6) out of their (20) schools. The six schools that I applied to were: Georgetown, Yale, USC, UCLA, NYU and UC Berkeley.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I had the privilege of visiting each school and spoke to alumni who gave great insight into the school culture and program.  In addition, it was important that I select a school with an international perspective and global network. In addition, I compared the following: 1) Global reputation and international network; 2) Location and diversity; Curriculum, specialties, and global opportunities; and 4) Employment reports and return on investment.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I am a woman of faith. When I surrendered my life to Christ, I became fearless and began taking a leadership role in my community. As I delved into the needs of others and found innovative ways to create opportunity to close the disparity gap, I discovered my skill for business and leadership. I also witnessed how socially-conscious businesses had the power to transform and empower communities. While I didn’t know I would attend an MBA program in the upcoming years, at that moment, my life had purpose. I realized I had a responsibility to hone my entrepreneurial and leadership skills to continue affecting global change.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? Post-graduation, I hope to build my career as a brand manager –– connecting companies with their communities and building brands that resonate and reflect their consumers’ unique needs and lifestyles. In addition, I hope to increase my support of the networks who afforded me great opportunities to empower the next generation (e.g. Consortium, NBMBAA, A Better Chance and Mountbatten).

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I aspire to grow within a company and become an integral part of its success. Through the development of innovative solutions and delivery of quality products and services, I hope to become a Senior Brand Manager or a Director of Marketing. In regards to community, I hope to join the board of a local social enterprise or non-profit that advances arts and education in disadvantaged communities. However, my mother always taught me that while having goals are fantastic, don’t get so focused on them that you lose sight of all the possibilities –– they are limitless.

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