Ronnie Wimberley

Harvard Business School

“Queer, black, first-generation college graduate determined to make a difference against all odds.”

Hometown: Detroit, MI

Fun Fact About Yourself: I grew up in a military family and attended 11 schools across 4 states before starting college

Undergraduate School and Major: Duke University, B.S. Economics, Arabic Literature minor, Ethics Certificate

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: The Bridgespan Group, Consultant

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: As a queer person of color, I am often one of only a handful of people, sometimes one-of-one, working within the influential institutions I have to date that shares my background and unique perspective. I have always sought to use that position to strengthen those institutions by making them more accessible to diverse and marginalized people. At one of my previous employers, I worked closely with office leadership to define a strategy for better incorporating diversity and inclusion into the operations of the firm. I used my unique set of experiences within the firm to advocate for a set of organizational changes that would help increase retention, promotion, and inclusion of hires from across backgrounds and empower management team members to manage intentionally across lines of difference. The leadership team found the recommendations compelling and worked to create a new full-time position wherein I could work with regional and national leadership to finish building out the strategy and implementation plan across offices in North America.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Purposeful. The peers I’ve met so far are all incredibly earnest, forward-looking, brilliant, and driven. Simultaneously, they exhibit an openness toward their future, and a determination to make a difference in the world.

What makes the case method so attractive as a means to learn and become a better manager? The case method allows students to put themselves in the shoes of decision-makers with real examples, creating a sense of empathy and a better understanding of the contexts within which difficult decisions are made. Students also learn from one another’s experiences as they share responses to and dialogue about each case together.

Aside from your classmates and cases, 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? The HBS community—including current students, alumni, professors, and admissions team members—was the primary factor in my decision to choose this program. As described in my answer to the next question, the community overwhelmed me with support even before I had accepted my offer. Each phone call, coffee chat, or lunch with a member of the HBS community was always more than a simple conversation. It was a genuine connection with a person who was interested in my story, my journey, and wanted to be helpful—regardless of my ultimate decision on which school to attend. It instantly communicated the strength of the community and helped me imagine myself as a part of it.

What was the most surprising thing you discovered about Harvard Business School during the application process? My already high expectations of the professors and admissions team were wholly exceeded. I was pleasantly surprised by their willingness to support me in the decision-making process, connect me with like-minded current students, alumni, and others in the HBS community. Each person I spoke with also exhibited a willingness to make a connection and be supportive in whatever way they could.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am looking forward to joining the Impact Investing Club. In my previous role as a nonprofit strategy consultant, I worked with TPG’s Rise Fund, conducting social impact diligence on their impact investments. That work sparked my interest in what role private capital could play in improving access to resources and opportunities in underserved communities. The private sector is increasingly important in influencing social outcomes, and I believe there are several opportunities to bring greater intentionality to that influence to benefit the lives of people in underserved communities. Impact investing will be one of the many private sector pathways I’ll be exploring at HBS that have the potential for significant positive social impact.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? The essay question was far-and-away the most challenging question asked: “As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA program?” In response, I described my personal passion for creating a more inclusive world by leveraging what I called “radical empathy,” or the propensity to be inclusive of others not in spite of their differences, but because of them. This was an intensely personal topic. As a first-generation college graduate, I have seen directly the impacts of benefitting—or not benefitting—from real empathy and real community in my own family. I attribute my own ability to graduate college and start at a program like HBS to the radical empathy shown by my peers, mentors, professors, employers, coworkers, friends, and family. The support they provided allowed me to lean into and leverage my own unique strengths to grow and achieve, rather than to hide my differences or be ashamed of them.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? After four years as a consultant, including two in for-profit and two in nonprofit, I wanted to strengthen my leadership and management capabilities. Additionally, as I mentioned above, I am interested in ways to bring more intentionality to how the private sector influences outcomes experienced particularly by those in underserved communities. An MBA felt like a great opportunity to access formal training in organizational and interpersonal management, and to provide additional exposure to the private sector.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I applied to Stanford GSB and Wharton and was admitted to both

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I primarily focused on the strength and structure of the communities at each of the schools. I talked to current students, alumni, admissions teams, and other admitted students who had to choose between multiple schools. I made sure to ask key questions of other admitted students as well to get a sense of who would be in my own class. Additionally, I considered what school would provide me with the best foundation for both my career and personal life. I wanted a rigorous, structured training in the management and leadership toolkit, as well as support to grow interpersonally. Lastly, meeting alumni helped me envision what my future could look like after graduating, and who I could count among my peers and community.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? As a high school senior, I was admitted to both Duke University and the University of Georgia (UGA). My mom had decided that UGA was the only viable option because of the cost of attendance. I remember thinking to myself, “I’ve got to get to Duke; I can’t pass up this opportunity.” That evening, I wrote a frantic email. I didn’t know exactly who to send it to, so I sent it to both Duke’s admissions and financial aid offices. In the email, I explained that I was a first-generation college admit, and that having the chance to go to Duke was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I asked that someone please reach out to me to help me come up with a plan to make the finances work. A few days later, I was contacted by a member of the admissions team—a black, queer man—who flew us up to visit campus, set us up in the Washington Duke Hotel near campus for a few days and put us in touch with the financial aid office. Ultimately, they worked out a package that could work for my family’s finances. Later that fall, I matriculated at Duke University.

That experience helped catalyze my leadership ethos by teaching me that if I don’t speak up, I won’t be heard. As one of only a handful of students that shared my background, it was imperative that I speak up not only for myself but for those coming after me. Speaking up meant putting me in conversation with decision-makers who had the ability to create access for those, like myself, who otherwise would not have had it. That same admissions officer – as well as other black, queer, and first-generation staff, professors, and peers – served as critical mentors and resources for me as I navigated college and started my professional career. They helped pave the way for me and I wanted to do the same for others. For the rest of college and my professional career, I committed to speaking up and speaking out, building community for others, and working to create greater access to resources and opportunities for those least advantaged.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? I see myself working at the intersection of the private and social sectors to make the US economy more inclusive, particularly to those who have the least access to it. As mentioned above, I am particularly interested in the role private capital can play in increasing access to resources and opportunities for people in underserved communities. This could take many forms. For example, I could see myself working in the impact investing space, helping investors think about how to leverage opportunity zones to maximize social impact in underserved communities.