John McCauley

Emory University’s Goizueta Business School

“An effective leader with diverse experiences who empowers others to do the right thing.”

Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am formerly a nationally ranked rock climber.

Undergraduate School and Major:Appalachian State University, Political Science

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Outdoor Alliance, Organizing Director

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Working with hundreds of local non-profits and a million members of the human-powered outdoor recreation community to pass S.47, the decade’s largest bipartisan conservation bill which authorized $524MM in public lands funding and protected 1.3MM acres of land across the U.S.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Committed to community. The effort my classmates are putting into making everyone feel welcome, organizing events, and building a strong community is beyond my expectations.

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? A strong community. I learn best with supportive peers and know that a strong community can lead to better career outcomes for everyone.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Engaging with the Social Enterprise @ Goizueta community.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? “Why is Fuqua a good fit for you?”

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I needed to grow my network, skills, and experience to elevate my impact.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Kenan-Flagler, Owen, Fuqua, and Foster

How did you determine your fit at various schools? World-class academics, based in a large diverse city, strong community, small class size, and an impactful social enterprise program. I used my network, Poets and Quants, and the admission offices to evaluate the schools and research culture.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are?  Meeting with my Member of Congress for the first time and realizing the impact, and limitations, I could have on shaping the country we live in.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? Running my own successful social enterprise business.