Peace Titilawo  

University of Virginia, Darden School of Business

“Nigerian American Flutist, Financial Services & Technology professional & avid traveler who’s passionate about diversity and inclusion!”

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve held pure gold 80 feet below the streets of Manhattan during my first internship at the Federal Reserve Bank of NY.

Undergraduate School and Major: Hunter College CUNY, Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Digital Accelerator at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC)

What makes the case method so attractive as a means to learn and become a better manager? The case method will place me in ambiguous situations where I’d have to learn how to navigate solving challenging cases. It’ll really allow me to think critically and strategically, hone in my analytical skills, be assertive in my decisions, and communicate well. I’ll learn how to ask the right questions, make data-driven decisions, understand different points of views as well as equip me with the confidence to speak up in a room full of C-suite level executives.

Aside from your classmates and the case method, what was the key part of the school’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The tight-knit community. I attended a large undergraduate commuter school where I really had to actively build my own community. Darden has a small community so I’m really excited about building long lasting relationships that’ll last a lifetime. It’s important that I feel supported and believe that I can really create a lasting positive impact here. Darden is already doing so many great things in diversity and inclusion and I truly believe that I can help support that mission and continue to make that difference in the community and in the larger MBA community as well.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? The MBA classmates that I’ve met so far have always been super kind and helpful as I navigated early recruiting and pre-MBA programs. I can always reach out to someone and they would always be available in answering any questions I had about interviewing, resumes, classes, companies, culture and offering advice and making sure I was well equipped before going into something. They’ve also been really great at following up with me, providing great feedback and being very candid.

What makes you most excited about starting business school here? What makes you most nervous? I must be honest, although the case method still gives me a bit of anxiety, it’s still part of why I’m most excited. I look forward to collaborating with my learning team and meeting amazing people and learning new things every day in a top, influential school with the #1 learning experience. I’m also excited about all the new experiences I’ll have in a town like Charlottesville especially coming from a big city like New York.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Co-founding the Youth Voice Awards, a grant-making program where I was able to allocate thousands of dollars and offer resources and support to important social justice projects led by young leaders in New York City. This program has impacted different communities and thousands of lives since 2015 and is still positively changing lives every day.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I wanted to be part of the solution and do something about the underrepresentation of minorities in global business and in C-suite levels. Also, I wanted to fast-track my career, expand both my skill set and network and have access to amazing opportunities.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I targeted other Consortium Schools dedicated to the mission of increasing the representation of minorities in Business including Michigan Ross, Washington Olin, Georgetown McDonough, Emory Goizueta, Carnegie Mellon Tepper, Cornell Johnson, and Rochester’s Simon School of Business.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? During the admission process, the most challenging question I was asked was to think of a business leader or role model I admire or aspire to be and would like to have lunch or dinner with. This was challenging because I couldn’t just pick one role model that I’d love to have lunch/dinner with, I’d love to have lunch/dinner with ALL of my role models!

Since being accepted, what have you been doing to prepare yourself for business school? I’ve been talking to a lot of current students and alumnus to understand their experiences in business school and with recruiting for different industries and organizations. I have been asking for advice on how to navigate different situations I might face as a candidate. I’ve completed some pre-coursework including Financial Accounting and Managerial Accounting Coursera classes. I’ve enrolled in Darden before Darden so I can better understand the case method and gain exposure to what life at Darden really looks like. Lastly, I’ve been speaking to many companies and getting to know about the roles that are available to MBA candidates in order to get a sense of what I want to accomplish post-MBA.

What was your defining moment and how did it prepare you for business school? My defining moments included teaching financial literacy to people in my church that wanted to become more financially independent, and also to young students in different public schools. A student once wrote down for career day that “I want to be like Miss Peace when I grow up.” That humbled me completely. Additionally, giving back to my alma mater by speaking to students who were interested in business but needed to know where to start and how to get where they wanted to be. Last but not the least, looking back at all the times my parents continue to support my dreams and sacrifice everything just to make sure I achieve more than they ever did. All these moments have really prepared me for business school because I’m super motivated, determined, and pumped to accomplish all the goals I have set for myself.

What is your favorite company and why? I have so many favorites including but not limited to Microsoft, P&G, Nike, PwC, Kellogg’s, McKinsey and Danaher because of their dedication and commitment to diversity and inclusion and supporting and caring for their employees, clients and consumers.

DON’T MISS: MEET VIRGINIA DARDEN’S MBA CLASS OF 2022