Kilian Koffi

Columbia Business School

“I’m a socially curious Afro-European nomad who thrives in turning ambiguity into opportunity.”

Hometown: Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire and Groningen, the Netherlands

Fun Fact About Yourself: As a qualified field hockey referee, I explored much of the UK through its hockey pitches, refereeing over 100 games.

Undergraduate School and Major:

• London School of Economics – International Development (MSc)
• Lancaster University UK – Economics (BA)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: World Bank Youth Summit Manager / Analyst for World Bank Head of Africa

What word best describes the Columbia Business School MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far and why? Purpose. Everyone I have spoken to so far has strong opinions about the world and their desire to make it a little bit better, in whichever area they worked or aspire to work in.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Columbia Business School’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? It would be its holistic approach to building the MBA class. From the start, I have felt that CBS strives to attract multidimensional people who bring in different perspectives on life, work, and academia, by really getting to know its applicants. Both the admissions team and the students I spoke to throughout my application process made me feel that difference is valued and – more importantly – actively harnessed at CBS, which leads to an exciting, disruptive environment.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Columbia Business School? I’m excited to be part of the Africa Business Club and connect with fellow Afro-optimists!

What makes New York City such a great place to earn an MBA? Knowledge exchange is central to the MBA process: building on your own experiences by learning about others’. New York City offers the perfect backdrop for this process in bringing together endless fresh ideas, people, and cultures (as well as having a direct connection with the largest business hub in the world).

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: This past year, I managed a team of 18 young professionals to organize World Bank Group Youth Summit. It was attended virtually by over 40,000 youth (18-35) from 150+ countries. We worked tirelessly to provide an interactive, cross-cultural experience that could lead to tangible solutions and connections. On top of the summit, we ended up developing and hosting five regional pre-summit discussion events in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. Here, between 400 and 1,000 local youth tuned in to engage with policy makers, development practitioners, and each other on topics ranging from ocean plastics to democracy. Building and managing a global team that have never met in person to put together this series of events was one of the most challenging and simultaneously most rewarding experiences of my career so far.

How did COVID-19 change your perspective on your career and your life in general? It has emphasized to me how dependent we are on each other as a species. It further convinced me of the need for public and private interests to be aligned if we want to tackle global issues and build a more resilient future.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? Working for World Bank leadership for 5 years, I’ve built up a strong understanding of emerging markets and their economic opportunities. There is an enormous financing gap to realize many of the fantastic opportunities. Through an MBA, I seek to combine my experience and insights with a practical toolkit to do just that. My dream is to unlock the boundless potential for enterprise across the African continent, through strategic consulting, innovative finance, or a combination of the two.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? None.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Columbia Business School’s MBA program? It may seem obvious, but be yourself! When thinking through your application be honest with yourself in writing down your story and motivation, and try to capture your unique vantage point(s).

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