Black History Month: Celebrating Representation At Stanford GSB

James Brown, MBA ’23

Area of MBA study: Entrepreneurship

What made you want to pursue an MBA? I was making a pretty large career pivot when I left the military. I saw the MBA as an opportunity for me to translate the leadership skills that I received in the Marine Corps to the civilian world. I knew that I wanted to move into either technology or entrepreneurship, but I felt that I would benefit from a structured program that would allow me to explore different options.

Why Stanford? I knew that I wanted to go to a school that had strong engineering roots, as well as strong ties to the technology sector. No other school meets those requirements like Stanford does. Additionally, I wanted to continuously grow in my leadership development and hone a personalized leadership style that allowed me to lead a variety of different organizations in the future. I felt like Stanford emphasized a personal approach to leadership that prioritized authentic growth and iterative discovery. Already I feel like I have a more nuanced understanding of the leader I want to be in the civilian world.

What value do groups like the BBSA provide? There is tremendous value in having close friends who have a shared understanding of your experience. For me personally, I grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska and then entered the Marine Corps straight out of college. More often than not, I was the only person of color in a very homogenous pool of individuals. There were certain experiences I had that I would process on my own due to a lack of someone to confide in. Having someone (or better yet a group of people) who understand exactly what you are talking about when you mention those experiences is cathartic. Having a group of people that “get-it” is one of the most valuable things one can have.

What projects or work of the BBSA has been most impactful? The BBSA does a phenomenal job of providing mentorship. There is so much contextual knowledge that is handed down from class to class that makes all the difference in navigating the business school experience. From the second that you contact the BBSA during the application process, all the way through your first year, there are multiple senior BBSA members that are there to support, advise, and celebrate you. That guidance has been invaluable to me and is one of the things that I am looking forward to giving to the people who come after me.

Why is Black History Month important to you? Black History Month is important to me primarily because of representation and inspiration. When I was younger, I loved reading about the scientific and societal achievements of the black community. It made my own dreams feel that much more tangible to me. It made me hope to one day be listed alongside those individuals who had left their positive mark on the world.

With all of the turmoil and conflict that populates our news feeds and our social discussions, it is important to pause and reflect on the milestones already met and the progress already made. It honors the work and sacrifice of those in our past while inspiring the next generation to carry the torch even further.

What are your future career goals? I want to take these two years and explore, to ensure that I know which doors I absolutely want to close and which ones should stay open. I know definitively that I want two things. The first is to push humanity forward in a positive way. The second is to work with incredibly high-caliber individuals who have a shared sense of purpose, similar to the experience I had while serving. I believe that, for me, the intersection of these two desires lies in hard-tech entrepreneurship, working on the tough problems that could have huge societal impacts. My plan after graduating is to work in the startup space for a company that fits this description. Ideally, one that I helped build.

What don’t your classmates know about you? While in the Marine Corps, I co-founded a small edible food-waste recovery company in San Diego that helped feed over 130 homeless shelter residents! It was a wild idea that started after going to a Hack-a-Thon centered around urban innovation. My co-founders and I worked on it for quite some time before eventually moving on, but I still reflect on that experience as one of my proudest projects!

Meghan Hunter, MBA ’22

Area of MBA study: Impact, Media/Entertainment

What made you want to pursue an MBA? I saw pursuing an MBA as an opportunity to develop my leadership attributes, to explore new disciplines, and to access the resources and opportunities that I aspire to both create and steward for others.

Why Stanford? Stanford felt like a place for big ideas, unique passions, and purpose-driven ambition. I saw being in this environment as an opportunity to nurture my passions for storytelling and driving multi-sector intervention to pressing social justice issues, as well as, an opportunity to be challenged and inspired by the creativity and intellectual curiosity around me.

What value do groups like the BBSA provide? As co-president of the BBSA it is important for me to help foster a place where members — comprising a spectrum of Black experiences and identities — feel entirely included, supported, and empowered.

What projects or work of the BBSA have been most impactful? Time spent together! Whether informally or in more defined spaces or events, I’m most proud of the way that we collectively are supportive of each other.

Why is Black History Month important to you? Black History Month is a time for me to reflect and celebrate. I reflect on the words “in spite of”‘ when I think about Black History Month — I often think about the magnitude of what Black people, across generations, have accomplished, almost always in spite of something — whether it be adversity or a presumption of inequality. Black History Month is also a time when I celebrate Black people’s prevailing resilience and the vitality that sustains our influential progress, creativity, and hope.

What are your future career goals? I am very fascinated by the intersections of storytelling (Media/Film/TV), the innovation changing the mediums through which we engage with content, and their impact. My future career goals are to build platforms that are in service of elevating and dignifying the voices of underestimated and underrepresented communities to help people realize their potential and to contribute to fostering a society where it is equitable for them to do so.

What don’t your classmates know about you? I love film photography! But ironically, I am not big on social media so it would be hard to know. I love capturing travel, moments with friends and family, and appreciating the colors around me. I also think it’s really cool to take portraits that people feel good about. I haven’t had as much time to shoot since applying and starting grad school, but I’m trying to make more time for it.

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