Marquis Wright

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University

“The Florida man that challenged the status quo and became an exception to the rule.”

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fun Fact About Yourself: After switching from public school to private school in the 11th grade to play football, Ariana Grande was in my graduating class.

Undergraduate School and Major: Georgetown University, Government; minor in Theater

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Blackstone Group, Associate

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Cornell’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The investment banking immersion, led by Senior Lecturer Drew Pascarella. The tactical hands-on training for an entire semester leading up to your internship seemed unmatched to what other MBA programs had. Having the opportunity to work on more than 14 deals as an investment banker prior to hitting the desk has given me and my colleagues at Cornell a big edge on Wall Street when it comes to getting return offers.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Cornell? Student Council. I want to run for student body co-president and have a voice around the initiatives that support women, diversity and inclusion groups, and the general student body.

What excites you the most about living in Ithaca and the Finger Lakes region? I’m excited to escape the city life and live in a college town environment that will allow me the opportunity to take on new experiences that I’ve yet to do, such as skiing, golfing, relaxing on the lake and taking winery tours. Being a four-hour bus ride from Toronto, Montreal, and New York City isn’t so bad either.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I was invited to join the Blackstone Task Force and have a hand in recruiting Black and Brown talent into front-office roles.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you enjoyed and would highly recommend to prospective MBAs? Why? The Investment Banking Immersion Podcast. It provided me with a high-level overview of the course, so I had an idea of what to expect. Also, Drew Pascarella shared a fun anecdote from his time at Johnson and I could easily envision myself as part of the community.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? I wanted to transition into a client-facing role and have a voice in the decision-making related to deals. After graduation, I plan to pivot into investment banking.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Michigan Ross (University of Michigan); UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School (University of North Carolina); Kelley School of Business (Indiana University)

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Cornell’s MBA program? Find out if the GMAT test waiver is right for you. I personally have never been a great test taker, so having this allowed me to put my best foot forward in other aspects of my application. Connect with admissions and current students; they are all great people, and you never know who’s going to be the person to fight on your behalf. Also, attend as many events as you can.

DON’T MISS: MEET CORNELL JOHNSON’S MBA CLASS OF 2024