Gabrielle House

Duke University, Fuqua School of Business

“Just a small(ish)-town girl who moved to the big city with dreams of making an even bigger impact.”

Hometown: Waco, TX

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m a twin! (I have a fraternal twin named Gary, who serves in the Navy)

Undergraduate School and Major: Texas A&M University, B.S. in Psychology

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: EMERGE Fellowship, Director of District Strategy

The MBA program is renowned for its “Team Fuqua” culture, which is predicated on six paired principles: Authentic Engagement, Supportive Ambition, Collective Diversity, Impactful Stewardship, Loyal Community, and Uncompromising Integrity. Which of these resonates most with you – and what does that principle demand of you as a Fuqua MBA? “Impactful Stewardship” definitely resonates the most because it represents the way I want to show up in all aspects of my life. Personally, I feel responsible for using the opportunities, experiences, and resources I have to lift and love the people around me. From volunteering and mentoring youth in my community to being a good aunt to my five nieces and nephews, nurturing others really fills my cup. At Fuqua, I envision this principle manifesting in similar ways: developing genuine connections with other students and staff, meaningfully contributing to the co-curricular clubs and organizations I join, and leveraging every small opportunity to make a big impact while I am here.

Aside from your classmates and school culture, what was the key part of Duke Fuqua’s MBA curriculum programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The co-curricular opportunities Fuqua provides were a big selling point for me. Each of the schools on my decision table offered valuable education, but choosing the program that would give me the most opportunities to apply what I learn in class outside of it felt critical. Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum (FCCP) and CASE i3 are only two of the programs that assured me I’d develop several skills I could powerfully pair with the knowledge Fuqua will afford me.

What has been your first impression of the Fuqua MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best Fuqua story so far. I’m not exaggerating when I say every moment since I joined the Fuqua community has been an absolute dream. Every Fuqua student, staff, and alum that I’ve met has been incredibly genuine, encouraging, and kind. Actually, these very qualities are the reason I’m at Fuqua now. Last November, I met and quickly befriended another prospective student during Women’s Leadership Weekend. WLW was magical – each person I met and the activity we did elevated Fuqua to dream-school status. Despite how high the weekend’s events made me feel, I felt just as terrified and inadequate. As fate would have it, I had two critical conversations on the second-to-last day that changed my life forever. Before I could finish confessing to another prospective student how unprepared I felt applying last cycle and my plans to wait another year, she stopped me mid-sentence. With the most sincerity I can remember, she encouraged me to go for it – scared and all.

Feeling oddly empowered, I encountered a member of Fuqua’s Admissions team a few hours later in the dinner line at the closing reception, striking up a conversation about how great my experience had been. I ultimately confessed that I foolishly canceled my interview that weekend (with the plan to apply next cycle). Long story short, she spent the next hour pouring into me in ways that I didn’t know I needed (bawling as I type). Without them, I wouldn’t have applied to b-school at all, much less Fuqua. The most beautiful part: both are here and have already been integral parts of first chapter at Fuqua. THIS is the beauty of Team Fuqua for me!

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Duke Fuqua? I’m really pumped about applying for Fuqua on Board. Not only am I excited about the possibility of serving alongside peers who are equally passionate about serving non-profits in our community, but I’m also excited about the experiences and skills I could develop as a result. This experience would afford me opportunities to learn and contribute in the present while developing skills that I can carry into the future to spark the impact I hope to make in the nonprofit sector.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Before Fuqua, I was an educator for ten years. During this time, I served thousands of underrepresented students in various counseling and college access roles. Most recently, I worked as a Director of District Strategy at EMERGE Fellowship—an education non-profit that supports hundreds of first-generation, high-achieving high school students across Greater Houston in matriculating to selective colleges. Here, I led two districts and teams in getting students to and through college. Although I hope to do just as impactful work after Fuqua, I’ll forever be proud of helping youth bet on themselves and pursue their dreams—the work is too important.

Looking ahead two years, what would make your MBA experience successful? Balance—at the end of this journey, I hope to say that I’ve given as much as I will undoubtedly get from Fuqua, and that I’ve learned, served, and grown as much as I possibly could. Being here is such an honor and privilege, and my goal is to make the most of every single day.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Duke Fuqua’s MBA program? As simple as it may sound, just DO it—even if you’re scared, you don’t feel impressive enough, or you have a thousand reasons not to. The only outcome that is certain is if you don’t apply, and we both know what the best outcome could be. Betting on yourself is one of the bravest things you can do, and I can’t think of a better bet to make than Fuqua. Trust yourself, the process and that you deserve opportunities like this… you just have to be brave enough to leap.