Ebun Ojekunle

Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth

“Tenacious, encouraging, and collaborative. Committed to having an impact.”

Hometown: Oyo State, Nigeria/East Hartford, CT

Fun Fact About Yourself: I sang soprano in a choir for four years.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Connecticut, Chemistry

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Pfizer, Scientist

What has been your first impression of the Tuck MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best Tuck story so far. The Tuck community is distinct and warm, from the students to the alumni and the faculty.

One of the most memorable experiences occurred during early recruiting in the summer. One of the partners at a top consulting firm reached out to me and committed 30 minutes of her time to talk about Tuck and answer any questions I had about her firm. This speaks to the strength of the alumni community.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Dartmouth Tuck’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Tuck’s Global Insight Expeditions. Tuck’s GIXs offer the opportunity for students to travel with faculty members to develop cultural awareness in other countries and engage with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and government officials. When considering business schools, the opportunity to gain global perspectives on business was important to me. This will help me develop my awareness and competency as a global leader.

What excites you the most about coming to live in Hanover? What is the one activity you can’t wait to do? I’m excited for the opportunity to enjoy nature and moments of serenity and reflection. I have lived in the New England area for many years, but was not an outdoorsy person. I’m spending this time to experience winter activities, particularly skiing. I will be taking lessons to get comfortable on the slopes and connect with my classmates during some of Tuck’s skiing traditions. Whether it is going on the annual spring break ski trip or the annual Tuck Black Ski (an annual ski trip organized by Tuckies for black students at some of the top MBA programs), I’m looking forward to being a blue zone skier.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Dartmouth Tuck? I look forward to taking Communicating with Presence with Professor James Goodwin Rice. This class is highly revered by students, faculty members, and alumni. It focuses on capturing the heart, mind, ears, and eyes of the audience through galvanizing communication. I am eager to take this class because it teaches how to use acting skills and behaviors to persuade, inspire, and motivate. Sometimes, what differentiates an inspiring leader from one who isn’t, is the ability to capture the audience’s heart. I’d like to hone this skill.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: While at Pfizer, I was lucky to have worked on the COVID-19 oral product, Paxlovid. Working with my colleagues to support the development of a therapeutic in an unprecedented manner at a critical time in history was very rewarding. Watching the strategic decisions made during this time cemented my decision to get an MBA.

What do you hope to do after graduation (at this point)? My North Star is doing impactful work. Part of coming to business school was the opportunity to challenge myself and broaden my knowledge gap. Right now, I am keeping my options open and spending my time at Tuck to take advantage of the different opportunities available. I hope to develop the business acumen skills needed to thrive in my chosen path.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? HBS, Chicago Booth, Yale SOM, Duke Fuqua, Carnegie Mellon Tepper

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Dartmouth Tuck’s MBA program? My advice is to get to know the Tuck community by talking to students and alumni during campus visits or local admissions events. Be very intentional about what is important to you and what you want out of your two-year business school journey. Lead with those things and how the Tuck community aligns with that vision when sharing your story. Tuck is intentional about the culture and community it creates in the Upper Valley. Therefore, be authentic about how you fit into that community.

DON’T MISS: MEET DARTMOUTH TUCK’S MBA CLASS OF 2025