Derrick Afriyie

University of Georgia, Terry College of Business

“I’m a charismatic connector, I bring life and laughter to every room and enjoy nurturing meaningful relationships.”

Hometown: Accra, Ghana

Fun fact about yourself: I had the privilege to meet four members of the British Royal family including King Charles III, Prince Edwards – Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, and Queen Camilla during my time at the British Council.

Undergraduate School and Degree: University of Ghana, Liberal Arts

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? United Nations FAO, Regional Human Resources Associate – Africa

Where did you intern during the summer of 2023? Citi Bank, New York, NY

Where will you be working after graduation? Citi Bank, Human Resources Management Associate (Assistant Vice President)

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• President – Georgia Blacks in Business Graduate Association
• Rising Leader Award Recipient 2023 – Georgia Blacks in Business Graduate Association
• Global Delegate – World Bank Youth Summit 2023
• Terry Leadership Fellow
• Scholarship Recipient – National Black MBA Association; Terry Excellence Fund
• MBA Ambassador
• MBA Career Mentor
• Electoral Committee Board Member – African Graduate Student’s Forum (UGA)
• Literacy Mentor – Books for Keeps (Athens, Georgia)
• Lead Club Volunteer – Brooklyn Cemetery and Whitehall Terrace Community Garden

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? My proudest achievement was doubling the membership of the Georgia Blacks in Business Graduate Association. After two years of being a club for Black MBA students, we expanded our membership to include Black business students from other graduate programs that had no student association. This expansion was an intentional effort to foster greater diversity and inclusion within the business school community. As president of the club, this initiative truly marked the club’s vision of promoting an interconnected global community within the business school and beyond.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? As a disability advocate, I am proud of my achievements in expanding access and opportunities for individuals with disabilities. I worked in West Africa for the British Council, which is the UK’s organization for international cultural relations and educational opportunities. During my time, I designed and launched a six-week special needs internship program for students with disabilities in Ghana, in collaboration with Multikids Academy, a special needs school. This initiative provided employable skills to students with disabilities and positioned them for success in the competitive job market. I also partnered with TechEra, a disability social enterprise, to promote the adoption of affordable assistive technology through diversity dialogues and tech exhibitions. The most significant achievement in this area was leading the sponsorship of a visually impaired social entrepreneur as a Young Disabled Leader at the Global Disability Summit in London. This led to a partnership between British Council and TechEra that established an assistive technology skills training program in Ghana. These initiatives fervently reflect my commitment to driving accessibility for marginalized groups in Ghana.

Why did you choose this business school? Terry appealed to me because of its close-knit community. The MBA class size averages 65 students. I thrive in smaller learning environments, so this aspect was particularly important to me in my decision-making. Terry’s commitment to facilitating a personalized teaching experience allowed me to grasp and then apply classroom knowledge to real business problems in my internship and full-time job. By choosing this program, I knew I would not only gain visibility, but also have the unique opportunity to serve and nurture meaningful connections with my classmates and professors. This level of interaction and engagement would have been challenging in a larger MBA program.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Dr. Santanu Chatterjee was my favorite professor. I took his Economic Analysis for Business Leaders class during my first year, and it was an unparalleled learning experience. He is committed to an inclusive teaching style, and he had a remarkable way of simplifying intricate healthcare economics theories, making the content relatable and engaging with a touch of wit. Dr Chatterjee is truly a big inspiration!

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Strategic Management was undoubtedly my favorite course. It elevated my strategic mindset and provided valuable insights into how firms compete in different industries, geographies, and contexts. Playing the business strategy game as part of the course added a practical element to my strategic thinking and decision-making, which enabled me to gain competitive advantage for my model footwear company. The simulation took hours to solve, but the sense of achievement after increasing market share, ROE, and profits for my company was unmatched! What I learned in this course has enabled me to interpret business challenges through a strategic lens.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I wouldn’t change a thing. I had a clear vision of the MBA experience I wanted and took charge in crafting it to the fullest. Besides taking my academics seriously, I embraced multiple growth opportunities, joined clubs, assumed leadership roles, participated in social events, and spearheaded multiple social impact initiatives during MLK Day and Black History Month. I was also intentional about building meaningful connections with classmates, professors, and professionals in my field. I knew coming back to get my MBA was an opportunity for me to tick off the checklist on all things I wish I had done during my undergraduate education. My experience was everything I expected it to be, and I’m glad that, despite the heavy MBA demands, I was able to strike a good balance.

What surprised you the most about business school? Despite having no prior programming knowledge, I was able to acquire coding skills in languages such as Python, R, and SQL, so the most surprising aspect was realizing that anything can be learned with dedication and effort. I had to acquire and apply these skills to capstone projects within a short period of time, and I am eager to hold on to these technical skills and apply them in my full-time job.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Mary Stuart Fountain is an exceptional classmate whom I truly admire. Her unparalleled poise, executive presence, and unmatched leadership capabilities have always impressed me. We share a lot in common, including previous work in non-profit organizations and a commitment to servant leadership. Despite coming from a non-traditional business background, her ability to combine the rigorous MBA program with MBA ambassador responsibilities as well as taking PhD courses without credit inspired me. What sets her apart is her empathy, wit, and thoughtfulness. When I first met Mary Stuart, I immediately knew I had found a life-long friend. I can always count on her to lend an ear when life gets overwhelming, without fear of judgment. Our paths crossing has been a real blessing, and I am excited about the healthy competition we will have in the Wall Street space after we graduate.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? First, expand my professional network – I want to be intentional about growing my professional network, especially as I relocate to New York post MBA. I am excited about the enormous opportunities the city will offer to connect with industry leaders and like-minded professionals. By seeking mentorship and building stronger connections, I believe I can open doors to new opportunities to advance my career and social capital.

Second, deliver a TED Talk – I have always admired TED Talk speakers and am eager to enhance my public speaking capabilities at an expert level. I aspire to deliver a TED Talk focused on advancing access and opportunities for marginalized groups. It would enable me to share my knowledge, experience, and ideas with a wider audience to drive positive change in my community.

What made Derrick such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024?

“Derrick is a consummate professional and an outstanding citizen in the Georgia MBA program. Despite having a busy academic schedule, Derrick has been extremely generous in the time and care he has given to improve the MBA experience for his peers and future prospects. He has been a visionary leader for the Georgia Graduate Blacks in Business Association, expanding its membership to Black students from other graduate business programs and nationalities. He has also helped the MBA admissions office in its diversity recruitment efforts by being a campus ambassador and co-hosting webinars about the program and MBA applications. Personally, he has been my graduate assistant for the past two years, helping me with a wide variety of market research on curriculum changes, new course development, and rankings analysis. It has been indeed an impressive journey for Derrick in the Georgia MBA, and I am absolutely confident that the best is yet to come!”

Santanu Chatterjee
Associate Dean for Diversity for International and Master’s Programs
Director of Full-Time MBA & M.S. Business Analytics Programs

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