Uchechukwu Stella Ezealigo

University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business

“An Educator, Lifelong learner, and supporter of women’s rights.”

Hometown: Lagos State, Nigeria

Fun Fact About Yourself: I enjoy watching movies. Anytime I feel stressed, an interesting movie helps lighten up my mood.

Undergraduate School and Major:

• Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry – Delta State University, Abraka-Nigeria
• Master of Science in Biochemistry (Medical)– University of Nigeria, Nsukka
• PhD in Material Science & Engineering, African University of Science and Technology, Abuja

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Assistant Professor, African University of Science and Technology, Abuja-Nigeria.

What has been your first impression of the Marshall MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far? Tell us your best Marshall story so far. Trojan family isn’t just a cliché, it is real. It is truly a family away from home. During my application, I reached out to the current second-year MBA students, and they are very willing to chat about their USC experience. Prior to resumption, second-year MBA Nigerian Students created a social media group to assist Africans to prepare for resumption. I am amazed at how Alums and faculty members of USC are so excited to serve in various capacities by way of giving back to the next generation and maintaining the Trojan culture of connectivity, bonding, and oneness culture at Marshall.

What makes Los Angeles such a great place to earn an MBA? I have attended colleges located either in a small town or on the outskirts of the city. For my MBA, I wanted to be in a city that was very diverse.  Los Angeles (LA) was a perfect fit because it presents opportunities across different industries- entertainment, business, tech, media, and many others. Also, nothing beats LA’s weather and food options!

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of USC Marshall’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?  I selected USC Marshall based on their exceptional Team Spirit. Here at USC, people matter! I wanted a learning experience that extends beyond the classroom and the university. I realized that the Trojan family thrives on shared success, fostering growth and connectivity among its members. USC Marshall takes pride in team spirit. The faculty members are relational, connecting to individual needs yet delivering knowledge more realistically. They are interested in my growth, my experience, and how I can fit in and thrive in the world.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at USC Marshall? I am super excited about the course on leadership, teamwork, and organization taught by Prof. Tost. As someone transitioning from academia/ research to business, I strongly believe that this course will help me develop my leadership skills as well as learn how to effectively manage a team. From my experience, the most impactful leaders are those with excellent people management skills. Reading about this course gave me great confidence that I will be able to uplevel my leadership skills upon the completion of the course. In addition, I am particularly excited about how practical the course is since it includes the use of AI and Simulations that foster team building, critical thinking, decision-making roadmap, negotiation, and handling difficult conversations.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Growing up in a family with no history of college education, I have always been very passionate about education. As a result, I pursued the highest level of education and built a career between the intersection of scientific research and academia. Over the past few years, I have had the honor of teaching hundreds of students and making an impact on the academic journey of these students.  In my previous role at the African University of Science and Technology, I was invited to train 150 Biology Teachers in a remote State (Ogun State) in Nigeria. This experience was important to me because these teachers became equipped with the necessary skills to teach students within rural communities. In addition, training these teachers also made me realize that there is still so much work to be done within the education space, especially within rural communities and low-income households. With an MBA, I hope to continue to make an impact within this space and to continue to inspire girls to pursue a career in STEM.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into USC Marshall’s MBA program? Talk about what you are truly passionate about and be authentic.  Everyone is unique in their own way, so spend some time thinking about what makes you unique and leverage that in your essays. Self-reflection will help you connect the dots between what you have done and how the MBA will help you achieve your goals. Also, connect with current students and alumni to understand the program and learn from their experiences.

DON’T MISS: MEET USC MARSHALL’S MBA CLASS OF 2025