Christy Bandoh

Boston University, Questrom School of Business

“I’m a curious soul fueled by creativity and a relentless pursuit of growth and self-discovery.”

Hometown: Kumasi, Ghana

Fun fact about yourself: I unearthed a love for painting during the pandemic and haven’t stopped since! Sunsets and beach scenes captivate me.

Undergraduate School and Degree: BSc Business Administration and MSc Market, Social and Organizational Research; Central University, Ghana

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? British Council Ghana, Project Manager – Higher Education

Where did you intern during the summer of 2023? I was a Summer Associate at Takeda, Boston, in their Commercial Leadership Development Program

Where will you be working after graduation? I will be returning to Takeda as a Commercial Leadership Development Program Associate

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: Engaging in community work and taking up leadership roles during my time in business school was not only fulfilling but also incredibly enjoyable.

Here’s a glimpse into some of the roles I was involved in:

1. Volunteer at St. Francis House: I was a part of the St. Francis House which was truly heartwarming. Serving food to the homeless and lending a hand in the kitchen to prepare meals brought me immense joy and purpose.
2. VP for Communications, Marketing Club: As the VP for Communications in the Marketing Club, I had fun designing attention-grabbing flyers and posters for our events. Additionally, I helped organize events and managed different aspects of our social media presence, spreading the word and excitement about our activities.
3. VP for Marketing, Graduate Students of African Diaspora (GSAD): Taking on the role of VP for Marketing allowed me to use my creativity in communicating compelling messages for our club’s initiatives. Being part of a community dedicated to uplifting and empowering one another was a joy.
4. DEI Conference Organizer, Center for DEI: I had an unforgettable experience being involved in bringing the 2023 DEI conference to life. Heading the “marcomms” team, I relished every moment of the planning and execution of the event, ensuring it was a resounding success.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I participated in two case competitions in business school, and my team placed second in one. I am particularly proud of this achievement due to a great deal of preparation and collaboration with my team members that it required. Participating in these competitions has helped me further appreciate the value of teamwork in high-pressure environments, especially when there’s only 24 hours to tackle a case. The experience was always exhilarating. Receiving positive feedback on the hard work we put in is incredibly rewarding. Moreover, participating in case competitions provided an excellent opportunity for experiential learning.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? The professional achievement I am most proud of has to be the successful implementation of a tripartite higher education partnership program between the United Kingdom and Sub-Saharan Africa. This program called the Innovations for African Universities (IAU), aims to foster the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship within universities and facilitate the development of skills required to build industries, companies, products, and services between the two regions. Specifically, I managed the Ghana Partnership network, which consisted of 13 organizations and 5 Ghanaian universities. The partnerships have created opportunities for students and faculty members to gain valuable international experience, conduct research, and contribute to solving the continent’s challenges.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Questrom for its unparalleled focus on experiential learning. I was particularly drawn to the school’s commitment to providing students with real-world experiences and immersive learning opportunities, such as case competitions, internships, and consulting projects that bridge the gap between theory and practice. This aligns perfectly with my learning style and career aspirations and has adequately prepared me to thrive in the dynamic and challenging business environment.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Paul McManus, Master Lecturer, Strategy & Innovation. His dynamic teaching style and the captivating cases we discussed in class made each lecture delightful. I rarely missed class, drawn not only by the compelling content, but also by his passion for the subject and wonderful humor. Prof. McManus’s class was a journey of discovery that has impacted my MBA experience.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Strategy Implementation was by far my favorite MBA course. The class covered many topics, including Leading Strategic Change, Implementing Growth Strategies, Managing the Business Portfolio, and Managing New Market Development. It also provided me with practical tools and frameworks for analyzing real-world business examples. One particularly interesting case we discussed in class was about the BiC Pen Corporation, which provided insights into managing one’s boss. We learned highly practical skills, enabling me to use the learned frameworks and tools to solve problems within my teams.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favorite MBA tradition undoubtedly was the Questrom’s Days of Service. On these days, students and faculty participate in various service opportunities curated by Boston Cares. It means so much to me that the commitment to community engagement and social responsibility that are deeply ingrained in the fabric of the school.

My experience with Questrom Days of Service was extremely rewarding and refreshing, serving as a break from the rigors of academic work, and bonding with classmates outside the classroom while making a tangible impact in the community.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I have had an excellent time at Questrom so far and would not change much about the experience. However, I would immerse myself more in the vibrant social scene of Boston and engage in a wider array of social activities if I had to do it over.

I dedicated considerable time to academics and job searching and missed out on some experiences that could have helped me foster deeper connections with more classmates and professionals in the Boston community. By striking a better balance between my academic pursuits and social life, I could have enriched my overall MBA experience, creating even more memories than I currently have.

What is the biggest myth about your school? One common myth is that Questrom is solely focused on finance and consulting, with little attention to other areas of business, such as entrepreneurship, marketing, or social impact. In reality Questrom provides a broad and inclusive education that covers a wide range of business disciplines. Since I have been here, I have seen a strong emphasis on innovation, digital technology, and health sector management alongside finance and consulting tracks. There is a whole center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship called the BUild Lab, with which a lot of students actively engage.

What surprised you the most about business school? I was wholly unprepared for the sheer volume of assignments and the constant need for networking that marked our first semester. It wasn’t the leisurely academic experience I had been led to believe; instead, it was a whirlwind of pressure and long hours dedicated to team project work, assignments, and recruiting. The intensity of the workload really took some getting used to.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Among the MBA Class of 2024, I value and admire Riddhi Dalal the most. Riddhi effortlessly forms connections with others, manages her time effectively, and is always ready to lend a helping hand. I deeply admire her leadership, sociability, and the genuineness of her support. There is never a dull moment with Riddhi!

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

To find mentors and sponsors at work

To write my PMP certification exam

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

“Christy is a fabulous and highly engaged full-time MBA student at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. She has a wealth of experience in global events management and marketing communication, having worked at the British Council in Ghana for over nine years before coming to Questrom School of Business. During those years at the British Council, Christy organized and managed events ranging from seminars and workshops to alumni networking events and large-scale education exhibitions. She also worked on multiple projects, including a European Union-funded project, direct marketing services for UK universities, and a higher education partnership project called the Innovation for African Universities.

After her father passed away in high school, Christie took up art as grief therapy. She continues to paint (beautifully) and build out her online portfolio (check it out on Instagram – in addition to being a full-time student, part-time Graduate Assistant for Employer Events and Communications at the School’s busy career center, and a VP of Marketing for the Graduate Students of the African Diaspora (GSAD) club. GSAD promotes global education and cultural diversity by representing students of African descent and diversifying Questrom’s student body through the recruitment of African Diaspora students.

In addition to honing her event-planning and marketing acumen at Questrom while earning her MBA degree, Christy has been busy learning the ropes of the pharmaceutical industry. Having converted her summer internship into a full-time offer, Christy will be joining the Takeda in summer 2024 as an Associate in their Commercial Leadership Development Program (Boston). Fun fact, Christy also just got engaged to her longtime partner back home in Ghana!”

Lucy van Beever
Senior Director of Career Operations, Feld Center for Career & Alumni Engagement

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2024