Abigail Owusu-Ansah

Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business

“I am an ambivert that enjoys helping people recognize their own gifts and talents.”

Hometown: Woodbridge, VA

Fun fact about yourself: A third of my family lives in the U.S., a third in Ghana, and a third in the U.K. Despite us all being of Ghanaian origin, we bring the diversity of our upbringings to our gatherings. This leads to an unmatched and unique cultural experience within the family dynamic.

Undergraduate School and Degree: B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Boston Scientific, Design Assurance Engineer II

Where did you intern during the summer of 2023? Bain & Company, Washington D.C.

Where will you be working after graduation? Bain & Company, Consultant

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: Forte Fellow, Consortium Fellow, Christians in Business

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I really enjoyed volunteering during the African Business Conference that was hosted at McDonough for the first time since the pandemic in 2023. It was amazing to see so many gifted individuals pour into attendees by sharing their work and experiences over the years. Also working alongside the Black MBA Association during the execution of this event really helped me to appreciate my fellow students. Their dedication to putting on a great event despite it not being done in a few years showcased the work ethic and tenacious spirit that exists among McDonough MBA students.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am most proud of my ability to collaborate with field experts and doctors to make the best decision for patients when in my previous role. My team was able to conduct a study with urologists from across the globe in an effort to ensure a change we were making on our device would not cause any adverse impact to the patients.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose McDonough because I wanted to be a part of a community that focused on building holistic leaders. These leaders would not only had the aptitude to be successful when it came to the hard skills a job required, but the soft skills as well. I think a lot of people get caught up in being the best at what they do and forget that caring for people is the biggest part of doing a job well, no matter the business. Given Georgetown’s principle of Cura Personalis, I thought that the program McDonough offered would not only make sure that I could do a job well but also serve others well while doing so.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? My favorite MBA professor is Dr. Ella Washington. She taught one of my favorite classes that I’ve taken at McDonough, which is Innovation Through Inclusion. This class is the definition of developing high-performing leaders with skill and integrity. I really enjoyed the fact that Dr. Washington provided a business case for every pillar of inclusion we explored. She also created a psychologically safe space for opposing views to be shared and discussed.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite course was Business of Media & Entertainment: Strategic Decision Making and Industry Upheaval. I learned so much in this class about the media industry and its complexities given the increase in streaming and other technological advancements that have changed consumer behavior. Professor Schiffman is extremely knowledgeable and was excellent at breaking down key concepts. The guest speakers were individuals who have done incredible things in the industry. The insights provided during each session were invaluable and made the three-hour session fly by! The collaboration between the professor and his guest speakers made this course one of a kind and surpassed my learning expectations.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favorite tradition at McDonough would have to be KEGS (Keeping Everyone at Georgetown Social). Though I didn’t attend regularly, the times I did attend will forever be a part of the memories associated with my MBA experience. The collaboration between the VP of Social Mario Castro and the different school organizations led to unforgettable experiences where we could build community while learning more about different cultures.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I would worry a lot less and be more present on the day-to-day. I think leaning more on my Christian faith and truly leaving everything in God’s hands would have made a difference. I think it’s important to remain grateful for the opportunities that an MBA program has to offer and to fully embrace the rare opportunity to learn among such a fun and talented set of peers. At the end of the day, every single thing that I was worried about worked out exactly how it was supposed to!

What is the biggest myth about your school? I think the biggest myth is that most of the students at Georgetown are aloof and unfriendly. My experience has been the opposite as students in the program are generally kind, collaborative, and open to getting to know one another.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? I grew up in Northern Virginia so the DMV area has always been a place I enjoy – it is certainly set apart when it comes to other cities I’ve lived in. What I love the most about the D.C. area is the diversity of people, thought, and food! D.C. culture is unmatched and rare to find in other parts of the country.

What surprised you the most about business school? The people at McDonough were a pleasant surprise. Business school students are known to be elitist and competitive, but that was not my experience at McDonough.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Mario Castro. He was the VP of Social during our first year and I saw him put so much thought and energy into bringing his ideas to life, especially for the KEGs events. Inside and outside of the classroom, he worked tirelessly to produce high-quality outputs to ensure that students had the best experience possible.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? Live abroad for work and see a pro-bono social impact case through past implementation.

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

“Abigail Owusu-Ansah was extremely engaged with the McDonough Career Center going all the way back to her preparation to attend The Consortium’s Annual Program and Career Forum (OP) just prior to starting her MBA program at Georgetown McDonough.

My first meeting with Abigail was in May 2022 when I met with her to orient her to the career services available at the McDonough Career Center and to help her prepare to attend The Consortium’s OP. At that session, she asked insightful questions about consulting and demonstrated her strong commitment to academic and career success. Shortly thereafter, Abigail notified me that she was selected for early internship recruiting with Bain & Company (Bain). I met with her soon thereafter to help her chart out a plan to be successful in interviewing with Bain. Abigail worked diligently to prepare for the interview. She met with me and other career coaches, recent MBA alumni who worked at Bain, and with some consulting-focused MBA 2023 peer advisors to build up her behavioral and case interview skills. Her thorough preparation, combined with her exceptional academic and work distinctions, resulted in an internship offer from Bain.

Abigail went on to have a successful internship with Bain in the summer of 2023 and will be rejoining the firm in the summer of 2024 after she graduates.

From all my early interactions with her through the current school year, Abigail always impressed me with her exceptional dedication to her academics and to her career activities. Not surprisingly, Abigail’s entire career at Georgetown McDonough has been exceptional. She is a Forté Merit Scholar and is also a member of three MBA student clubs: Graduate Women in Business (GWiB), the Georgetown Consulting Club (GCC), the Black MBA Association. Abigail is also a very popular Peer Advisor in the McDonough Career Center. In this role, she meets with students for career advice and assistance in the same capacity as the school’s full-time career coaches. Abigail is also very well-known and liked by her classmates as well as by many of the first-year MBA students in the Class of 2025. She is also highly regarded by many Georgetown McDonough MBA alumni with at least two MBA alumni having mentioned her to me.

In closing, Abigail Owusu-Ansah is very deserving of recognition in Poets&Quants. Her story will be a source of inspiration for any MBA candidate who reads it.”

Lawrence J. Verbiest
Director, McDonough Career Center
Consulting Industry

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