Chino Agulanna

Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business

“Music, Friends, Memories and Heritage.”

Hometown: Depends on who you ask! I was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan but grew up between Virginia and  Lagos, Nigeria

Fun fact about yourself: I was part of an A Cappella group in undergrad

Undergraduate School and Degree: Cornell University. BS in Mechanical Engineering & MS in Systems Engineering

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Raytheon Technologies – Systems Engineer and Control Account Manager

Where did you intern during the summer of 2023? BCG in Boston

Where will you be working after graduation? Management Consultant at BCG

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: Consortium Fellow, President of the Media & Entertainment Club (MEC), Executive Vice President of the Black Business Association (BBA), Vice President of Alumni & Corporate Relations for the African Business Collective (ABC), Office Fellow for Tepper Admissions, and Teaching Assistant for Negotiations and Business Presentations.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I released an EP that I started working on when I first got to Tepper! Music has been a passion of mine but I was so fortunate to find a classmate of mine who also shared this passion. We worked together to release an EP and it was honestly a rewarding experience.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? The achievement I’m currently most proud of in my professional career was earning a leadership certificate during my time at my former company. I was accepted into a leadership development program and it enabled me to push myself out of my comfort zone at work. I learned so much that year.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Tepper because it was where I felt the most welcomed out of the schools I applied to. Tepper hosts a Welcome Weekend every year. When I came, I had the opportunity to speak with current students, the heads of admissions and the assistant dean of Tepper and the fit just seemed right.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? My favorite MBA professor is Meredith Grelli. Her personality and style of teaching is infectious and her accomplishments are inspiring. She also teaches a Future of Real Estate class that I found very interesting.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Negotiations was my favorite MBA course. We did mock negotiations every week aiming to find the optimal outcome.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? At the end of my first year, I organized a Tepper kilt run for the CMU Spring Carnival 5K. Since CMU are called the Tartans I thought it would be cool to lean into that Scottish heritage. That showed me that I had the power to create traditions or events of my own.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? If I could have done things differently, I would have spent more time exploring events other clubs on campus hosted.

What is the biggest myth about your school? All the courses are hard. While Tepper is a STEM designated MBA program and there is early emphasis on quantitative courses, I would say that the courses are challenging but there are a multitude of resources available (tutoring, peers, office hours) that make it surmountable.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? I loved Pittsburgh’s affordability and culture scene. From the art, sports, and personalities of the different areas of town, Pittsburgh has a lot to offer.

What surprised you the most about business school? The thing that surprised me most about business school was how supportive people were. Classmates were always willing to help with anything.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Toluwalase Jobi, is one of the classmates I admire most. She was always working on projects and events behind the scenes to support and enhance the diversity at Tepper.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? The top two items on my professional bucket list are to work on consulting projects in West Africa, specifically Nigeria, and to become an expert in my field.

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

“A Cornell graduate with a background in engineering plus a sustainability focus, Chino joined the Tepper MBA program to pivot to consulting. A tremendous student, Chino used his time at the Tepper School to explore courses in strategy, analytics and organizational behavior.

He interned in BCG’s Boston office and will join that office after graduation.

Chino took on leadership roles at Tepper and revived the Media and Entertainment club looking for ways to use media to build belonging.  He proactively builds relationships on his behalf and on behalf of the Tepper School and student organizations.  He recognizes when others are struggling and actively looks for ways to assist.”

Lesley Kromer
Director of the Masters Career Center
Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business

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