Mackenzie Heriford

Emory University, Goizueta Business School

“An advocate for equity; deeply committed to making a positive impact by utilizing my business insights.”

Hometown: Rock Island, Illinois

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love organization, which is probably why my dream retirement job is to be a bagger at Trader Joe’s.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Illinois; Economics & Spanish

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Teach For America, Recruitment Director

What makes Atlanta such a great place to earn an MBA? Atlanta is a city that effortlessly creates a supportive business environment with a dynamic lifestyle. As a major business hub with access to the busiest airport in the world, Atlanta is a natural location for business leaders to come together for collaboration and innovation. Atlanta also sits in a unique position of leading through southern hospitality and cultural vibrancy, with incredible food, people, culture, and opportunities for growth.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Emory Goizueta’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?
What set Goizueta’s MBA program apart is the commitment and investment in leadership development through worldwide experiences. This includes the Goizueta Advanced Leadership Academy, an opportunity to learn to lead through sailing in the British Virgin Islands, and having access to earning a Certificate of Advanced Leadership. Goizueta sets students up for success as business and world leaders through a variety of learning experiences.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at Emory Goizueta? I am most excited for Goizueta IMPACT during my first year. As a former teacher, I love experiential learning and see IMPACT as the perfect opportunity to create the bridge between the classroom and ultimately effectively managing projects and teams during internships and beyond.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2026? Why? Throughout my career, I have found success through building relationships and finding the best outcomes for others. I am dedicated to finding common ground with others while expanding viewpoints to create a community of collaboration and innovation. I look forward to learning from new perspectives while bringing my classmates together to create change for our community.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: During my second year as a high school teacher, I recognized the gap that existed in athletics opportunities for students. My coworker and I embarked upon a journey of founding our first Track & Field team. With no students on the team and limited funds, we successfully raised the necessary funds and recruited 20 students the first year to compete for New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School. Not only did students enjoy the community-building, but it also created an outlet for healthy competition and expression. Now, six years later, the school continues to have Track & Field as an opportunity for students, alongside five other sports teams, impacting hundreds of students each year.

Looking ahead two years, what would make your MBA experience successful? After working in the education and nonprofit sectors for the past nine years, I have seen how hard work leads to success, yet there are critical gaps that persist in effective and efficient management. I hope to build a network that is committed to creating access for their community and continuously challenging me in new ways. After having brief opportunities to interact with my classmates, I know that my Goizueta network will be special; full of future CEOs, leaders, innovators, and presidents. Regardless of our backgrounds, we all are now embarking on a journey to better ourselves, each other, and our communities.

DON’T MISS: MEET EMORY GOIZUETA’S MBA CLASS OF 2026