Meet the MBA Class of 2026: Abubakar Idris, Cornell University (Johnson)

Abubakar Idris

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

“A technology and media industry nerd and football fan who thinks Ronaldo is the GOAT!”

Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love kayaking. It’s my go-to activity when I find a good opportunity to be close to water.

Undergraduate School and Major: Kogi State University, Nigeria, History and International Studies; Columbia Journalism School, specialized master’s and Knight-Bagehot Fellowship in Business and Economics Journalism

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Technology Reporter, The Information

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Cornell’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school, and why was it so important to you? Johnson’s immersion program was crucial to my decision to apply to the business school. As an individual with a nontraditional background looking to pivot, I believe it is vital for me to gain early exposure to the work processes and structure of my preferred post-MBA job function. The immersion is designed to allow me to rapidly and efficiently build these relevant skills for my preferred industry; it will no doubt be useful during recruiting, my summer internship, and even long after I’ve graduated.

What excites you the most about living in Ithaca and the Finger Lakes region? I’ve lived in big cities for much of my life, so I wanted something different and quiet. Ithaca checks those boxes. When I visited campus for the first time in November 2023, I enjoyed the scenery, the relaxed atmosphere, and the opportunity for more outdoor activities. I look forward to hiking in these woods once I resume.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Cornell? I’m excited about the Big Red Ventures and BR Tech Strategy programs. As experiential offerings, these programs will help deepen my interests in technology, consulting, and venture capital, allowing me to roll up my sleeves and support entrepreneurs in developing new ideas. That’s exciting.

Looking at your recruitment, what was the moment when you realized Johnson was the right program for you? Why? I realized Cornell Johnson was the right program for me immediately after my first four conversations with current students and a Johnson admissions team member. I knew I wanted to attend a relatively small but intimate program in a serene college town that has excellent recruitment outcomes. During my early conversations, I got detailed responses to life as a Johnson student and the positive career outcomes people achieved despite the turbulent hiring landscape in the post-zero interest rate policy era of the last two years. I visited Ithaca soon after to get a feel of the town and went all-in to apply.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Last year, I became an advisory board member for the consulting and market research arm of one of my former employers, Big Cabal Media, an Africa-based media conglomerate. This was a big deal for me because it highlights my skills not just in the newsroom, but in data and corporate strategy, which I need for my long-term career. For example, mid-last year, I helped the team develop an accurate and independent forecast about the full-year performance of Nigeria’s $400 billion digital payments market using data for the first five months of 2023. That report is useful to various stakeholders, including startups and investment firms hunting for venture-backable businesses in Nigeria, home to 200 million people.

Although my role at BCM is to provide strategic advisory services to one division, I occasionally offered newsroom support to the company’s fast-growing business publication, TechCabal. TechCabal has become the market leader for African technology and venture capital news. I enjoy the work, and I hope to continue supporting independent business journalism on the African continent in various capacities.

Looking ahead two years, what would make your MBA experience successful? Three things will make my MBA experience a success: My impact on the African community at Cornell; the quality of friendships I build; and a solid recruiting outcome for consulting where I can leverage my interests in tech, media and artificial intelligence to solve problems for businesses.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Cornell’s MBA program? First, do some introspection to clarify your career goals and understand if you truly need an MBA. Second, study Cornell’s MBA website to appreciate the different aspects of the program, especially the immersions. Third, talk to members of the Johnson community — current students, alums and the admissions team. Use them as a sounding board to gain new perspectives about the program and how Johnson can accelerate your career goals.

DON’T MISS: MEET CORNELL JOHNSON’S MBA CLASS OF 2026