Donovan Dabney

Indiana University, Kelley School of Business

“Financier-turned-marketer; creative mind driven by a desire to craft sustainable solutions for tomorrow.”

Hometown: Lexington Park, Maryland

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve always had a passion for entertaining and creating. As a kid, I was known for my sense of humor and would often do things just to make people smile. While I might have been destined for a career in acting or music in another life, in this one, I channel my creativity into writing music and performing with friends. It’s a fun way for me to unwind and stay connected with my creative side.

Undergraduate School and Major: Hampton University, Finance

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Freddie Mac, Business Unit Controller Professional

In the second half of the year, you will be completing an Academy devoted to areas like Marketing, Finance, Operations, Digital Enterprises and more. Which Academy interests you the most and why? As someone aspiring to work in Consumer-Packaged Goods, I am particularly drawn to the Consumer Marketing Academy. I am passionate about creating compelling marketing strategies and crafting emotional narratives that truly connect with consumers. Growing up, I loved seeing touching commercials that seemed to go beyond simply selling a product and left a lasting impression on me. I have always wanted to create that kind of impactful storytelling. The Consumer Marketing Academy will equip me with the skills and insights needed to achieve this goal while also expanding my understanding of other facets of the CPG industry.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Indiana Kelley’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? It would have to be GLOBASE. I recall my first introduction to the program and how it immediately resonated with me. The idea of applying classroom knowledge to real-world challenges through GLOBASE was truly exciting. While all our learning aims to be applicable beyond the classroom, GLOBASE stands out because it is student-led and focuses on supporting small businesses in foreign countries. This initiative embodies Kelley’s commitment to using our education to make a positive impact, allowing students to give back and contribute meaningfully to the global community.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Indiana Kelley? I’m thrilled about joining Toastmasters! Public speaking is a passion of mine—something that might seem surprising, but it truly excites me. I’m eager to refine my skills and gain more practice through Toastmasters. This opportunity will not only enhance my speaking abilities, but also further develop my leadership competencies and improve my communication skills. I believe that the techniques I learn will be valuable in both my professional and personal life, helping me lead meetings, present ideas, and connect more effectively with others.

Looking at your recruitment, what was the moment when you realized Indiana Kelley was the right program for you? Why? The moment I realized Indiana Kelley was the right program for me occurred during a campus visit. Before I even began applying to schools, I attended a conference for aspiring MBA students. As I entered the bustling expo, feeling overwhelmed and lost among strangers, Jim Holmen, Kelley’s director of admissions, approached me with a warm, genuine demeanor, as if we were long-time friends. Despite our brief encounter, his kindness immediately made me feel welcomed and prompted me to explore Kelley further.

When I visited the campus, I discovered that Jim’s friendliness was not an isolated incident but a reflection of Kelley’s broader culture. The students I met were equally supportive and genuinely interested in my career aspirations, offering their assistance regardless of whether I would ultimately enroll. This inclusive and nurturing environment was precisely what I had been seeking. The combination of exceptional faculty, a collaborative peer network, and a culture of genuine care and mentorship confirmed that Kelley’s program was ideally suited to my goals and would provide the perfect setting for my professional and personal growth.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In my previous role, I inherited an outdated process for forecasting our market share against major competitors. Although it was functional, predicting share within a 5% margin, it was far from user-friendly and lacked precision. Determined to improve it, I embarked on a project to modernize the model. Over the next few weeks, I meticulously rebuilt the entire forecasting system using Python. The result was a sleek, efficient program that not only streamlined user interaction, but also dramatically increased accuracy, narrowing the forecast margin to an impressive 0.5%. This overhaul not only boosted our forecasting precision, but also empowered the team with a tool that was as intuitive as it was powerful. This moment was particularly significant for me because I was relatively new to Python. I faced numerous challenges, invested a considerable amount of time, and experienced many setbacks. However, this experience reinforced a crucial lesson: with perseverance, even the seemingly impossible can be achieved.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2026? Why? At 24, my perspective on life can be divergent from that of some of my classmates. While I may not yet have the same level of experience or wisdom, I bring a fresh, youthful outlook and a distinctly Gen-Z approach to my work. This blend of new perspectives, adaptability, long-term vision, enthusiasm, recent academic insights, and tech-savviness positions me to make valuable contributions to both my individual success and the broader academic community.

DON’T MISS: MEET INDIANA KELLEY’S MBA CLASS OF 2026