Meet Duke Fuqua’s MBA Class Of 2026

IQ. EQ. DQ.

That’s what it takes to land an MBA spot in Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. IQ is self-explanatory: It is reasoning ability – using data and logic to approach and solve problems. EQ is emotional intelligence. Think of it as a coin: self-awareness and self-control on one side and the ability to read others and situations on the other. It is defined by an ability to empathize, communicate, solve conflicts, and work collaboratively. Finally, there is DQ – or what Fuqua describes as a Decency Quotient. Call it personal honor mixed with purpose: being authentic and honest, always bringing out the best in others and making their world better.

“Fuqua focuses a lot on DQ,” writes Tiago Bonchristiano, a senior business analyst from Brazil who joined the MBA Class of 2026 last year. “It’s not only about being emotionally and intellectually smart, but it’s also about being a decent human being, doing what’s right for others, for businesses, and for the world. An applicant should try to learn more about what DQ is to see if it aligns with their values.”

A WAY OF LIVING AND LEADING

This combination – IQ, EQ, DQ – is what former Dean Bill Boulding brands as “triple-threat leadership.” At Fuqua, who you are and how you work with others matters as much as what you know or what you’ve done. That’s because students learn best and perform better around people who share the same values and operate with their classmates’ best interests at heart. It is also why teamwork is the core of the MBA program. Choosing Fuqua is more than adding a Top 10 business school to a CV. It is a daily commitment to the community. Known as Team Fuqua, the commitment is an identity, a way of living and leading – one that values camaraderie over competitiveness and the group over the individual. This Team Fuqua dynamic – sometimes called the ‘Fuqua Fam’ – is why so many high potentials view Durham as the only destination for pursuing their MBA.

“My first impression was that Fuqua students will stop at nothing to help each other succeed in any way they can,” explains Dalia Rais, a U.S. Air Force veteran and first-year MBA. “As a first-year student, I and several peers, have been involved in early recruiting, often times for the same internship positions. We’ve shared every resource we found and helped each other prepare for interviews. While this would be counterintuitive to one’s professional goals at some programs, Fuquans genuinely want to see each other succeed, even when contending for the same roles.”

To some, culture is undefinable – a spirit passed down through traditions and stories and reinforced by force of personality. However, there is no ambiguity surrounding the expectations and aspirations that bind Team Fuqua together. That’s because the students adhere to six Defining Principles: Authentic Engagement, Supportive Ambition, Collective Diversity, Impactful Stewardship, Loyal Community, and Uncompromising Integrity. These are the standards to meet for Team Fuqua – the measures that students hold each other accountable for meeting.

SUPPORTIVE AMBITION AND LOYAL COMMUNITY

Among the Class of 2026, Supportive Ambition is a particularly popular Paired Principle. At Fuqua, this principle boils down to “the success of each individual member…makes the whole team better.” In fact, first-years implemented this principle last spring – before even arriving at Fuqua – by organizing a global group to help each other through the internship and job search process.

I felt confident and well-prepared for recruiting coffee chats and interviews,” explains Rebecca Ayomikun Bakare, a Lagos native and entrepreneur. “We all practiced casing together and shared thoughts and endless questions, related to consulting and beyond. While the case practice sessions were invaluable, I learned the most from the conversations we had before and after these sessions.”

Supportive Ambition also resonated with Tiago Bonchristiano, who represented Brazil globally in water polo and later competed at the Division I level.  “Water polo truly embodies the value of unified teamwork for a shared objective, creating a whole that exceeds the sums of its parts,” he explains. “Supportive Ambition is about collaborating with each other so that ALL of us can succeed.”

Mohit Chandel, who studied physics and engineering before moving in product management, gravitates towards Loyal Community – where “Team Fuqua has your back when you need it the most.” He experienced this dynamic when he was an applicant. Back then, Fuqua students would proofread his essays and connected him with alumni. Now, as a first-year MBA, he intends to pay forward all the advantages he received.

“The principle of Loyal Community demands that I actively engage in supporting my peers and fostering a collaborative environment,” Chandel adds. “It requires me to prioritize inclusivity, empathy, and integrity in all interactions. I must commit to long-term engagement with the Fuqua network, contributing positively to its growth and supporting fellow members throughout our journey and beyond graduation.”

UNCOMPROMISING INTEGRITY AND IMPACTFUL STEWARDSHIP

Jacksonville’s Sarrah Fanny relates to Authentic Engagement – “being ourselves and engaging in the things we are passionate about.” In Fanny’s experience, relationships and growth were often grounded when she wasn’t afraid to “show my quirks and vulnerabilities.” In contrast, Jordan’s Siraj AL-Ramahi lists Uncompromising Integrity – living by an “honor code” as the principle he takes to heart. By that, he means integrity represents something much larger than himself.

“I believe it is essential to maintain truthfulness, honesty, and fairness in my personal and professional conduct, thereby promoting trust and respect in relationships and duties. I recognize that I am not only representing myself but also serving as an ambassador for my nation, and I aim to represent my nation with integrity.”

That larger purpose also defines Impactful Stewardship – disrupting the status quo to “improve our community both now and in the future.” That’s exactly why Eliza Harrison came to Fuqua. “The climate crisis demands immediate and transformative action. As a Fuqua student, I hope to bring my commitment, passion, and enthusiasm for ecological restoration to my work and studies with my classmates and professors. Alongside similarly curious peers and mentors, I hope to help facilitate opportunities to transition to a resilient, ecologically vibrant, and socially responsible future.”

A COMMITMENT TO IMPACT

Think of this as a continuation of Harrison’s efforts in the ecological space. “I helped author and ultimately secure the first federal waters permit exclusively for seaweed aquaculture in the United States,” Harrison tells P&Q. “Our team has successfully installed and maintained the 86-acre demonstration farm for giant kelp cultivation off the coast of Southern California since 2023.”

Harrison isn’t alone in looking to make an impact on the larger world. Meet Keke Genio. She runs a YouTube channel with nearly 315,000 subscribers devoted to education. Away from content creation, she serves as a business mentor at the United Nations Development Programme. At the same time, Rebecca Ayomikun Bakare established a non-profit social enterprise, she says, that “empowers thousands of smallholder African women farmers and producers.”

“This has enabled them to become catalysts for sustainable, positive change in their communities,” she continues. “Through my enterprise’s partnership with these women, they have gained access to profitable markets for herbal and nutrient-dense African food ingredients; diversified and tripled their income; increased their social engagement within their communities; and empowered other women in their towns and cities with opportunities to achieve dignified livelihoods.”

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

There are plenty more examples of impact in the Class of 2026. In the U.S. Army, Kyle Wolffe made the 30-Under-30 Leader Developers list produced by The Center for Junior Officers. At TripAdvisor, Sarrah Fanny led a pilot to better personalize hotel choices. Kathleen Barrow’s team designed a program that better protected women in rideshares, including providing dashboard cameras and pairing women riders with women drivers. During events organized by Tiago Bonchristiano for Future Farms, a plant-based meat brand he co-launched, he decided to practice what he preached to set the tone for his team.

“Events like these are grilling, especially with the minimal financial and human capital of a startup. They also involve very non-glamorous tasks, such as supporting your chef in the kitchen with food prep. To be successful, I led our team by example, always taking any non-glamorous task head-on, including one day when I deep-fried 300 burgers for our Double Katsu Burger recipe. Also, I ensured an upbeat mood, always checking in with our coworkers, constantly smiling, and sharing jokes whenever possible.”

Before business school, Carlos Ochoa worked as a math teacher before becoming a program manager at EMERGE, an educational non-profit targeting first-generation students in Houston. According to Ochoa, nearly three quarters of his EMERGE students earned acceptance letter from their first-or-second-choice colleges. Another 60%, he adds, will graduate debt-free. Dalia Rais fits into the same category as Ochoa’s students. For her, just earning a college degree was a massive achievement.

“As a first-generation student, attending college was highly improbable,” she explains. “This achievement is even more significant because I completed it while serving on active duty. Taking one class at a time while balancing military commitments, it took me eight years to earn this (incredibly expensive) piece of paper. I even took a few finals in a tent while deployed—an experience I wouldn’t recommend! Overcoming these hurdles makes what may seem like a mundane achievement in the MBA community my proudest accomplishment yet.”

ALUMNI “SHOW UP”

Away from work and school, Eliza Harrison is a certified rescue SCUBA diver – a skill that came in handy when she farmed seaweed. When Siraj AL-Ramahi needs to think, he heads to the Qatari desert for “calmness and clarity.” Rebecca Ayomikun Bakare considers 23 to be her lucky number considering she is a 23rd child who was born on the 23rd and graduated on the 23rd when she was 23. And how does this sound for a vacation?

“I backpacked solo through Patagonia,” writes Kathleen Barrow. “I had a blast hiking, walking on a glacier, seeing penguins, and meeting interesting people from all over the world.”

The early impressions of the Fuqua MBA program? One theme: alumni are engaged. Or, in the words of Carlos Ochoa, Fuqua alumni “show up.” “At the MBA Workshop, we had recent and not-so-recent alumni, who took time off to FLY out to Durham—some from their C-level jobs, to present reflections and advice to prospective and current students. At other events, I have seen the same. This illustrates how far Team Fuqua extends, geographically, professionally, and personally.”

That Duke Fuqua MBA spirit extends all the way to India, adds Mohit Chandel. “Before I left for the U.S., a bunch of Fuqua alums—right from the early 2000s to 2023 graduates—hosted me and my partner for dinner. During the dinner, everyone was so generous with their time and their advice and showed genuine enthusiasm for my MBA journey. They also gave excellent advice to my partner about how we can navigate the challenge of being apart for some time.”

Another surprise? You won’t necessarily pack on the first-year 15 at Fuqua, says Siraj AL-Ramahi. “I was on the verge of losing my fitness before coming to Fuqua, and I thought it would get worse once I arrived. Surprisingly, I was able to improve my fitness at Fuqua, thanks to the daily fitness activities planned by students. I joined the Saturday morning running activities organized by students and loved how they encouraged each other to progress. Fuqua is great not only for building your mind but also for your body!”

Add to that, Kathleen Barrow would say that the talent level of her classmates is off the charts. “Everyone I have met at Fuqua has impressed me with their kindness and interesting backgrounds. At Health Sector Management (HSM) Bootcamp, teams were asked to design a healthcare innovation to save healthcare costs while improving the company’s bottom line and to present the concept to classmates at the end of the week. My team had two engineers, two veterans, an ex-pharma strategist, and me, an ex-consultant. I was blown away by the insights everyone brought to the table and our different ways of thinking. After the presentations, Professor Majumder rightly pointed out how our different strengths make us stronger as teams than as individuals.”

Next Page: An Interview with Russ Morgan, Senior Associate Dean of Full-Time Programs

Page 3: Profiles of 11 Members of the Class of 2026