Fern Imjairach

Duke University, Fuqua School of Business

Hometown: Bangkok, Thailand

Fun fact about yourself: Fun, caring, and impact-driven Thai changemaker. Economics & law graduate, problem-solver, and advocate for underrepresented communities.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Thammasat University, Bachelor of Economics; Chulalongkorn University, Bachelor of Law

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Before enrolling in business school, I worked at Deloitte Consulting Southeast Asia as a Strategy & Operations Consultant before pivoting to a Legal Associate role at Imjai Law Office.

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? This summer, I interned at BCG Houston, supporting wildfire mitigation risk modeling and strategy recommendations for a utility company.

Where will you be working after graduation? BCG, Houston TX – Full-time Consultant

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: MBA Association (MBAA) VP of International, Career Fellow, Case Parent, Duke MBA Consulting Club (DMCC) DEI First-Year Cabinet, Asia Business Club (ABC) Community Engagement First-Year Cabinet

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Serving as VP of International for Fuqua’s MBA Association (MBAA) has been one of my most rewarding experiences. Leading a team of 12, I organized 15+ initiatives to celebrate cultural diversity and support international students. Highlights include Global Connection Week featuring alumni panelists from Google and McKinsey, Drinks Without Borders, and Global Fuqua Friday, showcasing dance performances and a cultural fair.

I also led International Students Welcome Day, an ice cream social at Fuqua Circle, and an international students’ happy hour at the J.B. Duke Hotel in collaboration with the Duke International Student Center (DISC). This role pushed me beyond my comfort zone, deepening my purpose as a student at Fuqua. I am grateful for the support of Fuqua’s International Programs Office staff Annie Floyd and Leslie Allen, my MBAA team, international club leaders, and my partner, Andy Liu.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? One of my proudest achievements is earning my law degree part-time while working full-time as a consultant at Deloitte. Balancing rigorous coursework with a demanding career required immense dedication, time management, and resilience. Graduating within three years not only proved my ability to excel under pressure, but also enabled me to pivot into the legal field, where I combined my consulting expertise with legal problem-solving. This experience reinforced my commitment to continuous learning and adaptability—skills that continue to shape my career and impact-driven approach today.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Fuqua for its tight-knit, supportive community, which I experienced firsthand from day one. Prior to my interview, second-year students generously spent hours answering my questions. I also immediately felt welcome at Fuqua Around the World (an annual celebration bringing together the Fuqua community in different locations around the world) in Bangkok.

When I arrived, both first-year and second-year peers helped me move into my apartment, reinforcing that Team Fuqua isn’t just a phrase—it’s a lived experience. As a team player, I knew I would thrive in an environment where collaboration, support, and shared success are at the core, making Fuqua the perfect place to grow as a leader.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite course was Financial Statement Analysis (FSA) with Professor Rahul Vashishtha. This course went beyond mechanical financial analysis, teaching us to connect financial statements with a company’s broader operational strategy and macro environment. Learning to build proforma forecasts and analyze real-world financials gave me valuable insights that will be incredibly useful in the future. By studying different companies, I honed my analytical skills and gained a deeper understanding of how financial decisions shape business strategy.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Looking back, I wish I had challenged myself to engage beyond Fuqua, whether through Duke-wide leadership roles, competitions, or courses outside of Fuqua. Some classmates took language or computer science courses at other schools, which could have broadened my knowledge and skill set.

Fuqua’s tight-knit community is incredible, but it’s easy to stay in its bubble. I also wish I had connected more with students beyond Duke, like at UNC, to expand my perspective and network. Engaging with a diverse range of people, ideas, and academic disciplines would have further enriched my MBA experience.

What is the biggest myth about your school? A common myth about Fuqua is that the focus is primarily on recruiting, with academics taking a backseat. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Professors expect engagement and participation, and the coursework is rigorous, often involving multiple projects and assignments that challenge students to apply concepts in real-world scenarios. While recruiting is a key part of the MBA experience, Fuqua ensures that academics remain a priority, providing a solid foundation of knowledge that I know will be invaluable in my career.

What movie or television show (e.g. The Big Short, The Founder, Mad Men, House of Lies) best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? Invictus reflects the realities of business, particularly in leadership, vision, and uniting diverse teams. The film showcases Nelson Mandela’s ability to inspire, foster inclusivity, and align people toward a common goal—much like effective business leadership. It taught me that true leadership isn’t about authority, but about empathy, resilience, and rallying others around a shared purpose. In consulting, law, and student leadership, I’ve seen firsthand how a unifying vision drives meaningful change.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? At Fuqua, AI is integrated into coursework like Professor Saša Pekeč’s Tech Transformation of Business, where we explored how AI is reshaping industries. In courses like Managing Innovation, we used AI to identify trends and innovations and incorporate it as a strategic tool to conduct research. Through these experiences, I learned that AI is not just a technology but a catalyst for transformation, enhancing decision-making, uncovering insights, and driving innovation.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I most admire Chizoma Ekechukwu, my C-LEAD teammate and best friend. From day one, she has been a pillar of strength, excellence, and selflessness, always uplifting those around her. She was my strongest supporter as we drove our C-LEAD to success together. Despite being diagnosed with leukemia at the end of our first year, Chizoma’s resilience never wavered. She continues to lead and empower—serving as Orientation Chair for Section 6, Co-President of the Black Business Students Association (BBSA), and contributing to numerous campus initiatives. Beyond her leadership, she has a genuinely kind heart, always showing up for me and others. She is a true inspiration, embodying strength, grace, and unwavering dedication.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1. Drive impact in the nonprofit and climate sustainability space – I aim to work on high-impact projects that help nonprofits and organizations tackle climate and sustainability challenges.
2. Build a global initiative supporting international professionals – Having worked extensively with international communities, I aspire to create a platform that provides resources, mentorship, and support to help internationals thrive in new environments, much like I’ve done at Fuqua and beyond.

What made Fern such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

‘Fern Imjairach has been an invaluable member of the Class of 2025 through her extraordinary dedication to the international student community at Fuqua and beyond. As MBAA VP of International Affairs, she worked tirelessly to create meaningful experiences that fostered inclusivity and connection. She and her team of fellow second-year Daytime MBA students thoughtfully created activities at International Student Welcome Day that allowed first-year students to feel welcomed by the community.

Understanding the challenges of the fall recruiting season, she organized an ice cream truck event that not only provided a moment of fun and connection but also connected students with wellness resources. In December, she partnered with the Duke International Student Center to host a holiday social that brought together more than 150 graduate students from diverse programs through engaging activities designed to spark meaningful conversations. In February, Fern led a team that revitalized Fuqua’s annual Global Connection Week which celebrates the global spirit of Fuqua. The week included student and alumni panels, small group dinners in international club leaders’ homes and a vibrant global Fuqua Friday with cultural activities and performances and international cuisine from local businesses.

Through every initiative Fern has led, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to making Fuqua a more welcoming and inclusive place, leaving a lasting impact that will be felt for years to come.”

Annie Floyd
Director of Fuqua’s International Programs Office

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