Dorcas Ikojo Aborah

Washington University, Olin Business School in St. Louis

“Actor, strategist, entrepreneur, and thrill-seeker with a passion for making bold moves.”

Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am an adrenaline junkie, and I am looking forward to my first skydiving experience in March 2025. I also love acting and I have been featured in at least 50 films and stage plays.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Jos, Nigeria Major: Computer Science

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Assistant Manager

What has been your favorite part of St. Lous so far? What makes St. Louis such a great place to earn an MBA? The peace and quiet: Before school, I was living in Lagos, Nigeria, which is one of the busiest cities in Nigeria, and it feels really refreshing to be away from all that hustle and bustle. Saint Louis provides a conducive environment to learn; there are very few distractions, or those that I know of at least, so I have all the time to get the degree with flying colors. I also really love Forest Park!

The city’s blend of Midwest warmth and global business presence creates an ideal environment for MBA students, especially for those interested in the healthcare and tech industries. Olin also has strong ties with the local industry leaders and that provides invaluable networking and real-world learning opportunities for students.

Aside from the global immersion, what was the key part of Washington Olin’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The size of the program: Olin’s intimate class size was crucial in my decision. Coming from Nigeria, I wanted a program where I could build deep relationships with professors and peers especially because I was going to be away from home and in a new country. The small cohort ensures personalized attention and enables meaningful cross-cultural exchanges that enrich our learning experience. At Olin, I feel like my voice matters and everyone around me genuinely cares for my growth and success.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Washington Olin? My all-time favorite course has been Building Business Narratives taught by Professor Clive Muir. This was one of the first courses I took at Olin. It teaches about building your personal narrative, developing your personal brand, and telling your story in a way that is impressionable and correctly highlights your essence as a person, your values, and your drivers. The course was correctly placed at the beginning of the program when it’s most useful because as MBA’s coming from different backgrounds all over the world, learning how to present yourself in an American setting is an invaluable skill. The learnings from this course have stuck with me and helped me tremendously with making connections and building relationships.

I also just signed on as a leader for the Olin Energy club and I am excited about driving student interest in the energy sector by exploring promising technological advancements, policy-related issues, and career opportunities within the industry. Ultimately, we hope to connect the brightest minds in the energy sector with the top WashU recruits by hosting panels, workshops, and social events.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest career accomplishment is growing from a first-level associate to manager in less than four years at PwC. This rapid progression showcased my accomplishments throughout my time there, where I stood out and delivered value. I worked across several industries and on many exciting projects. In the process, I was able to see how valuable my work was in helping all the companies I worked with achieve their targets. I don’t want to quote numbers and metrics because my accomplishments weren’t just numbers to me – they represented real changes in how businesses interact with their stakeholders and customers to drive change and impact, and I will forever remain a big part of their successes.

Outside of work, I am very proud of my accomplishment in setting up the Ecorise Foundation, a not- for-profit with a mission to educate people about living sustainably and driving a more sustainable future for us all. I founded the organization, and what started very small with close friends and acquaintances has now blossomed into a formidable force in the sustainability landscape that is driving real change.

Describe your biggest achievement in the MBA program so far: My biggest accomplishment in the MBA starts with earning both the Forté Fellowship and a substantial Dean’s scholarship to attend Olin. Being recognized as one of the 12 standout first-year FTMBA students further validates my journey. However, my most meaningful growth has been personal, coming from a culture where networking isn’t emphasized, I have transformed from someone who struggled with relationship-building to someone who actively embraces these connections. Through Olin’s numerous networking opportunities, I have developed this crucial skill significantly, and I am excited to master it further throughout my MBA journey.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? My first European experience in Barcelona was unforgettable! We worked to develop a go-to-market strategy for a St. Louis Restaurant looking to expand to Barcelona. It was exciting touring the streets of Barcelona to learn about the overall business landscape and the restaurant industry. We had to find a location for the business, conduct focus groups to analyze the local restaurant landscape, access competitors and eventually make recommendations to the client on what we learnt. Every moment was a learning adventure.

Beyond the academics, I cherish the memories of bonding with classmates while exploring the city’s stunning architecture, experiencing my first cable car ride, and visiting beautiful ‘casas’.

DON’T MISS: MEET WASHINGTON OLIN’S MBA CLASS OF 2026