Cassidy Patscot

Duke University, Fuqua School of Business

“Former athlete turned consultant passionate about people strategy, community-building, and creative problem solving.”

Hometown: Wales, Wisconsin

Fun Fact About Yourself: This is my first time living outside the Midwest, but I am looking forward to the warmer weather and hopefully avoiding a polar vortex this year!

Undergraduate School and Major: Butler University, Finance and Marketing

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Capgemini, Senior Human Capital Consultant

The MBA program is renowned for its “Team Fuqua” culture, which is predicated on six paired principles: Authentic Engagement, Supportive Ambition, Collective Diversity, Impactful Stewardship, Loyal Community, and Uncompromising Integrity. Which of these resonates most with you – and what does that principle demand of you as a Fuqua MBA? Authentic Engagement resonates most because effective leadership is built on genuine relationships that drive meaningful results. In consulting, I’ve seen how investing in authentic relationships—whether with clients, colleagues, or stakeholders—unlocks better collaboration, trust, and outcomes.

At Fuqua, this principle demands that I be an active contributor, not just a participant. It pushes me to engage with classmates beyond surface-level networking, to challenge and be challenged in classroom discussions, and to build connections that sharpen my thinking and leadership approach. I view Authentic Engagement as a professional imperative: building trust quickly, listening actively, and communicating with intention are all core to driving impact in any business environment.

Aside from your classmates and school culture, what was the key part of Duke Fuqua’s MBA curriculum programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? A key part of Duke Fuqua’s MBA curriculum that drew me in was the Leadership and Ethics concentration, along with programming from the Fuqua/Coach K Center on Leadership and Ethics (COLE). I’m passionate about developing as a principled leader, and COLE offers a structured, high-impact pathway to strengthen both my leadership skills and ethical decision-making.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Duke Fuqua? I am interested in participating in LEADS (Leadership Engagement and Discussion Series) and eventually serving as a COLE Fellow, where I can mentor first-year learning teams and contribute to Fuqua’s leadership culture. This hands-on, reflective approach to leadership growth complements my passion for guiding teams through complex organizational change and people strategy. COLE will help me sharpen the competencies and character required to lead with impact.

What do you like most about North Carolina so far? Durham offers the resources of a major university and a growing business hub, while still having a laid-back, welcoming feel. I’m especially enjoying the outdoor options and food scene.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career? My biggest accomplishment has been helping large-scale clients navigate complex HR transformations by implementing strategic technology solutions. I’ve worked alongside senior leaders to modernize outdated HR systems, improve process efficiency, and drive alignment between people strategy and business goals. These initiatives resulted in measurable outcomes—reduced administrative time, streamlined payroll integrations, improved reporting capabilities, and an overall better employee experience. It’s been rewarding to solve high-impact business challenges while helping organizations build more effective and future-ready HR functions.

Looking ahead two years, what would make your MBA experience successful? Ultimately, I’ll measure success by my ability to step confidently into a post-MBA role where I lead high-stakes, people-driven initiatives that align HR strategy with business outcomes. My MBA experience will be successful if I graduate as a more strategic, people-focused leader with the skills and relationships to drive impactful organizational change, and land a role that would allow me to make impact within the organization or for its clients.

Success means expanding my expertise beyond HR operations into broader business strategy—developing the analytical and leadership skills to advise clients on HR strategies at the enterprise level. It also means building a strong network of peers and mentors who challenge me to think differently.

DON’T MISS: MEET DUKE FUQUA’S MBA CLASS OF 2027

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