Aïcha Camara

Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School

“Trailblazing optimist turning empathy into action, while leading boldly with authenticity and impact.”

Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m obsessed with miniature art, tiny homes, portraits, anything mini!

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Maryland, College Park | Major: International Relations with a focus on International Development and Conflict Management

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Global Refuge, Program Specialist for Referral Management

What has been your favorite part of St. Lous so far? makes St. Louis such a great place to earn an MBA? A St. Louis friend once told me, “St. Louis is a place for growth, reflection, and self-actualization,” and that couldn’t be more true. The city creates an atmosphere—intentional or not—that encourages constant learning, sparks innovation, and rewards the courage to try something new – all qualities essential to pursuing an MBA. What I love most about St. Louis is its connection to nature. Being able to walk through Forest Park, lay in the grass, and take time to reflect has been grounding and inspiring, making it an ideal environment for both personal and academic growth.

Aside from your classmates, 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 key aspect of Olin’s MBA program that led me to choose the school was its flexible, entrepreneurship-driven curriculum. From Admit Weekend, Olin stood out as a truly community-first program, where faculty and staff are deeply invested in each student’s growth and success. Olin’s MBA is designed to encourage innovation and exploration, allowing students to customize their academic path, pursue cross-disciplinary learning, and engage with entrepreneurial resources across Washington University. With my focus on social impact, it was important to tailor my business education beyond a traditional framework. Olin’s emphasis on experiential learning, innovation, and collaboration across schools made that possible.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Washington Olin? I have most enjoyed my Intro to Entrepreneurship course with Doug Villhard. For the first time, core business principles truly clicked. It connected my other coursework and taught me to think like an entrepreneur—especially to ‘fall in love with the problem, not the solution’ and ALWAYS take feedback. These are lessons that truly shaped my approach to everything since.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment was providing critical support to hundreds of unaccompanied minors during a severe resource shortage. Contributing to an effort that had immediate, tangible impact on such a vulnerable population was both challenging and incredibly rewarding.

Describe your biggest achievement in the MBA program so far: My biggest achievement in the MBA program so far has been joining the United Way Board Fellows program. Serving as a voting member on a nonprofit board is something I had always aspired to do but assumed would come later in my career. Having the opportunity to learn the intricacies of board governance while pursuing my MBA has been both an honor and an incredibly meaningful academic and professional milestone.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? One of my best memories as an MBA so far was going to Six Flags with my classmates. It was a great opportunity to have fun together. |For some classmates, it was even their first time on a roller coaster, which made the experience especially memorable to witness. Moments like these are the ones we’ll cherish forever. They also solidify why I chose Olin, as this program goes beyond academics to truly helping us cultivate lasting relationships with a great group of people driven to make an impact on the world.

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