Funmi Ashore

University of Georgia, Terry College of Business

“Foodie, avid learner and lawyer turned finance professional who’s passionate about creating impact.”

Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria

Fun fact about yourself: I used to run a small catering business as an undergrad and generated enough cash to purchase a commercial gas oven and stand mixer.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Obafemi Awolowo University, Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? KPMG Nigeria, Strategy Consultant

Where did you intern during the summer of 2025? Google, Mountain View, California

Where will you be working after graduation? Google, Finance Analyst

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• President – Blacks in Business Graduate Association
• MBA Leadership Fellow
• MBA Admissions Ambassador
• MBA Career Ambassador
• Literacy Mentor – Books for Keeps

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am most proud of serving as president of the Blacks in Business Graduate Association at Terry. During my tenure, I intentionally expanded our programming to focus on student development and community impact. We organized a financial literacy workshop educating students on how to manage debt, save and invest, as well as a soft-skills workshop focused on communication and executive presence. We also participated in an outreach initiative that fed over 300 families in a neighboring community.

Through these impactful programs, overall student and alumni engagement improved, resulting in a threefold increase in donations compared to the prior year.

Although it was one of the most demanding experiences of my MBA journey, requiring me to navigate different stakeholder expectations, it ultimately equipped me with leadership capabilities that are directly transferable in my professional career.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am most proud of my role in facilitating high-impact financing transactions early in my career at Rand Merchant Bank. Most notably, a $20 million equity capital raise for a woman-led startup in Nigeria, where I prepared key materials including the investment teaser, financial model, and information memorandum used to engage prospective investors.

Beyond the fact that I was able to strengthen my skills as a finance professional, what I remain most proud of is the broader impact of the transaction. The financing was projected to create over 2,000 jobs and increase Nigeria’s foreign exchange inflows through export-driven services, contributing to economic growth and diversification beyond crude oil.

Why did you choose this business school? This may sound cliché, but the biggest factor for me was the people. I received multiple admission offers with significant funding from different schools. So when it came down to my decision, I reflected on my interactions with students, alumni, and the admissions teams to determine where I felt the strongest sense of connection. During my conversations with people at Terry, I felt a level of authenticity and connection that stood out. Everyone was approachable, genuinely supportive, and refreshingly real. It was clear that choosing Terry meant becoming part of a collaborative and close-knit community, which was very important to me. Also, I noticed that many international students at Terry were able to secure the exact post-MBA roles that I was interested in, which gave me strong confidence in the school’s ability to deliver meaningful career outcomes.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? I had amazing professors, but my favorite professor was Dr. Santanu Chatterjee. Despite serving as interim dean before being named dean this spring, Dr. C always made deliberate efforts to know students personally. He greeted many of us by name, remembering not just our faces but our stories. More importantly, he created an environment where students felt comfortable sharing honest feedback. His accessibility and genuine interest in students’ welfare made us feel supported.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite course was Data Management and Analytics with Dr. Nikhil Srinivasan. I loved the course because, even though it was technical, Dr. Srini somehow managed to make the classes very interactive. I got to learn SQL and Tableau, tools which I had never used before. As a finance professional, I’ve found these tools to be incredibly valuable because they allow me to analyze data more efficiently and visualize insights for better, data-driven decision making.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favorite tradition at Terry was the annual Cultural Night. It is a true melting pot of cultures, where students proudly share their food, music, fashion, and traditions from across the world. Cultural Night is a powerful celebration of diversity and community, reflecting the inclusive nature of the Terry MBA.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Looking back, I would have been more intentional about attending and hosting more social events to bond with my classmates outside of class or networking events. Two years passed by quickly, and I discovered that informal gatherings helped build the strongest connections. I will miss my classmates, who became close friends, and I wish we had created more memories during our time in the program.

What was the most impactful case study you had in business school and what was the biggest lesson you learned from it? The Tempur Sealy case we read in a Competitive Strategy class taught by Dr. John Turner was particularly impactful to me. The case illustrated how bargaining power shapes business dynamics. I learned the importance of having good bargaining skills and negotiating leverage, not just as a business strategy but even in one’s career.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? I loved the energy of Athens during football season! The fun tailgates, vibrant school colors everywhere, and the shared sense of Bulldawg pride made my MBA experience memorable. Go Dawgs!!!

What business leader do you admire most? I admire Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a Nigerian economist who currently serves as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization. She is the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO as Director-General. Her advocacy for fair trade, inclusivity, and collaboration among WTO member states underscores her dedication to global economic welfare. Her groundbreaking achievements as an African woman in such an influential and international role is a big source of inspiration to me, as I aspire to make an impact on a global scale.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? Terry College has embraced responsible and ethical use of AI, rather than restricting it. The faculty created a course called AI in Business and Society, which explores how AI is applied in real business settings and how humans interact with AI. Beyond the classroom, a classmate, Anshuman Dash, also founded the AI Club that organizes workshops focusing on skills like how to build AI agents.

For me, I have found that AI can process vast amounts of data very quickly, but the real value comes when I apply critical thinking and my business knowledge to properly prompt AI and make sense of its outputs.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Samuel Ogbonna is an outstanding classmate that I truly respect and admire. He is very resourceful and consistently brings the best ideas to the table. I genuinely value his perspective, and engaging with him has been one of the most enriching parts of my MBA experience.

In addition to his intellect, Samuel is intentional about uplifting those around him, freely offering guidance and encouragement. I have no doubt that he will continue to excel beyond the MBA, and I am excited to see the positive influence he will have in the future.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? First, I aspire to become the CFO of a Fortune 500 company, leveraging my finance and strategy skills to make a lasting impact in an organization.

Beyond the corporate world, I also hope to serve as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance someday, contributing to the nation’s economic growth and sustainable policymaking.

What made Funmi such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?

“I first met Funmi during a preparatory session I organized for students participating in the faculty-led Silicon Valley Trek in her first year at Terry. Even in a room full of talented MBA students, Funmi stood out immediately. She asked thoughtful questions and demonstrated a rare ability to quickly identify the most important insights when presented with complex information. During the trek itself, that first impression was reinforced. Funmi came exceptionally prepared for each company visit and engaged in discussions in a way that elevated the experience not only for herself but for her peers. Her curiosity and professionalism helped foster more meaningful conversations with our company hosts.

Funmi also served as a team leader on a capstone consulting project with a major corporate partner, earning exceptional feedback from the sponsoring executive. When a late contract change threatened to delay the project, Funmi worked with the client to develop a solution that allowed the team to begin working with anonymized data while details were finalized. Her ability to navigate uncertainty while keeping the team moving forward reflected both strong leadership and sound judgment.

Funmi combines intellectual curiosity with humility and a genuine commitment to lifting others. She strengthens every team and community she joins. I am confident she will continue to create meaningful impact wherever she goes.”

Kelley O’Keeffe
Associate Director, Strategic Partnerships and Adjunct Lecturer
Full-Time MBA and Master of Science in Business Analytics

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2026

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