Lola Fadiran

University of Texas at Dallas, Naveen Jindal School of Management

“Former professional athlete, driven by discipline, analytics, and impact-oriented decision-making.”

Hometown: Ibadan, Nigeria

Fun fact about yourself: I represented Nigeria at both the FIFA U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cups.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Grambling State University. B.A in Psychology

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? I was a Business Analyst Intern at InvestNFarm, Lagos, Nigeria.

Where did you intern during the summer of 2025? Toyota Financial Services, Plano, Texas (Summer MBA Intern 2026).

Where will you be working after graduation? I would like my internship at Toyota Financial Services to lead to a full-time position.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

Community work: Volunteered with Sharing Life, where I helped distribute food, organized clothing drives, and supported individuals and families in need.

Leadership Roles: Forte Fellow and a leader of a team that won a Global MBA Case Competition.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Winning the Global MBA Case Competition against more than 100 business schools worldwide is my proudest academic achievement. Our team had one week to develop an expansion strategy for CAVA, a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant. The process was challenging, as we needed to consider spending, supply chains, and customer demographics. We spent over 70 hours developing our hypothesis, conducting research, brainstorming, and finalizing our recommendation. Balancing this project with regular coursework and deadlines was demanding, but our efforts led us to first place.

Leading the team helped me navigate differing opinions and translate complex, ambiguous problems into clear strategies under tight deadlines.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Representing Nigeria at the FIFA U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cups stands as my most significant professional achievement. Being selected as one of 18 players from over 50 candidates to represent a nation of more than 200 million remains a lasting source of pride. Despite limited support for women’s soccer in my community, reaching this level has inspired other young girls to pursue their ambitions.

Competing at this highest international level required discipline, resilience, and accountability. This experience continues to influence my approach to leadership, teamwork, and decision-making under pressure.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose the University of Texas at Dallas for its strategic location. Dallas-Fort Worth is a hub of innovation, home to many corporate headquarters, and offering excellent opportunities for professional networking.

Before selecting an MBA program, I thoroughly researched my options and found that the University of Texas at Dallas offers an excellent return on investment through affordable tuition, high-quality instruction, and strong post-graduation outcomes.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? My favorite professor is Carolyn Reichert because she consistently explained complex finance concepts in clear, actionable steps. Her lectures are engaging, and she is always willing to answer questions or address concerns.

I appreciate her genuine commitment to sharing her knowledge of finance and her consistent availability to support students.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Although I have not completed all my core classes, Marketing has been my favorite so far. The course encouraged me to think critically about consumer behavior, positioning, and value creation.

Marketing enhanced my ability to connect data, strategy, and human insight to solve problems. This skill was valuable during the CAVA Challenge, the MBA case competition world cup that we won. My understanding of marketing principles enabled us to conduct consumer, market, and competitor analyses before developing our recommendation.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favorite MBA events are the career events, which offer valuable opportunities to meet and network with alumni and industry leaders. The MBA team organizes several of these events each semester, allowing us to connect with alumni and select potential mentors in our areas of interest. I secured my internship through one of these events, and I strongly encourage future MBA candidates to attend them.

I also value case competitions, a key MBA tradition. They demonstrate the school’s focus on strategy, analytical thinking, and practical problem-solving, and highlight the program’s commitment to preparing students for real-world leadership.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? At this stage of my MBA, I would not change anything. Every challenge and success have contributed to my growth.

The lessons I have learned so far have prepared me well for continued development 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? One of the most impactful case studies I completed in business school examined Banorte’s mobile banking transformation in Mexico. Although Mexico is a mobile-first society, mobile banking adoption remained low due to distrust, regulatory challenges, and reliance on physical branches. The case underscored a key challenge: encouraging millions of customers to use digital channels when trust, rather than technology, was the main obstacle.

I was struck by the fact that Banorte had already invested significantly in data infrastructure and analytics, yet adoption lagged because customers encountered friction during app activation, identity verification, and security concerns. This experience taught me that digital transformation is primarily a human challenge, not a technical one. Even the best technology will not succeed if customers lack trust or confidence. Small behavioral nudges, such as SMS reminders or incentives, proved more effective than major platform investments. This insight has reshaped my approach to change management and customer experience in highly regulated industries.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? I appreciate the Dallas–Fort Worth area for its leadership in innovation, technology, and corporate development.

The region’s diverse industries foster a dynamic learning environment closely connected to professional opportunities. This allows us to visit organizations, learn about their cultures, and expand our networks.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? My business school integrates AI through analytics-focused coursework that emphasizes data-driven, real-time decision-making. We use AI tools to analyze large datasets, identify patterns, and simulate business scenarios, bridging theory and practice. Outside the classroom, AI supports our career development by helping us prepare for interviews, refine resumes, and research companies and job opportunities.

These experiences have shown me that AI is most effective when it complements, rather than replaces, human judgment. Effective use of AI still requires critical thinking, domain expertise, and ethical decision-making.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I greatly admire Kimberly Valenta. After years in the medical field, she chose to pursue a full-time MBA instead of the traditional executive path. This decision demonstrates her confidence and commitment to personal growth.

Her drive, courage, and willingness to defy expectations stand out to me. She demonstrates that reinvention is both possible and impactful at any stage. Observing her confident and intentional leadership encourages me to think bigger, take risks, and pursue opportunities beyond my comfort zone.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? My top two professional goals are the following:

1. Lead a high-impact team in a global organization to drive meaningful change and support large-scale growth.
2. Develop an innovative solution to enhance decision-making across the organization.

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

“I am pleased to recommend Lola Fadiran, a member of the Full-Time MBA Class of 2026 at the University of Texas at Dallas. Lola has been a strong contributor to our program through her academic performance, leadership in case competitions, and engagement in community service.

Lola is disciplined, analytical, and focused. She led her team to a first-place finish in a Global MBA Case Competition against more than 100 business schools, demonstrating strong problem-solving skills and the ability to lead under tight deadlines. She also brings a thoughtful, data-driven approach to class discussions and team work, shaped by her background as a former professional athlete and analyst.

Lola represents the kind of student we value highly in our MBA program: prepared, driven, and committed to making an impact. She has been a valuable member of the Class of 2026 and represents the program well.”

Andrea Burdman
Program Manager, MBA Programs
The University of Texas at Dallas

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