Demetrius Johnson Jr.

Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania / Penn Carey Law School

“Renaissance man and trailblazer chasing his dreams while not taking life too seriously.”

Hometown: Scotch Plains, New Jersey

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m a music artist under the alias Deej McGee.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Chicago – Class of 2022 (B.A. in Economics)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Private Equity Associate at Arctos Partners

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the Wharton School’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I’ve known since undergrad that I wanted to lead an organization one day. After seeing how many executives held an MBA, I decided it wouldn’t hurt to have one too. I applied to Wharton as a college senior through the Moelis Advance Access Program, a deferred enrollment pathway for college seniors and final-year graduate students. This program let me secure a guaranteed seat in the MBA program while gaining two to four years of work experience first. I valued having access to a large, supportive alumni network throughout my deferral period to make connections and gain insight on various career paths.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at the Wharton School? While I’m excited to contribute to the African American MBA Association (AAMBAA), the Media & Entertainment Club, and the Wine Club, what excites me most is training and competing in Penn’s Fight Night. It’s Penn’s largest student-run philanthropic event. It draws thousands of graduate students to the historic Palestra for a black-tie charity boxing tournament, with proceeds benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia’s youth literacy initiative. For me, stepping into the ring feels like the perfect way to combine my passion for sports with social impact.

When you think of the Wharton School, what is the first word that comes to mind? Why? Pinnacle. To me, Wharton is the pinnacle of business, finance, leadership, and innovation.

What makes Philadelphia a great place to earn an MBA? Philadelphia’s proximity to major hubs like Boston, NYC, and Washington D.C. makes it an attractive city. Beyond that, Philly offers a rich historic arts and music scene alongside a vibrant food and culture scene, all in a walkable city.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Ironically, one of my biggest accomplishments was a failure. During my time at Arctos, I used my own network to bring in an HBCU sports team that was seeking an equity investment and got them a meeting with our team. We ultimately didn’t invest, given how early private investment in college sports still was, but the experience taught me two things as an early professional. First, it was that my ideas were valid in the workplace – regardless of my age. Second, I’ll always go to bat for overlooked and underfunded organizations.

What is your biggest passion – and how has it helped you make an impact? I’ll forever be an advocate for the arts. Growing up, music nonprofits were my home away from home, where I learned to express myself creatively. As I got older, I saw music programs losing funding, which pushed me to study economics in undergrad to understand operational efficiency on limited resources. Outside of work, I’ve served on the boards of local fine arts organizations and hope to continue that through Wharton’s Golub Capital Board Fellows Program.

What do you hope to do after graduation (at this point)? Long-term, I hope to reach the C-suite at a global media and entertainment company. Short-term, I hope to join an early-stage sports, media, or entertainment company where I can help build the organization from the ground up through strategy, finance, and operational leadership.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into the Wharton School’s MBA program? Be yourself – flaws and all! Don’t shape your application, essays, and career goals around what you think Wharton wants to hear. Admissions want to know you for who you are. Own your story, be ambitious, and shoot your shot.

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