Ann Agbaneje

Arizona State University, W. P. Carey School of Business

“Creative, curious and driven. I have the answers and, if I don’t, we’ll find it together.”

Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve practiced most of the common forms of design, including architecture, interior, landscape, fashion, illustration, events, stage, lighting, and graphic design. Plus, I know all of John Legend’s songs.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Lagos, Architecture

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Alistar Design and Build, Senior Project Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I handled an event activation for a top international social media platform from design to execution. This was a huge accomplishment for me because my experience was mostly architecture projects that spanned longer execution periods with room for correction. It confirmed for me that I can do anything I set my mind to.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? It’s always fascinating to see that my classmates have thriving social lives regardless of the program’s workload. But a quality I love is the diversity in every aspect. Every day, I find another exciting fact about the people and what they bring to the table. It’s amazing the amount of talent each individual has.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Of all the business schools, W. P. Carey embodied the message “Business is personal.” I never felt like I was just another name on a list. I had no prior knowledge of any business school as a first-generation student. I researched them from scratch. W. P. Carey was the only school to which I felt a connection. They followed up, connected me to both a student mentor and an executive mentor. Every one of the alumni I reached out to took their time to answer my questions genuinely.

Arizona State is renowned for its innovation. How have you seen innovation in the philosophy, curriculum, or resources at W. P. Carey?  The curriculum is always evolving based on feedback from the students. I’ve only been here two quarters and I experienced this first-hand. ASU understands that innovation has to be done immediately or it becomes obsolete. We are constantly seeing new courses, clubs, and increased student support. Most of it championed by students within the program. If you want to have an exhibition about abolishing modern-day slavery through supply chain management, you get backed by both the business school and the school of sustainability. W. P. Carey is truly inclusive and evolving.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? What will I contribute both in and outside the classroom at W. P. Carey? I had spent most of the time thinking about how I will defend my reason for wanting an MBA and how it will add value to me. But this question was a good reminder about how the world works best when people help each other learn and grow.

How did you determine which business schools best fit you? I wanted a school with a good class size so that I could graduate knowing I’ll have a true connection with everyone in the program. I spoke with a couple of alumni and was convinced that the people at the school will know my goals and be focused on helping me achieve them. Coming from a design background, I wasn’t your typical MBA student. I knew I’ll need all the help I can get. It was a combination of these things along with financial aid, location and weather, and job placement numbers that determined what I felt was a fit.