Nakaiya Turk

Emory University, Goizueta Business School

“Goal-Oriented Young Professional, Talk-Show Host, Career Activist, Community Servant, Leader & Dreamer.”

Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee

Fun Fact About Yourself: I host a YouTube talk show, Kandid Kaiya, where I interview millennial black women on their different pathways to success.

Undergraduate School and Major: Spelman College, Mathematics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Customer Experience Leader

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In my most recent role as a customer experience leader at HPE, I developed strong interpersonal skills and the ability to listen to customers and address their concerns. Because of my effective listening skills and understanding of the customer’s needs, one of my account managers selected me to partner with him to create a briefing document for Meg Whitman, CEO of HPE.  For this high profile assignment, I was called upon to bring the manager up to speed because of my relationship with the customer. To complete the document, we compiled customer data that I had captured to tell a compelling story. As a result of my accurate awareness of the health of the relationship at this customer, our CEO was equipped to have a successful meeting. Pretty cool to know that your work helped a CEO!

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Persistent! The journey to business school was not smooth sailing for me or some of my classmates; it had few ups and many downs. But the one thing that we all remained was committed to this goal and we worked tirelessly and endlessly to get where we are today. We finally made it to Goizueta because of our determination and our persistence.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The key factor for me was the people at Goizueta, from the staff to the alumnae, from the teachers to the deans. It was important for me to feel that a MBA program fully invests itself into its students. Through my conversations with staff and students and my numerous visits to the school, I knew this was the program for me. The people of this community made me feel safe and comfortable and I found Goizueta to be the place where I could find my best energy and be my true authentic self.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am really looking forward to being an active contributor to the Goizueta Women in Business (GWIB) Club. I am excited to work with my peers on creating new initiatives that will give more women access to endless opportunities in business.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I worked at HPE for 5 years as a data analyst and as a customer experience leader. These roles really helped me to further identify my interests in marketing and consumer analytics. Once I had identified a clearer career path for myself, I knew that now was the time for me to merge my skillset and my interest together through pursuing my MBA.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? It wasn’t as much about a financial investment for me but more so of an investment of time. I came from a more technical background; I knew that if I wanted to be a true business leader, then I needed to broaden my knowledge of the components that impact the business world today and in the future. I determined that a two-year, full-time business school program was my next best step. Once I came to this conclusion, I invested two years into preparing for tests, visiting schools, joining prep programs (shout-out to MLT) and researching funding and grants; giving up my free time to help me to develop professionally was well worth it.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Vanderbilt, Rice, UGA, Georgia Tech, and Duke

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I determined my fit at business programs through in-person visits. I could explore and research all of these amazing business schools all day long, but I personally needed to be able to describe how it felt when I visited these institutions. Over a two year span, I visited over 10 business schools through minority weekends, women weekends, class visits, etc. These were great opportunities for me to explore these school’s locations, interact with the staff, network with the community, and experience what it would be like to be a student here. I felt the school would be a fit If the location was ideal (meaning the cost of living was reasonable); the culture felt collaborative and not competitive; there were ways to get involved in the community; and the students seemed relatable…then the school was a fit.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment was when I made the “choice to change the world” by attending Spelman College. As a woman who was a part of this monumental institution, I was encouraged to do work that has impact and knew I had to commit my talents and time to uplifting my community. I am an avid volunteer and mentor who has completed over 200 hours of service in three years with a specific focus on helping underrepresented minority women realize their gifts and talents. I discovered my passion of empowering today’s young women 10 years ago, and have worked endlessly to do just that through my talk-show and giving back. Helping these young women to discover their potential, has helped me to recognize ways that I can reach my fullest potential as I plan to continue to bring light to the endless opportunities possible for women through leading by example.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I plan to join a Fortune 500 company in their marketing/brand management department and help to build and enhance groundbreaking brands that will positively impact consumer experience long-term.

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I see myself as an effective brand builder in corporate who is working diligently to influence the livelihood of today’s consumers. I also see myself as a blooming entrepreneur who has successfully turned my personal brand, Kandid Kaiya, into one that resonates with women globally.