Odochi Uwazurike

University of Rochester, Simon Business School

“Gregarious, fun-loving, First Year MBA Candidate, who loves travelling and meeting new people!”

Hometown: Queens, New York

Fun Fact About Yourself: I once biked 550 miles across New York from NYC to Niagara Falls.

Undergraduate School and Major: Dartmouth College – Religion & Psychological and Brain Sciences Double Major

Most Recent Employer and Job Title:

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

Survivorship and Young Adult Program Coordinator

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Having original research that I worked on get published in a peer-reviewed journal was a pretty special moment! I almost cried at work that day… almost!

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? “Friendly” is the first word that comes to mind! Everyone here is genuinely interested in making new connections and meeting other Simon students. We’re all heavily invested in each other’s success.

Rochester Simon is known for being “unabashedly analytical.” Why does the program’s focus on quantitative analysis and decision-making appeal to you? How do you intend to leverage this approach as a student and professional? Simon’s analytical bias was extremely appealing to me because I applied to business school from a “non-traditional” background, so I felt this would be the perfect opportunity for me to learn about the finance and quantitative portions of business decision-making, which I had not experienced much of in my previous roles or education. I think merging this quantitative knowledge with my current experience will make me both “a poet & a quant.”

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? Two Words: Scholarship Weekend! Each year, Simon invites top candidates to campus to compete for scholarships and paid fellowships to help cover the cost of attendance. I was fortunate enough to have been invited last year and received the Fielding Leadership Fellowship. Once I got the call that I had gotten the Fellowship, I knew that I would be attending Simon because the cost of attendance and graduating from business school debt free was something that was very important to me when I decided to go back to school.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I hope that we can get to do some traveling and global business treks eventually!

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? “Why Now?” I think it’s very important for every applicant to really take stock of why they are applying to B-School and flush out why this very moment is the best time for them to be doing so.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I had received a few promotions in my previous role, however, I felt if I wanted to make that leap to upper management and the C-Suite an MBA would be the best route to get there.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Anderson, Tuck, Kenan-Flagler, Owen

How did you determine your fit at various schools? Ultimately, I determined my fit at a school by visiting and getting to interact with the faculty, staff, and students. When I was applying to undergraduate programs, I didn’t really visit many campuses, so this time around I took the opportunity to get on campus and envision if I could truly see myself there on-campus.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Being able to work with young adult cancer patients at Roswell Park each and every day truly taught me the relish every moment and never take anything for granted. That is a lesson that I will cherish and uphold for the rest of my life.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? My ten year plan is to either be a Vice President of Strategy at a Healthcare firm or a Partner at a Consulting Firm.

DON’T MISS: MEET ROCHESTER SIMON’S MBA CLASS OF 2022