It’s easy to navigate the MBA application process when you have the “traditional” background business schools love. But what happens when your profile looks nothing like the norm?

Today’s guest, David Owusu-Gyebi, proves that non-traditional backgrounds don’t just belong in top MBA programs — they can thrive there.

David holds an MBA from Duke Fuqua School of Business, where he served as Co-President of the Business in Africa Club. In that role, he led Afro-centric initiatives such as Taste of Africa, a flagship event that celebrated African culture, food, and community within the Fuqua ecosystem.

Before business school, David spent nearly a decade as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, ensuring the airworthiness of aircraft operating within Ghanaian airspace — a background far removed from the typical consulting or investment banking pipeline. During his MBA, he interned at AlixPartners and later joined the firm full-time after graduation.

David holds a BSc in Aircraft Engineering and is passionate about sports, cooking, and helping others navigate non-traditional paths into elite business careers.

💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:

- How non-traditional candidates can stand out in the MBA application process

- How to translate technical and engineering experience into business value

- What Duke Fuqua looks for beyond consulting and banking backgrounds

- How to lead impactful student initiatives during your MBA

- How to pivot from engineering into top-tier consulting roles

If you’re worried your background isn’t “MBA-ready,” this episode will challenge everything you think you know.

🎙️ Business 101 Podcast: Inside Duke Fuqua with David Owusu-Gyebi

#Business101Podcast #DukeFuqua #FuquaMBA #NonTraditionalMBA #MBAJourney #ConsultingCareers

How should you really choose a business school?

Rankings, funding, and location matter — but Anu Rogers believes there’s one factor people underestimate: vibe.

In this episode, Anuoluwapo Rogers, a proud Nigerian, Pan-African, and Finance & Strategy professional at American Express, shares a refreshing and honest perspective on how to choose the right MBA program for you — not just the most popular one.

Anu is currently part of American Express’ Global Finance Job Rotation Program, with his first rotation in Strategy & Transformation in New York. He earned his MBA from the Darden School of Business (Class of 2025), where he served as President of the Darden Africa Business Organization (DABO).

At Darden, Anu led initiatives that connected African students with the broader Darden and UVA communities, created platforms for talent visibility, and fostered engagement with African leaders — all while building a strong, values-driven student community.

Before business school, Anu spent over five years across tax advisory, finance, risk advisory, and consulting, working with organizations including Ernst & Young, Access Bank, Petrolog Group, and the Lagos Inland Revenue Service. He holds a BSc in Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University and is a Chartered Banker certified by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

💡 In this conversation, Anu breaks down:

- How to choose a business school beyond rankings

- Why “vibe” can matter more than prestige

- What makes the Darden experience unique

- How to build leadership and community during your MBA

- Using business education to drive long-term impact in Africa

If you’re torn between schools or struggling to decide where you’ll truly thrive, this episode will help you rethink your approach.

🎙️ Business 101 Podcast: Inside Darden School of Business with Anu Rogers

Pre-order my preMBA recruiting playbook (free for a limited time):

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#Business101Podcast #DardenMBA #MBAjourney #BusinessSchoolAdvice #AfricanProfessionals

At a school as historic and prestigious as Wharton, how does a young person actually stand out and make their mark?

In this episode, we welcome Adwoa Boateng, a recent Wharton MBA graduate whose journey bridges public service, global development, and top-tier consulting.

Before Wharton, Adwoa served as a Senior Analyst at the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), advising the U.S. government on how to effectively fund and evaluate economic development programs in Afghanistan. Prior to that, she worked as a Program Analyst at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Inspector General.

She holds a B.S. in Economics and a B.A. in Government & Politics from the University of Maryland, and completed fellowships and internships at institutions including the U.S. Department of State, Federal Trade Commission, the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, and Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.

At The Wharton School, Adwoa was deeply involved in community leadership, serving as Co-President of the Wharton Africa Student Association and earning the Class of 2025 Core Value Award for Community. Post-MBA, she joined Bain & Company as a consultant, while continuing to explore public–private partnerships to strengthen social safety nets in the Global South.

💡 In this conversation, we explore:

- How to stand out at a school as competitive as Wharton

- Leveraging public-sector experience in elite business environments

- Leading community and creating impact inside business school

- Translating purpose-driven work into top consulting roles

- What Wharton really looks for beyond pedigree and polish

If you’re curious about Wharton, consulting, or building a career at the intersection of policy, business, and impact — this episode offers a rare inside look.

🎙️ Business 101 Podcast: Inside Wharton with Adwoa Boateng.

Pre-order my preMBA recruiting playbook (free for a limited time):

https://mainstack.store/business101pod/mckinseyinspiresimplified

#Business101Podcast #WhartonMBA #WhartonSchool #MBAjourney #BainAndCompany #WomenInBusiness

Tuck is known for being cold. But is it also known for finance? And what does it even mean for a business school to be “finance-heavy”?

In this episode, Neemah Muhammadraji (Tuck MBA ’25) helps break the stereotypes. A proud Nigerian and Investment Banking Associate at Jefferies, Neemah shares what the Tuck experience is really like for students pursuing finance careers — and why Tuck might be more finance-friendly than people think.

Before business school, Neemah spent five years in investment banking, venture capital, and impact investing in Nigeria. She worked at Coronation Merchant Bank and All On, an impact investing fund backed by Shell, where she also represented the fund on the boards of multiple portfolio companies.

At Tuck School of Business, Neemah served as Co-Chair of the Tuck Africa Club, supporting African students and prospective applicants through mentorship and access. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Lagos, is a Chartered Accountant, and a CFA Charterholder — a rare and powerful combination.

💡 In this episode, Neemah discusses:

- What people mean when they call some MBAs “finance schools”

- Whether Tuck truly supports investment banking and finance careers

- How to break into IB from emerging markets

- The role of community and leadership at Tuck

- How finance professionals can still pursue impact and purpose

If you’re considering Tuck, finance, or wondering how to balance elite finance careers with meaningful impact, this episode gives you a clear, insider perspective.

🎙️ Business 101 Podcast: Inside Tuck School of Business with Neemah Muhammadraji

Pre-order my preMBA recruiting playbook (free for a limited time): https://mainstack.store/business101pod/mckinseyinspiresimplified

#TuckMBA #InvestmentBanking #Business101Podcast #MBAjourney #FinanceCareers

Maybe you know everything about American business schools… but how much do you really know about the European gem: London Business School?

Today’s guest, Aminat Sokunbi, brings that world to life. A strategy professional with a track record of building scalable, high-impact solutions, Aminat spent four years at Deloitte and Strategy&, driving transformation across complex environments.

At London Business School (LBS), she took on leadership roles in the Africa Business Club, Black in Business, and the People Strategy Club, and co-led the LBS Africa Business Conference. A semester at Wharton further expanded her global business lens, giving her a rare blend of European and American MBA experience.

Now at the intersection of strategy and operations, Aminat is focused on delivering tangible, data-driven results in fast-paced settings.

Beyond her corporate work, she is the founder of Ominirra, a visual storytelling brand that blends art, fashion, and film to explore identity and expression. W

hen she’s not building strategy or brands, she’s hunting for escape rooms and immersive games — anything that mixes creativity with problem-solving.

💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:

- What makes London Business School different from U.S. MBA programs

- How an LBS + Wharton combo shapes global perspective

- What strategy professionals need to thrive in today’s business world

- How to navigate MBA leadership roles and build meaningful communities

- The power of creativity in career growth and personal expression.

If you’re curious about LBS, global MBAs, or building a strategy career with impact, this episode gives you a front-row seat.🎙️

Business 101 Podcast: Inside London Business School with Aminat Sokunbi

#Business101Podcast #LondonBusinessSchool #LBSMBA #MBAjourney #GlobalMBA #StrategyConsulting

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Pre-order my preMBA recruiting playbook (free for a limited time): https://mainstack.store/business101pod/mckinseyinspiresimplified

🎙️ Business 101 Podcast: Inside Columbia Business School with Love Alabi

#Business101Podcast #ColumbiaBusinessSchool #MBAjourney #McKinsey #GoldmanSachs #WomenInBusiness #ClimateFinance

𝐈 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐄𝐍𝐉𝐎𝐘ED 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒!

▶ If you enjoyed this video, please like it and share it.

▶ Don't forget to subscribe to this channel for more updates. ▶ Subscribe now: https://www.youtube.com/@business101pod/videos?sub_confirmation=1

🎬 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎𝐒:

▶https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPi3Meg4H3I&t=585s

▶https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6qy6WG0ae4

▶https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2aoDot_N-Y&t=1120s

▶https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV7-I3cq_rA&t=2201s

▶https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3CUBMBuxYY

🔔 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊:

▶ https://www.youtube.com/@business101pod/videos?sub_confirmation=1

Please share with your friends and family. Also don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to notify you if I post a new video

What does it take to land an offer at the world’s most prestigious consulting firm straight out of business school? Love Alabi has done it twice (in 2 different continents) and can tell you all about it.

A proud Nigerian and Associate at McKinsey’s Houston office, she shares her journey from McKinsey to Columbia Business School and back — and the mindset that got her there.

Love started her career at McKinsey Lagos, from where she headed to Columbia Business School, focusing on climate and finance, contributing to Microlumbia, the school’s student-led impact investing fund, and leading real-world projects through the Small Business Consulting Program.

She then spent her summer as an Associate at Goldman Sachs, gaining hands-on experience in global finance before landing an offer to return to McKinsey Houston.

She holds a BSc in International Relations from Covenant University and is deeply committed to advancing clean energy, expanding energy access, and building solutions for a sustainable global economy.

In this episode, Love breaks down:

- How to pivot from recruiting into consulting

- What it’s really like inside Columbia Business School

- Strategies that helped her land roles at Goldman Sachs and McKinsey

- How CBS prepares students for climate, finance, and sustainability careers

- Why clean energy needs African talent and leadership

- How to stand out in MBA applications, networking, and recruiting

If you’re interested in Columbia Business School, want to break into management consulting, or building a future in climate and sustainability, this conversation gives you an inside look at what success really requires.

Pre-order my preMBA recruiting playbook (free for a limited time): https://mainstack.store/business101pod/mckinseyinspiresimplified

🎙️ Business 101 Podcast: Inside Columbia Business School with Love Alabi

#Business101Podcast #ColumbiaBusinessSchool #MBAjourney #McKinsey #GoldmanSachs #WomenInBusiness #ClimateFinance

𝐈 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐄𝐍𝐉𝐎𝐘ED 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒!

▶ If you enjoyed this video, please like it and share it.

▶ Don't forget to subscribe to this channel for more updates. ▶ Subscribe now: https://www.youtube.com/@business101pod/videos?sub_confirmation=1

🎬 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎𝐒:

▶https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPi3Meg4H3I&t=585s

▶https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6qy6WG0ae4

▶https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2aoDot_N-Y&t=1120s

▶https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV7-I3cq_rA&t=2201s

▶https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3CUBMBuxYY

🔔 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊:

▶ https://www.youtube.com/@business101pod/videos?sub_confirmation=1

Please share with your friends and family. Also don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to notify you if I post a new video

What does it really take to be “Yale material”?

In this episode, Femi Ayangbayi (Yale SOM MBA ’25) breaks down what it means to thrive at one of the world’s most selective business schools — and how he made it there.

A proud Nigerian, business strategist, and problem solver, Femi has built a career at the intersection of consulting and transformation.

Before Yale, he spent nearly five years at KPMG, EY, and Vurin Group, specializing in strategy consulting, business transformation, and supply chain management.

At Yale School of Management, Femi served as Co-President of the Africa Business Club and the Society Club, as well as a Yale SOM interviewer, Orientation Ambassador, and Teaching Assistant for courses like Human Capital Strategy and The Executive.

In this conversation, Femi shares:

- What top schools like Yale SOM look for in MBA applicants

- The mindset and habits that make someone “Yale material”

- How to stand out during interviews and essays

- What makes the Yale SOM experience unique among top business schools

- How to pivot from consulting to leadership in global business

If you’re curious about Yale SOM or wondering how to position yourself for elite business schools, this episode gives you a rare inside look from someone who’s been there — and helped interview the next generation.

Pre-order my preMBA recruiting playbook (free for a limited time): https://mainstack.store/business101pod/mckinseyinspiresimplified

🎙️ Business 101 Podcast: Inside Yale School of Management with Femi Ayangbayi

#Business101Podcast #YaleSOM #MBAjourney #BusinessPodcast #YaleMBA #M7MBA

𝐈 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐄𝐍𝐉𝐎𝐘ED 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒!

▶ If you enjoyed this video, please like it and share it.

▶ Don't forget to subscribe to this channel for more updates. ▶ Subscribe now: https://www.youtube.com/@business101pod/videos?sub_confirmation=1

🎬 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎𝐒:▶https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPi3Meg4H3I&t=585s

▶https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6qy6WG0ae4

▶https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2aoDot_N-Y&t=1120s

▶https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV7-I3cq_rA&t=2201s

▶https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3CUBMBuxYY

🔔 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊:

▶ https://www.youtube.com/@business101pod/videos?sub_confirmation=1

Please share with your friends and family. Also don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to notify you if I post a new video

What happens when everything seems to work against your MBA dream? Kofoworola Toriola says you keep going — and keep believing.

Kofoworola faced setbacks at every stage of her MBA journey: GRE struggles, rejections from top schools, and doubts along the way. But today, she’s a lawyer-turned-business strategist and incoming Associate at McKinsey’s Lagos office, proving that persistence pays off.

A proud IESE Business School (Barcelona) alumna, she served as Co-President of the Africa Business Club, leading initiatives that showcased Africa’s potential on the global stage.

Before business school, Kofoworola spent over seven years as an Associate at a top-tier Nigerian law firm, advising local and international clients on complex legal matters.

She’s also an Amazon-published author of Love Notes, a passionate advocate for mentorship, and a champion of African professional growth.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

- How to stay motivated after MBA rejections

- Real strategies to bounce back from low test scores or setbacks

- What it’s really like to transition from law to strategy

- How IESE Business School shapes global, values-driven leaders

- Tips for landing consulting roles at firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain

If you’ve ever felt like your MBA dream was slipping away, this story will reignite your belief that it’s still possible.

Pre-order my preMBA recruiting playbook (free for a limited time): https://mainstack.store/business101pod/mckinseyinspiresimplified

🎙️ Business 101 Podcast: Inside IESE Business School with Kofoworola Toriola