In this heartfelt episode of The Fuqua Show, host Abimbola sits down with Chizoma Ekechukwu - a second-year MBA student whose strength, warmth, and leadership have touched every corner of the Fuqua community. She's Co-President of the Black Business Student Association, a Career and Admissions Fellow, and a trusted mentor. But beyond the titles, Chizoma carries a story that changed everything.

While navigating the challenges of business school, Chizoma was diagnosed with cancer. What followed wasn’t a pause - it was a deep dive into healing, faith, and connection. In this conversation, she opens up about how she made sense of the diagnosis, found comfort in community, and redefined what success really means.

This episode isn’t just about overcoming - it’s about becoming. Becoming someone who leads with empathy, who embraces vulnerability, and who finds light, even when the path is uncertain. 

Episode Producer: Sushma Maramreddy /  Abimbola Olurotimi 
Host: Abimbola Olurotimi
Editor: Sushma Maramreddy 

Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned. 

How did a law graduate end up running one of the most elite athletic programs in the country?

Nina King made history as Duke’s first female Vice President and Director of Athletics—and only the third Black woman ever to lead a Power Five athletic department. 

From law school to locker rooms, she’s risen to now overseeing 27 varsity teams, teaching at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, and raising two boys. Nina is redefining what leadership looks like in a male-dominated arena. And she’s earned every accolade: Forty Under 40, Leaders Under 40, Adidas’ “Next Up”—just to name a few.

In this episode (recorded in March, for Women's History Month), we unpack how Nina’s rewriting the playbook for women in sports—and what it takes to win at the highest level.

Episode Producers: Sushma Maramreddy
Host: Morgan Leeson
Editor: Sushma Maramreddy 

Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned. 

Mitchell Woodruff (Class of 2024) grew up in the small town of Crestwood, Kentucky. After earning a degree in psychology from Xavier University, Mitchell pursued nursing at Bellarmine University and worked as a pediatric ICU travel nurse across the U.S. and abroad. He spent time providing care on a ship off the coast of Africa, helping children with cleft lip and palate repairs, and eventually decided to switch careers, enrolling in the Duke MBA program. Now, Mitchell is preparing for a move to the Bay Area and a new role as a consultant.

In this episode, Mitchell shares his journey from small-town Kentucky to global healthcare service and his decision to leave nursing for business. He talks about the emotional challenges of ICU nursing, volunteering in underserved areas, and the process of finding a new purpose through his MBA experience.

Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the views of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Dr. Ronnie Chatterji returned to Fuqua in 2023, after serving in the White House as implementation lead for the $52 billion CHIPS and Science Act. He thrives at the intersection of academia, public policy, and business, working as a professor and researcher at Fuqua for the past 18 years. He has co-authored 2 books, published over 30 peer-reviewed articles, and written op-eds in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Harvard Business Review. Ronnie has also worked in President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers and he ran for State Treasurer of North Carolina in the 2020 election.

We often hear Ronnie talk about business and policy issues. But we've never heard the behind the scenes of his unique career and life...until now. It’s a longer episode, but it's packed with rich stories, valuable insights, and practical advice. Listen to the end to learn how Ronnie has made a difference and how you can too.

Episode Producers: Thomas Cheng and Jenna Houchins
Host: Thomas Cheng
Editor: Jenna Houchins

Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Dr. Veronica Valencia Victoria (Class of 2024) is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and could also be considered a doctor of reinventing herself. Originally from a small town in Colombia, she moved to the U.S. when she was 12 years old, ultimately becoming the valedictorian of her high school. Inspired by her family, she became a physical therapist and supported patients over 4 years. After the loss of a friend and fellow healthcare worker during the pandemic, Veronica was driven to start a scholarship in his name and pursue an MBA to expand her impact in the health sector. After graduation, she will work in consulting at Deloitte.

In this episode, Veronica shares how her family has shaped her and helped her build a resilient mindset, allowing her to take risks, pursue new opportunities, and do things she once thought were impossible.

SCHOLARSHIP LINK: https://giving.usf.edu/how/herdfunder/miguel-martinez-jr-memorial-scholarship

Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Kandasi Griffiths (Class of 2024) had a goal to see the world. And after living in 17 places on 4 continents, she is certainly on her way! After college, she taught English in Paris, organized conferences in the UK, and learned jewelry making in Italy, before pivoting to international development. She worked in Afghanistan, Jordan, Tanzania, Guinea, Benin, and Togo, learning about global health and seeing how she could best contribute to community development. Kandasi then founded a social enterprise called SR Collaborative (srcollaborative.com), focused on supporting women of color change agents and their ventures. She came to Fuqua to pivot to impact investing, which she will pursue at Social Finance after graduation.

In this episode, Kandasi shares her fascinating stories and the lessons she's learned, about the world and about herself.

Episode Editor: Jenna Houchins (MBA/MPP '24)

Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Annie Forrest (Class of 2024) grew up in a small Appalachian town called Richlands, Virginia, where her family has lived for 8 generations. She left home for the University of Virginia, where she became an advocate for sexual assault and relationship abuse prevention. She then moved to New York City to continue this work full time at the One Love Foundation. And after 9 years away, she came back to Richlands and became inspired to work on uplifting rural communities.

In this episode, Annie shares her inspiring journey of leaving and ultimately returning home. She also talks about the Appalachian region, tips for healthier relationships, and reflections on her nontraditional MBA path.

Content Note: This episode contains mentions of sexual assault and relationship abuse.

Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Dr. John M. de Figueiredo (Faculty Director, Duke Center for Institutional and Organizational Performance) has taught strategy, law, and economics at Duke for more than 14 years and has received 8 teaching awards. However, when trying to start his career in academia, he was rejected from every PhD program he applied for, all because someone lost his GRE answer sheet! In this episode, John discusses how rejections, constant setbacks, and serendipity have led him to new opportunities, such as becoming a consultant in Europe and working for the famous Michael Porter (creator of "Porter's Five Forces"). He also shares his insights on how firms should manage strategy implementation, how he trains students for the "real world", and how MBA graduates can be successful in both work and in their personal lives.

This episode features questions submitted by David Shang (’24), Robertino Tucci (’24), and Rosa Mecklemburg (’24).

Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Queen Nwokonneya (Class of 2024) has big ambitions to improve people's lives in developing countries. Originally from Abuja, Nigeria, she discovered a passion for international and economic development, which brought her to the UK for school and back to Africa for work. Through her pre-MBA career, Queen advised the Lagos government on urban renewal policy, worked with her hometown community to plant 5,000 trees, helped vaccinate over 100,000 children, and more. In this episode, Queen shares many of her lessons learned - about leadership, relationship building, and developing both solutions and systems for long-term change.

Episode Editor: Jenna Houchins (MBA/MPP '24)

Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.

Erin Worsham spends her days helping people create positive impact in the world. She has been at Duke for a total of 19 years, first as an undergrad music major and now as the leader of Fuqua's Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE), Erin has developed a rich understanding of social impact, from her time as a Stanford MBA student to her jobs at the World Bank, USAID, Booz Allen Hamilton, and now Fuqua.

In this episode, Erin shares experiences and advice on being a "nontraditional" MBA student, challenging yourself, staying humble, building “tri-sector leadership" (private, public, nonprofit sectors), pursuing a career of significance, and more. She encourages all of us to use our personal and professional passions to better the world and empower others to do the same.

Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.