I grew up in a small, rural Pennsylvania town called Mountain Top. I was in an environment that taught me how to balance many interests and stay curious. I was always a bit of a generalist: in high school, I played soccer, basketball, and volleyball, ran track, starred in musical theatre productions, and even designed my own science experiments through the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science. These experiences set the tone for my lifelong tendency to explore a bit of everything.
That curiosity followed me to college, where I paired environmental studies with classical studies. This combination might sound unusual, but it blended my interest in helping people and the planet with a fascination for human thought and history. It’s this broad lens and curiosity that continue to shape my approach to learning, leadership, and purpose today.
Preparing to be a Cameron Crazie at age 2
In college, I sampled a wide range of industries: nonprofit work, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Senate, a startup, philanthropy, you name it. After graduation, I became the finance director on a congressional campaign, helping a first-time 29-year-old candidate raise $650,000. After an unfortunate loss, I joined Deloitte’s management consulting practice that Fall, and honestly, I didn’t fully understand what consulting was when I started.
At Deloitte, I worked with large corporations and coalitions of nonprofits across diverse topics. At the end of the day, they all had a broader purpose beyond making a profit. That has always been at the core of what drives me.
Looking back, business school felt like the next logical step. I had about five years of experience, I came from a non-traditional background, and I lacked the formal business education many of my peers had. I kept asking myself: What am I actually supposed to do in my career?
Erin Worsham, executive director of Fuqua’s Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE), recently asked me what I set out to do at Fuqua, and what I thought was missing. Here’s how I answered, now that I’m nearly halfway through year two:
Status? Complete!
When I did my summer internship at Mattel and could confidently discuss Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC), I knew the education was working. All jokes aside, the core curriculum was challenging for a liberal arts undergrad. I definitely got my money’s worth when it came to building a strong foundation in business fundamentals.
This was my first day at Mattel, in front of the iconic Barbie bus.
Status? In Progress.
Throughout the MBA application process and while at Fuqua, I’ve been focused on thinking through and testing ideas about my career. All of these ideas, while seemingly different, have a through-line of a mission driven approach to a career and leverage my best skills of communication, project management, and people-facing work.
I landed on four possible tracks:
I tried the first three, and now I’ve launched my own coaching business, Liv and Learn, which helps 20-somethings navigate their careers with a values-driven and relational approach.
Attending the Final Four in my Cameron Crazie glory.
Status? Complete!
In my application, I wrote that I wanted to be a fellow with the Center for Leadership & Ethics (COLE). I’m proud to say that I’m fulfilling that vision. As a COLE Fellow, I am mentoring two first-year groups, helping them find flow and feel supported during what I know is the hardest part of the Fuqua experience. I also lead the membership cabinet for the Net Impact Club, where I launched our first-ever mentorship program.
Beyond Fuqua, I serve as a graduate student usher for the Duke men’s basketball team, a role that’s been incredibly meaningful for meeting other graduate students across Duke and helping create a safe and fun game-day experience for everyone.
Status? Complete!
I keep joking with friends that the most I’ve learned at Fuqua has been by osmosis: simply talking to other smart, talented people doing interesting things. I have friends founding businesses, acquiring businesses, working at some of the most recognized brands, or supporting startups becoming the next big thing. That environment has expanded my understanding of industries and inspired me to think differently about how I fit in.
Safe to say, it’s been a wildly impactful and exciting year and a half. I’m looking forward to what the next six months will bring as I wrap up electives, activities, and experiences. Fuqua truly has everything you need to launch your career, grow into yourself, and realize your goals. It’s been a launching pad for me, and I’m looking forward to being part of such a vibrant alumni community.
The post Fuqua as a Launching Pad appeared first on Duke Daytime MBA Student Blog.
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That curiosity followed me to college, where I paired environmental studies with classical studies. This combination might sound unusual, but it blended my interest in helping people and the planet with a fascination for human thought and history. It’s this broad lens and curiosity that continue to shape my approach to learning, leadership, and purpose today.
Preparing to be a Cameron Crazie at age 2
In college, I sampled a wide range of industries: nonprofit work, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Senate, a startup, philanthropy, you name it. After graduation, I became the finance director on a congressional campaign, helping a first-time 29-year-old candidate raise $650,000. After an unfortunate loss, I joined Deloitte’s management consulting practice that Fall, and honestly, I didn’t fully understand what consulting was when I started.
At Deloitte, I worked with large corporations and coalitions of nonprofits across diverse topics. At the end of the day, they all had a broader purpose beyond making a profit. That has always been at the core of what drives me.
Looking back, business school felt like the next logical step. I had about five years of experience, I came from a non-traditional background, and I lacked the formal business education many of my peers had. I kept asking myself: What am I actually supposed to do in my career?
Erin Worsham, executive director of Fuqua’s Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE), recently asked me what I set out to do at Fuqua, and what I thought was missing. Here’s how I answered, now that I’m nearly halfway through year two:
Goal 1: Even out my liberal-arts skill set with core business fluency.
Status? Complete!
When I did my summer internship at Mattel and could confidently discuss Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC), I knew the education was working. All jokes aside, the core curriculum was challenging for a liberal arts undergrad. I definitely got my money’s worth when it came to building a strong foundation in business fundamentals.
This was my first day at Mattel, in front of the iconic Barbie bus.
Goal 2: Test career hypotheses.
Status? In Progress.
Throughout the MBA application process and while at Fuqua, I’ve been focused on thinking through and testing ideas about my career. All of these ideas, while seemingly different, have a through-line of a mission driven approach to a career and leverage my best skills of communication, project management, and people-facing work.
I landed on four possible tracks:
- Stay in mission-driven consulting long-term.
- Pivot to a large Fortune 500 (head to Fuqua’s Instagram to see my Mattel Instagram takeover from the summer!).
- Pursue nonprofit leadership.
- Nurture my entrepreneurial tendencies that were most definitely exercised in my congressional campaign job, after which I began to think about starting something of my own.
I tried the first three, and now I’ve launched my own coaching business, Liv and Learn, which helps 20-somethings navigate their careers with a values-driven and relational approach.
Attending the Final Four in my Cameron Crazie glory.
Goal 3: Grow my leadership and mentorship approach.
Status? Complete!
In my application, I wrote that I wanted to be a fellow with the Center for Leadership & Ethics (COLE). I’m proud to say that I’m fulfilling that vision. As a COLE Fellow, I am mentoring two first-year groups, helping them find flow and feel supported during what I know is the hardest part of the Fuqua experience. I also lead the membership cabinet for the Net Impact Club, where I launched our first-ever mentorship program.
Beyond Fuqua, I serve as a graduate student usher for the Duke men’s basketball team, a role that’s been incredibly meaningful for meeting other graduate students across Duke and helping create a safe and fun game-day experience for everyone.
Goal 4: Open myself up to new experiences, ideas, and creativity.
Status? Complete!
I keep joking with friends that the most I’ve learned at Fuqua has been by osmosis: simply talking to other smart, talented people doing interesting things. I have friends founding businesses, acquiring businesses, working at some of the most recognized brands, or supporting startups becoming the next big thing. That environment has expanded my understanding of industries and inspired me to think differently about how I fit in.
Safe to say, it’s been a wildly impactful and exciting year and a half. I’m looking forward to what the next six months will bring as I wrap up electives, activities, and experiences. Fuqua truly has everything you need to launch your career, grow into yourself, and realize your goals. It’s been a launching pad for me, and I’m looking forward to being part of such a vibrant alumni community.
The post Fuqua as a Launching Pad appeared first on Duke Daytime MBA Student Blog.
More...
How does this impact your International MBA decision?
I'd be glad to learn your thoughts on this story : Fuqua as a Launching Pad