Stephen Chinedu Ezekoye

Duke University, Fuqua School of Business

“A lifelong educator at heart, with a bold vision of creating deep and lasting impact.”

Hometown: Laurel, Maryland

Fun fact about yourself: I am a huge U.S. presidential history nerd. Abraham Lincoln, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Barack Obama are my favorite three. As a former middle school teacher, I love the fact that LBJ and Obama were also educators before they became President! 

Undergraduate School and Degree: The University of Pittsburgh, B.A. Political Science

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Director, Early Engagement at Teach For America

Where did you intern during the summer of 2023? Citigroup in New York, NY

Where will you be working after graduation? Citigroup, Financial Management

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• 2023-2024 MBA Association Student Body Co-President
• The Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) Social Impact Fellow
• Black Business Student Association (BBSA) DEI Council Representative
• Leadership Engagement and Discussion Series (LEADS) Facilitator
• Fuqua On Board Fellow (Communities In Schools of Durham)
• Fuqua2Duke Mentor

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Leading the school as the MBA Association co-president alongside my incredible and inspiring partner, Arya Diwase—it was the leadership opportunity of a lifetime and a humbling experience. I learned and grew so much, and it was such an honor to represent all of my amazing and talented classmates at Fuqua.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? My greatest achievement was winning the ”Strengthening Community Core Value” Award during my time as an educator through Teach For America in Eastern North Carolina. This moment was special to me because it was the first time in my life I got to see what I can achieve, and the difference I can make in people’s lives (i.e. my students, their families, and my TFA peers) through just being myself and being comfortable in my own skin. Being a community builder, working across lines of difference and seeking the humanity in all people has and will continue to characterize my leadership style. This was the moment I fully realized that fact.

Why did you choose this business school? The people, simply put. Our core belief in decency is real. The idea of Team Fuqua is real. Being surrounded by so many caring and supportive people helped me find my voice and my true self. This discovery has already elevated my leadership abilities and my capacity to dream and think big. The people I have met here at Duke are more than colleagues, they are my family.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Professor Ronnie Chatterji—he is both a talented educator and a visionary. He has an amazing ability to draw you in and to help you cut through abstraction to show how the course content is relevant to your life. He is incredibly smart, talented, and charismatic, and I am so lucky to have crossed paths with him while I was a student in his Business and Common Purpose class.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Social Entrepreneurship with Professor Cathy Clark—I came to business school to learn how to build social impact ventures from experienced leaders like her. Professor Clark’s class has given me both the insight and the confidence to eventually build my own social impact organization someday in the future.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? Each Friday, we all come together to eat, drink, and connect with one another in the Fox Center for Fuqua Friday. Having a moment to break bread with classmates (and their partners), deans, professors, and staff is truly a special moment in all of our weeks. It reflects how we center our community in everything we do here.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I would’ve bought into the idea that ‘I belong to be here’ much sooner. The transition into business school and handling the rigors of the environment felt daunting, and it made me feel like hiding instead of fully engaging and leaning into the discomfort.

I mostly kept to myself until around November of my first year. I was amazed and touched when classmates, like Andrew Fischer, MBA ’23, pushed and inspired me to step out of my comfort zone. He encouraged me to use this experience to learn, practice, and grow, and to dispel the idea that you have to be perfect to fit in. My classmates gave me the confidence to be myself and to try my best in everything that I do. Where I fall short, someone in the building will help me address those shortcomings.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? You get the benefit of having a very intimate, close, tight-knit experience being in a town like Durham, but you also get the benefit of the incredible social scene that the entire Raleigh/Durham area has to offer.

What surprised you the most about business school? How down-to-earth people are at Fuqua. Coming from a social impact and education background, I thought it would be a challenge to connect with people outside of that sphere, but everyone here is so kind, curious, and eager to learn about each other’s backgrounds. This has made it so easy to put my guard down, branch out, and meet new people.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Breanne Leakey—she defines what it means to be a servant leader. She is fueled by passion and works incredibly hard for the people in her life. She doesn’t do it to be celebrated or to win awards, she does it because it’s just who she is –  and that is nothing short of inspiring.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? I aspire to build a successful social impact enterprise that focuses on the intersection of media, business, pop culture, and politics. I also wish to run for public office—my dream is to one day be a member of the U.S. Senate.

What made Stephen such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024?

“As co-President of the MBAA, Stephen Ezekoye, embodies the essence of Team Fuqua community building through his unwavering commitment to “showing up” for his classmates. With his infectious enthusiasm and genuine compassion, Stephen has become the cornerstone of unity within his cohort. He is generous with his time and attention, and cares deeply about doing what is right.

Whether it’s lending a listening ear during challenging times or spearheading collaborative initiatives, Stephen’s presence fosters an environment of support and camaraderie. His proactive approach to connecting with his peers transcends mere participation; it cultivates a sense of belonging that inspires others to actively engage and contribute. Through his leadership, Stephen not only builds bridges but also creates lasting bonds that define the essence of the MBA experience.”

Steve Misuraca
Associate Dean of Daytime MBA, MMS and Accelerated MBA programs

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2024

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