Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business students come to learn, explore, and build community. As they move forward in their careers, they take everything they've learned and use it to power innovation in industries and businesses across the globe. In celebration of Spring 2023 Commencement, we sat down with a few students to learn about their experiences and the wisdom they've gained in the process.
Meet Chike Rapu, who is graduating from the Evening MBA program.
Where are you from?
Lagos, Nigeria.
Describe yourself in 15 words or less:
I am enthusiastic about leadership and technology. I enjoy travelling and exploring new cultures.
Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? (A parent? A teacher? A role model?)
My parents.
What was your favorite business course and why?
Corporate Governance. The course covered relevant topics in today’s business environment, including business sustainability, environment, and social governance (ESG), and the role that organizations play in society.
What activities were you involved with on or off campus, and did your business education impact those activities in any way?
I was a member of various MBA clubs including the Tech Club, Strategy and Innovation Club, and the Finance and Investments Club. In those clubs we had insightful discussions about various current industry events.
What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at Scheller?
I really enjoyed the informal meetups where we had game nights or dinner with our significant others and just talked about life in general.
What was your career journey in the Evening MBA program?
I started a new role as head of information technology at LTSE in my first semester!
What was a moment when you had to practice persistence and/or resilience while in the MBA program?
All the time! Balancing a full-time job and the program required continuous persistence and resiliency to be successful. I found myself on calls for group projects at 10 p.m. sometimes. It was all worth it!
What is the biggest lesson you gained from your Scheller MBA?
The importance of building genuine long-term relationships, not just for the purpose of networking.
What advice would you give to an incoming Evening MBA student?
Dive in with an open mind! The experience is beyond the classroom. Be intentional about making time to participate in events and activities.
What will you be doing to celebrate your graduation?
Taking a trip to an island somewhere!
What is a fun fact about yourself?
During the MBA program, I registered my first company, became a licensed realtor in the state of Georgia, and became a father!
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
Two items are to serve as an independent director on the board of a global organization and become the chief information officer (CIO) at a Fortune 500 company.