BMBAAFALL 2016 ISSUE

G O I Z U E T A B L A C K M B AA S S O C I A T I O N M A G A Z I N E

An interview with Alumnus, RyanChappell, MBA '14 about life afterbusiness school and climbing the

corporate ladder

The Goizueta community reflect on acommunity conversations on

injustice and the show of solidarityfor the Black Lives Matter Movement

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT GOIZUETA KUDOSLET'S STAND TOGETHER

Celebrating current Goizuetastudents and alumni

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As a club, our mission is to promote diversity throughout the Goizueta communityand the greater Atlanta area.  We will strive to do just that in many ways this yearthrough dynamic programming, community involvement, and collaboration. You canlook forward to events with highly influential C­suite guest speakers and moreopportunities to give back to the community through partnerships with organizationssuch as the United Way.

In addition, social events such as a trip to see the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater andStomp the Yard K.E.G.S will celebrate the uniqueness and richness of Blackculture. We also recognize the importance of being a proactive voice in  current events that are affecting our daily well­being such as the #blacklivesmattermovement, the 2016 election, and working with MBA admissions to increase blackenrollment for all programs.

What do we need from you? We need you to be supportive of all events, pass thismagazine on to other alumni and classmates, and voice your opinion throughout theschool year on how Black MBA can better serve you.

Here’s to one amazing year!

President's Note

PresidentCLEYANA MAYWEATHER

We have so many exciting things to look forward to as we begina new school year for the Black MBA Association (Black MBA).Black MBA has launched this “new look” magazine to help keepall informed on upcoming events and celebrate the success ofcurrent students and alumni.

President's Note 

3 things to do thisschool year

Goizueta Kudos

Inspiration board

Alumni Spotlight:Ryan Chappell 

Table of Contents

Please send your comments orquestions to our email address. If you

know an alum that should be featured,let us know.

GOIZUETABMBAA@GMAIL.COM

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

2016-2017 BMBAA BOARD Annual Herb Allen Dinner with BMBAA Class of 2016 and 2017 leadership team

Cleyana Mayweather, PresidentKendall Exume, Executive Vice PresidentLauren Dawson, VP of Community DevelopmentMoyosola Akinkanju, VP of Marketing & CommunicationElen Thompson, TreasurerTiffany Andersen, 1st Year RepresentativeAyana Mcginnis, 1st Year RepresentativeSidique Jarr­Koroma, One year Representative

Moyosola Akinkanju, Editor 

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Calendar of Events

Let's Stand Together,Reflections fromStudents and Staff  

Have you discovered your calling?

I'm really enjoying what I'm doing nowas the Brand Manager of Funyuns. Oneof the things our former CMO, RamKrishnan would say is ‘Are you learning,are you growing, and do you like thepeople you work with?’ When one or twoof those things aren’t setup right that iswhen you should start questioning if youhave found your niche. I think I've foundmy niche in brand management. I’mlearning and I love what I’m doing withstrong cross­functional partners.Thereare always opportunities to workexternally too. I’ve had the opportunityto stretch my skills outside corporate bydoing freelance consulting work.

 

Are there times you have felt alone ordifferent in your career? How haveyou been able to navigate thosecircumstances?

In your career there are times whenyou are put in a position where you feellike you are the only one. At PepsiCo, itmay not be that I am the only blackperson in the room, sometimes I’m theonly male in the room. It is a differentdynamic. Being one of the few comeswith the territory, but the onus is on youto show up and show out.

It's important that brand leadersdeveloping creative ensure that creativereflects those consumers in a real way.For example, if your brand is primarilyconsumed by Hispanics, its hugelyimportant they are reflected in the mediaand creative assets in a real authenticway. 

"Learning by doing"

Generally, it's important to have a diverseteam that is reflective of who is consumingthe product. We have to make sure wecontinue to do that.

What do you know now that you wish youknew while at Goizueta? Have there beenany unexpected challenges in yourcareer? How have you been able toovercome those challenges?

One class I wish I took wasManaging Through Change because reorgshappen and there are growing pains withreorgs.  I have heard from other MBA alumswho experienced reorgs and had to findanother job. The CPG industry changes quiterapidly and marketing changes every day,which makes it a challenge. You also have tounderstand the world of digital as it has reallychanged marketing activations and how youengage with consumers today. In addition, ithas even changed the standard 4Ps and 5Csframework. It's important to understandhow digital really amplifies or changes thosedifferent aspects for your business.

What do the next 5 years look like foryou?

This changes all the time for me. I’m lookingforward to becoming a well respected brandleader chartering growth on brands throughdeep consumer insights pulled all the way toconsumers in the form of rich activations.

What is one piece of advice that you havereceived in your career that has servedyou well?One thing I have learned at PepsiCo fromone of our senior leaders is about theamount of influence you have. There is ahigh level of engagement and interaction youhave with various cross functional partnerson product supply, packaging, R&D, salesand the customer in order to ensure you canexecute properly. You really have to have astrong ability to influence and persuade. Iunderstood it, but I think I underestimatedthat initially when I came into the company 2years ago. Learning how to influence andpersuade has really helped me understandhow much you really have to push to getthings done.

Ryan Chappell, MBA '14 describes his career since leaving Goizueta asa lot of quick challenges, learning by doing and falling forward.Starting his career as an Associate Brand Manager at Frito Lay -PepsiCo, Ryan is now the Brand Manager of Funyuns at PepsiCo. Iasked him some questions to learn more about his career andexperiences since graduating. by Moyosola Akinkanju

A L U M N I S P O T L I G H T

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3 things T O D O T H I S S C H O O L Y E A R

You can plan a trip with friends orchoose to attend a Mid- SemesterModule (MSM) this year. For MSM, youcan choose from options in UK,

Colombia, Nicaragua, India , China andSouth Africa.

Travel

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Communication skills are one of themost critical skills you need tosucceed post MBA. You can take acreative writing class to help you workon your communication.

Take a Writing Class

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This is your time to be purposeful andset yourself up for the life you want. Youhave a network of people here to helpyou figure it out.

Act intentionally

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Let's StandTogetherA call for dialogue and action about the injusticefacing the black community was spearheaded bythe Black MBA Association with overwhelmingsupport and collaboration from administration,faculty, and students. In the pages to follow arereflections from Goizueta students and staffregarding the issues and images of the eventsthat took place on campus including acommunity conversation and a day of solidarity.

Edited by Moyosola Akinkanju

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hen Dean James spoke the words, “Please, don’t shoot myson”, tears began to well up in her eyes. I’ve thought those wordsmany times myself, but never dared to utter them out loud. Atthat moment, I felt an instant connection with her; not as ourDean, not as my boss, but as another African American motherwith the shared experiences of wanting to protect her son.

After she collected herself, it was difficult for me to listen to theremainder of her message because I was reflecting on the factthat we likely have had the same conversations with our sons;“Don’t put on you hoodie”; ”Take your hands out of your pocketsas you walk through the store”; “Don’t talk back to the police anddon’t move - Your life could depend on it”. The truth is, now it ishard to know what to tell our sons and daughters to do toensure their protection against those who would profile them ascriminals, just because of the color of their skin.I also could not help but wonder how the power of her speakingthose words out loud affected the students in the room. Theseare our future leaders. What were they thinking and feeling? Were they pondering the juxtaposition of the Dean of one of thetop business schools in the country, with her platform andpower, having to deal with the same fear as any other AfricanAmerican person/mother ? How could this be in 2016? Howcould all of this be happening after we have made so muchprogress?

As I looked around the room and noticed that there werestudents from all different races, cultures, nationalities, genders,backgrounds, and religions in attendance; I knew the wordsthat Dean James and Dean Brian spoke were not wasted - thatour students were ready to stand together, continue thedialogue, and most importantly, speak out for justice. As Ilistened to the Black MBA Association leadership thank theirclassmates for being there and the emotions that it evoked, Ibegan to feel grateful for the conversation, and proud of ourstudents, as well as, Deans James and Dean Brian for daring tohave such a courageous conversation and call to empathy andaction.

The next day, when I wore black along with so many students,staff and faculty, I knew that it was more than just for show. Iknew that I was blessed to be in a special place in time, and thatthere was hope for a better country/world. The hope that I haveis because I am a person of faith and that is what strengthensme every day. However, standing together on the JenkinsCourtyard to take the photo with the “Black Lives Matter” signand holding hands in prayer; my faith was strengthened inSocial Justice and the power of Solidarity.

POWER OF SOLIDARITY

Alicia E. SierraSenior Manager Human Resources and DiversityGoizueta Business School

W

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Professor JB Kurish Signing the Black Lives Matter to Goizueta Banner

Dean Erika James holds hand with Goizueta students and staff

Goizueta students and staff stand in solidarity . #MBAsOpenup

t was the start of the school year. We wereexcited to be back on campus; to bereunited with our classmates; to share oursummer internships experiences; and to goover the newly minted programs we havedesigned for the year which are centeredaround community development andpartnerships; diversity and inclusion; andsocials. And that was the case for a fewweeks until our minute of hope became ourminute of uncertainty.

Our minute of hope began at our firstassociation meeting. For the secondconsecutive year we had Dean Erika Jamesas our guest speaker. We were fired up byher personal story of empowerment,determination, resilience, achievements,and humility. It was a story that everyone inattendance could relate to; it was a storythat is often told in our communities and itwas a story that sends chills down my spineand goosebumps all over. Our minute ofhope continued as we volunteered withUnited Way to mentor young teens in careerprep and readiness and clean and paintbuildings at the Empire Board of Realists.

A few weeks later, Dean James returned tospeak to students at a communityconversation held by our administration toaddress current events in regard toinclusion, provide context on#BlackLivesMatter, and inform ourcommunity on diversity and strategy forGoizueta led by dean Brian Mitchell. But thistime she was not full of excitement rathershe was full of tears. She was not able to fireus up rather we all sat in sorrow as sheshared her story. Our minute of hope hadsuddenly turned into a minute ofuncertainty. She recounted the time whenshe had just relocated to the predominantlyWhite neighborhood of Buckhead Atlantaand how she walked from house to housewith her 14 year old son in her hand tointroduce him to neighbors just so he wasnot shot and killed. Few days later, the BlackMBA Association organized a school wideevent, not to share internship experiences,or to talk about newly minted programs butto ask everyone in the Emory community tojoin us as we stand against oppression anddemonstrate our support for the Black LivesMatter movement.

Our minute of hope has turned into aminute of uncertainty. However, we shall notrelent in our pursuit for equal justice andequal opportunity. We shall not relent untilour hope can be sustained. We shall notrelent until uncertainty ceased to be thenorm in our communities. We shall notrelent until our minute of hope no longermean a minute of uncertainty. I am proudthat The Black MBA Association willcontinue to find ways to collaborate withour communities to mentor, support,inspire, and spread the message of love andinclusion.

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he events at the business school around the BLM movement made me even more proud to be a part of the Goizuetacommunity. Everyone came together to recognize a changethat needs to happen in this country. As a black woman, I wasextremely grateful to see all of the students and faculty,regardless of age, race, or religion, come together for a positivecause. There are still systemic racial issues in this country thatneed to be addressed. Hearing the words of MLK Jr., remindedme that although progress has been made, there is still a longway to go. It motivated me to keep fighting for the changes Iwant to see in this country and to use my platform at Goizuetaas one of the ways to do it.

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STILL A LONG WAY TO GO

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A MINUTE OF HOPE AMINUTE OF UNCERTAINTY

y heart is still overwhelmed when I rememberthe events that happened last week. Thevulnerable tears that were shed during ourcommunity discussion, the loving hugs that weregiven, the sea of black in the courtyard, the handsthat held onto each other regardless of our skincolor, gender, backgrounds, and beliefs.

What a beautiful image! One of my favorite versesin the Bible is Ephesians 4, where the Apostle Paulurges the church of Ephesians to “… walk in amanner worthy of the calling to which you havebeen called, with all humility and gentleness, withpatience, bearing with one another in love, eager tomaintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond ofpeace.”

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LOVE WINS

RE F L E C T I ONS

By Jane Cole 2nd Year MBA Candidate Goizueta Business School

I got to see a glimpse of this last week. I saw what itmeans to use light to drive out darkness, to turn tolove instead of hatred. I am forever grateful to be ina community that embraces one another’suniqueness and differences with gentleness,patience, and love. Let’s show the world that it ispossible. We can stand in unity and end theinjustice and hatred we are surrounded by. Startingfrom you and me – let’s show the world that lovewins.

By Olalekan "Lanis" Olanisa 2nd Year MBA Candidate Goizueta Business School

By Ayana Mcginnis1st Year MBA Candidate Goizueta Business School

Staff at Emory University'sCivic and CommunityEngagement wearingblack in solidarity

Goizueta Students write their thoughts onwhat MLK's words, "May we seek tounderstand before being understood"means to them.

Adam Dunn of Goizueta Christian Fellowship group lead a group of Goizueta students in reflection

Julius Bryant, LaurenDawson and AyannaMcginnis showing supportfor BLM Movement

MBA '08

ANDREW DAVIS EMBA MBA '17

MARVIN ELLISON KENDALL EXUME

Published Poet in the poetrybook Defying Gravity, I was

Choosen

See I, try to make my poetry pleasing to the peoplebecause people posses the power of applauding 

Q&A : KENDALL EXUME

GOIZUETA KUDOS

”“

WHEN HE STARTED WRITING

HIS TWO POETRY BOOKS

SUCCESS AS A POET

JC Penny's CEO has beenreinventing the retailer throughimprovements to the company's

supply chain, product selection andstore experience. 

Kendall started writing in the 7th grade when he

started a business writing and selling love

letters.

 

Kendall Exume (Chosen) opens up about

his writing and how he got started with

poetry.

Stimulation through words Defying Gravity, I was chosen   

Former member of the poetry group, Poetry to

the people. With the group, Kendall performed

all over the east coast. Additionally, through the

showcase he started  called The Writers Block,

he brought famous poets on campus. 

Recently appointed as Coke’sNew Chief Diversity and

Inclusion Officer. 

CELEBRATING THE EXCELLENCE OF CURRENT STUDENTS AND ALUMS

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quote from Defying Gravity, I was chosen by Milton Jackson & Kendall Exume 

FALL EVENTSOCTOBER

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CLUB MEMBERS AT WELCOME BACK BBQ

We hope you have enjoyed our BMBAA magazine. Please join us for our events this year.  

IMAGES FROM OUR PAST EVENTS

BMBAA & BLACK LAW STUDENTSASSOCIATION ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITYCOMMUNITY ROUNDTABLE

EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE : SPECIAL GUESTRODNEY BULLARD, VP OF COMMUNITYAFFAIRS OF CHICK-FIL-A AND EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR OF THE CHICK-FIL-AFOUNDATION

CULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS AT KEGS

PARTY WITH A PURPOSE W/BGSA (LANEY), ABPHS(ROLLINS)

CELEBRATION BRUNCH

INSIDE GOIZUETA

INTERNATIONAL POTLUCK

HUMAN TRAFFICKING PURSUES ANDTOILETRY DRIVE

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VOLUNTEER EVENT WITH UNITED WAY

"THE BIG SECRET INLIFE IS THAT THERE ISNO BIG SECRET.WHATEVER YOURGOAL, YOU CAN GETTHERE IF YOU'RE

WILLING TO WORK."

OPRAH :

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