2018 Best & Brightest: Emerald Egwim, University of Minnesota (Carlson)

 

Emerald Egwim

University of Minnesota (Carlson)

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Driven to inspire the planting of roses in the cracks of communities by community members.

Fun fact about yourself: I represented Nigeria at the 2017 Track & Field World Championship Games.

Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota

High School: Eagan High School

Major: Management Information Systems

Minor: Business Law

Favorite Business Course: Business Ethics (Management 1005)

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College: Carlson Outreach Ambassador, Women’s Track and Field, National Association of Black Accountants, African Student Association, Black Student Union, Fellowship Christian Athletes, Redeemed Christian Church of God Children’s bible study teacher, Salvation Army food drive volunteer, KPMG Midwest diversity initiative representative, KPMG future diversity leader.

Where have you interned during your college career?

  • KPMG (Minneapolis, MN) – IT audit and assurance intern
  • KPMG (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) – IT and enabled transformations intern

Where will you be working after graduation? KPMG- IT Advisory Associate

Who is your favorite professor? Rand Park. He pushes students to find out what they are passionate about and teaches students that no matter how small or big their actions may be, they will have an impact. He inspires, and displays the values he teaches and promotes in his own actions.

What did you enjoy most about your business school? The resources and opportunities available and promoted. I appreciated that the faculty was invested in students and encouraged students to fulfill their passions and find their niche even if it was not in their same field of study.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The biggest lesson I gained from studying business was that soft skills (people skills) open the doors for many opportunities, sometimes even more than a great GPA or testing score.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Establish your “why” for studying business in general and then determine your “why” for the specific field of business study you choose. It is important to find a reason that goes beyond monetary rewards or accolades.

“If I didn’t major in business, I would be majoring in or studying…psychology or sociology.”

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? The ability to impact communities and inspire positive change in communities that need nourishment through technology, information systems and of course working with and analyzing financial markets. I have always known that studying liberal arts can lead to a direct impact on communities, but I was not so aware of the significant impact business fields can have on communities in need.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? During my undergraduate career, I am proud that I “walked-on” to the University of Minnesota track team and then broke the indoor and outdoor school records and became a big ten champion.

If you were a dean for a day, what one thing would you change about the business school? I would incorporate genuine business work and not just simulated real world experience. I would work with the numerous fortune 100 and 500 companies in the community to give students real work and show them the real impact of business. Right now, only some students experience that if they are part of case studies or their capstone course incorporates such work.

Which classmate do you most admire? Temi Ogunrinde, is also on the women’s track team and a Carlson School classmate. It is amazing to see how she balances all of her different and varied roles with such grace and enthusiasm.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? My mom has shown me that you can come from nothing and become something very great by God’s grace, determination, and hard work. She has also shown me that no one can get through this life alone. We need people to stand as pillars in our lives to lift us up when we cannot stand on our own.

Favorite book: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Favorite movie: Osofia in London

Favorite Vacation Spot: Krabi, Thailand

What are Your Hobbies? Performing poetry, singing, reading, traveling, volunteering with single mothers and children.

What made Emerald such an invaluable member of the Class of 2018?

“Emerald Egwim consistently impresses me with her ability to juggle intense academics, high-level athletic performance, and co-curricular activities. For example, as a first-generation American, Emerald works closely with Nigerian high school students in the Minneapolis and Saint Paul communities through mentoring programs and college prep programs. The arc of Emerald’s future career will certainly soar, but I am confident that she will also continue to give back to the community and show true servant leadership along the way.”

Rand Park
Senior Lecturer, Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship

DON’T MISS: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST BUSINESS MAJORS OF 2018 — THE COMPLETE LIST

 

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