Joanne Charles
Boston University, Questrom School of Business
“My roommates describe me as adventurous, knowledgeable, community-oriented, funny, disciplined, hardworking, a sleep-lover, and motherly.”
Fun fact about yourself: I played basketball in high school
Hometown: Everett, Massachusetts
High School: Pioneer Charter School of Science I
Major: Business Administration & Management; Concentration: Information Systems and Business Analytics
Minor: N/A
Favorite Business Course: IS223 Introduction to Information Systems
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
- BU Black Business Student Association (BBSA): Freshman Year (Underclassmen Representative), Sophomore and Junior Year (Treasurer), Senior (Vice President)
- Questrom Ascend Fellowship: Freshman Year (Fellow), Sophomore and Junior Year (Lead and Mentor), Senior Year (Co-Coordinator)
- 3x Dean’s list
- Nominated to attend the The Forte Foundation Women of Color Leadership Symposium in 2023
- Participated in the 2024 National Women’s Case Competition at McCombs School of Business and Apple Inc
- Business Law TA during the summer
- Office Assistant at the MBA office
- Computer Assistant at IT Lab
- Boston University Consulting Group: Casing and Strategy Lab
- Boston University Student Technology Advisory Council
Where have you interned during your college career?
- Accordion: Boston, CFO Technology Intern
- Deloitte: Boston, Risk and Financial Advisory Intern
- Grant Thornton: Boston, Risk Advisory Intern
Where will you be working after graduation? Grant Thornton, Risk Advisory Associate
Who is your favorite business professor? Choosing one professor was really hard because a lot of professors have had a large impact on my time in Questrom, but my favorite professor is Dionne Lomax. Professor Dionne made business law so engaging and interesting that I was always looking forward to going to class. She also found ways to incorporate what is going on currently in the real world to help us see how relatable the topics are and she really cares for her students.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? One thing I have learned through my classes and projects was how to be detail oriented and look at the big picture.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? A piece of advice I always tell my mentees is to always put yourself out there, whether that be in networking or even just in your classes. You never know what opportunity might come your way.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? One thing I wish I would have done was taking the time to talk to my professors more. You learn more about people who have experience in the industry. Overall, they have a lot of interesting anecdotes.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? One way that I have seen AI in Questrom is through my business analytics classes. Professors have encouraged us to use ChatGPT, for example, in projects because they understand it is helpful for students to use. One insight I have gained from AI is the way I can bounce ideas off it and have it help me narrow down what I am doing and help me do it correctly.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? One achievement that I am proud of is getting on the Dean’s List. This is especially true because I was going through a lot in my personal life during one specific semester. Despite this, I still managed to push through and complete that semester and I feel like getting the dean’s list was a reward for all my efforts.
Which classmate do you most admire? One classmate I admire is Alana Thomas. She manages a lot of different projects and still puts out good quality for each one.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? One person I want to thank for my success is Cecilia Yudin. She has made my experience in Questrom so comforting and has introduced me to a lot of my opportunities. She provides a safe place for a lot of people.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? My two top items are to go to graduate school and work for the government.
What made Joanne such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?
“Joanne Charles embodies what it means to be Day One Ready—a hallmark of Questrom’s commitment to excellence, diligence, and professionalism. As her professor in Introduction to Law (LA245), I witnessed firsthand her remarkable legal acumen, analytical prowess, and passion for business. This course challenges students to master complex topics like antitrust, contracts, and securities regulation, yet Joanne excelled effortlessly. Her insightful contributions elevated class discussions, and her quiet confidence made her both an exceptional leader and a collaborative team player. During a mock contract negotiation, Joanne showcased her problem-solving abilities, skillfully securing favorable terms for her company in a product supply agreement.
Beyond the classroom, her impact was equally profound. As her case competition coach and advisor for the McCombs National Women’s Case Competition, I observed Joanne lay the strategic groundwork for her team’s innovative sustainability proposal for Apple, demonstrating both executive presence and the ability to rally her team around core objectives. Additionally, Joanne served as my teaching assistant for LA245 during the Summer 2023 session, working closely with me and collaboratively with 15 students. She did a superb job grading assignments and providing thoughtful instruction and guidance. Joanne doesn’t just participate—she leads, innovates, and delivers. She represents the very best of the Class of 2025, a true testament to Questrom’s legacy of preparing students to thrive from day one. Questrom Means Business, and Joanne Charles is proof that the future of business is in exceptional hands.”
Professor Dionne Lomax
Lecturer, Markets, Public Policy, & Law
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