Michael Acquaah-Harrison
Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business
“Ex-athlete turned investment banker. Still chasing greatness, just in a different arena.”
Fun fact about yourself: I’ve gone viral—twice.
Hometown: Charlton, Massachusetts
High School: Marianapolis Preparatory School, Trinity-Pawling School (Postgraduate Year)
Major: Business Administration (Finance Concentration)
Minor: Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Favorite Business Course: Corporate Finance was one of the most applicable and engaging courses I’ve taken. It balanced quantitative topics like valuation and financial modeling with strategic concepts such as shareholder activism, executive compensation, and board dynamics. That combination made it especially insightful for my career path.
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
- Men’s Basketball Team
- Resident Assistant
- Interfraternity Council – VP of Diversity and Scholarship
- Investment Banking Academy
- Scottie Ventures – VP of Mentorship
- Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity
Honors and Awards
- Jerome J. Segal Scholarship
- Dean’s List (Multiple Semesters)
- UAA All-Academic Athlete
Where have you interned during your college career?
- JP Morgan (New York, NY) – Investment Banking Summer Fellow
- Morgan Stanley (New York, NY) – Investment Banking Summer Analyst, Global Technology Group
Where will you be working after graduation? Morgan Stanley (New York, NY) – Investment Banking Analyst, Global Technology Group
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? Take action before you feel ready. You may never feel fully prepared for a high-stakes interview, a major project, or launching a new venture. There will always be another skill to refine or more information to analyze, but waiting for the perfect moment often means missing opportunities altogether.
With my finance background, I understand the value of analysis, risk assessment, and planning. Nonetheless, I learned that not every decision can be perfectly modeled. My biggest achievements happened when I committed first—setting a deadline and preparing with everything I had. Each time, I proved to myself that I was more capable than I initially believed
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? I would have engaged more deeply with CMU’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. While my primary focus was building a career in finance through my major, I also pursued a minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and worked on a startup. Given the open-ended nature of entrepreneurship, balancing it alongside structured commitments wasn’t always easy. Looking back, tapping into accelerator programs, funding opportunities, and alumni networks earlier would have provided valuable support in scaling my venture.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? The Tepper School has integrated AI into its programming through courses like Applied Business AI, which taught me how LLMs function, how to optimize their performance through effective prompting, and how to develop an AI-driven business concept. Through this experience, I learned that AI isn’t a replacement for human judgment or intuition—it’s a powerful tool for automation and analysis when used strategically.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? Securing over $15,000 in funding for my startup through Kickstarter was a defining achievement. Running the campaign wasn’t just about having a strong idea—it meant refining the concept, crafting a compelling narrative, and earning the trust of over 100 backers. The experience reinforced that people don’t just invest in ideas; they invest in the vision and the conviction behind them.
Which classmate do you most admire? My younger sister, Olivia Acquaah-Harrison, is a peer I truly admire. As students at the Tepper School of Business, we’ve navigated coursework, projects, and professional development together, constantly pushing each other to grow. In 2022, we also became the first siblings to join CMU’s Alpha Kappa Psi chapter at the same time, further strengthening our bond as peers.
Beyond our academic and extracurricular pursuits, we co-founded a campus safety software startup aimed at improving student safety. Her work ethic, creativity, and strategic mindset push me to expand my vision and refine my approach. She’s not only my sister but also one of the most talented and driven people I’ve worked with.
Who would you most want to thank for our success? My dad, Ernest Acquaah-Harrison, has been one of the most significant influences on my success. With 35 years of experience in accounting and finance, he not only sparked my interest in the field but also set an example of resilience and dedication. More importantly, he worked tirelessly to ensure my sisters and I could attend top schools and pursue our ambitions. To this day, he remains one of my closest confidants, and his support and guidance continue to be a source of strength in my life.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
1. Execute An M&A Transaction: During my internship, I worked on two live transactions, including a $1.8 billion bond offering for Netflix. As a full-time analyst, I look forward to building on my transaction experience by closing an M&A deal.
2. Leverage My Finance Background To Build Transformative Solutions: Whether through entrepreneurship, investing, or another path, I want to be a builder—someone who identifies complex challenges and develops forward-thinking solutions. While my exact path will take shape through experience, my goal remains the same: to leverage my background to drive innovation and create meaningful impact.
What made Michael such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?
“Michael is an excellent student who embraced the opportunities that Carnegie Mellon offers in the classroom, athletics, entrepreneurial communities, residence life and more; his leadership across campus commands respect from his classmates, coaches, and the Tepper School faculty.”
Jennifer Wegner
Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Programs
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