Nadia Mitchell, Duke Fuqua MBA Class of 2028
Age: 26
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Undergraduate Institution and Major: North Dakota State University / Major: Business Administration Minor: Social Entrepreneurship
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Nonprofit/Fundraising/Development: UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation – 4 years, Development and Program Manager 2022-2025, Marketing Event and Management Consultant 2025-2026; ShelterCare, Inc. 1 year 2020-2021, Youth and Engagement Specialist.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I decided to attend business school because I reached a point in my career where I knew what kind of impact I wanted to have, but I needed to build a different set of skills to get there. Over the past four years at UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation, I worked in fundraising and development, helping raise millions of dollars to support families with children facing medical expenses. That experience showed me how powerful access to capital can be in changing people’s lives, but it also made me want to understand how capital is raised, deployed, and invested on a much larger scale.
Long term, I want my career to focus on expanding access to affordable housing and investing in underserved communities. To do that effectively, I knew I needed a stronger foundation in finance, particularly valuation, financial modeling, capital markets, and understanding how investment decisions are made.
The timing felt right because I had built meaningful experience in the nonprofit sector and had a clear understanding of the problems I care about solving. Rather than continuing down the same professional path, I wanted to make the transition now and use business school as the bridge into impact investing.
Why did you choose Duke Fuqua? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose Duke Fuqua because I wanted a business school that would challenge me professionally but also had a strong sense of community.
At MLT’s Seminar at Fuqua, I remember feeling overwhelmed by all the information, but the phrase “Team Fuqua” stayed with me. I believed students when they spoke about the strength of the community, and after attending Fuqua’s MBA Workshop, that belief became certainty. The collaboration, authenticity, and support I had heard about were things I could see and experience for myself. Because the MBA is such an immersive experience, finding a community where I genuinely felt like I belonged was one of the biggest factors in my decision.
Fuqua also stood out to me because of its strength in social impact and mission-driven finance. Through CASE i3, I saw opportunities to go beyond learning about impact investing in the classroom and gain hands-on experience in the field. The Sustainable Impact Student Investment Fund especially stood out to me because it gives students the opportunity to analyze companies, make investment decisions, and manage a portfolio through both a financial and impact lens. I knew Fuqua would give me the opportunity to build the technical investment skills I need while staying connected to the social impact work that has been central to my career.
Finally, I thought a lot about where I could contribute. Communities like BBSA and Fuqua LIFE really resonated with me, and I saw opportunities to use my own experiences to support other students.
Ultimately, I chose Fuqua because it felt like the place where I could grow professionally without losing the parts of myself and my values that matter most to me. I knew I could see myself becoming part of Team Fuqua rather than simply attending Duke for my MBA.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2028?
I think my most valuable contribution to the Class of 2028 is my ability to bring people together and help others grow. I naturally look for common ground, especially when people have different perspectives, while also pushing myself and those around me to grow. I’m someone who genuinely enjoys seeing other people succeed, sharing resources, and helping create an environment where everyone feels like they can contribute. I think that combination of collaboration and drive is what I bring to the Class of 2028.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I’m a huge Harry Potter fan and a proud Hufflepuff. Visiting the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London this past summer was a dream come true, and I plan to visit every Harry Potter Universal Studios location, Orlando, Hollywood, Japan, and China.
Post-MBA career interests:
Impact Investing in affordable housing
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I visited every school I applied to, and I would 100% do it again and recommend it to prospective students. There’s only so much you can learn about a school through its website or rankings. Being on campus gave me the opportunity to see how I actually felt in the environment, experience the culture firsthand, talk with current students and professors, and explore the city I could potentially call home for two years.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would have gotten my test score out of the way much earlier. I underestimated how much time and energy test preparation would take while also balancing applications, work, and everything else going on in my life. If I could do it again, I would start preparing earlier and aim to have my final score before really diving into applications. It would have taken a lot of stress out of the process and allowed me to focus more of my energy on telling my story and putting together the strongest application possible.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
If I could have skipped one part of the process, it definitely would have been standardized testing. It was probably the most challenging and frustrating part of my application journey, and there were moments when I questioned whether I would ever get the score I wanted. What helped me get through it was reminding myself that my test score was only one part of my application and didn’t define everything I had accomplished or what I could contribute to an MBA program. Leaning on my support system, staying persistent, and keeping the bigger goal in mind helped me push through it.
What is your initial impression of the Duke Fuqua students/culture/community?
What has stood out to me most is how easy it has been to connect with people at Fuqua. Everyone comes from such different backgrounds and has their own goals, but people are genuinely willing to help each other and share what they know. Whether it’s recruiting, classes, or just adjusting to life in Durham, I’ve already seen people go out of their way to support one another. It’s made Fuqua feel like a community really quickly, and I’m excited to keep getting to know everyone.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I’ve joined or am hoping to get involved with BBSA, Fuqua Pride, Fuqua LIFE, Fuqua on Board, CASE i3, Finance Club, FuquaUnited, Fuqua Fit, and Net Impact Club. I chose these organizations because they reflect different parts of who I am and what I want to get out of my Fuqua experience. BBSA, Fuqua Pride, and Fuqua LIFE give me communities where I can build meaningful relationships, support other students, and contribute to creating an inclusive environment at Fuqua. Professionally, Finance Club and CASE i3 directly support my interests in impact investing, while Fuqua on Board and Net Impact allow me to continue exploring how business and leadership can be used for social impact. I’m also excited about Fuqua United and FuquaFit because I want my MBA experience to extend beyond academics and recruiting. I want to stay active, meet classmates outside of my immediate circles, and really take advantage of everything the Fuqua community has to offer.
What is one thing you have learned about Duke Fuqua that has surprised you?
One thing that has surprised me is how much there is to do at Fuqua outside of the classroom. There is always something happening, whether it’s a club event, career opportunity, speaker, social event, or activity with classmates. I knew Fuqua would be an immersive experience, but I didn’t realize just how many opportunities I would have to explore new interests and experiences. The hardest part has honestly been accepting that I can’t do everything!
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’m most excited about the Southeast Asia spring break trek. Traveling internationally has always been important to me, and I’m looking forward to immersing myself in new cultures, trying new foods, and seeing a part of the world I’ve never visited. Being able to share that experience with other Fuqua students makes it even more special.
