Khadijah Henderson, Washington University Olin’s MBA Class of 2028
Age: 32
Hometown: Mascoutah, IL
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Missouri – St. Louis, BS Media Studies with an emphasis in Digital Marketing
Pre-MBA Work Experience: 8 years in healthcare and education marketing
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I spent eight years building brands and pipelines for other people, recruiting doctors, building a medical school’s enrollment infrastructure from the ground up, and growing a nursing school’s brand after learning students saw it as unattainable. At some point I realized I had spent my entire career investing in everyone else’s growth and it was time to invest in my own. Being first-generation, business school was never framed as something that was for me. Going now, as a mother who is working and still building, is my way of proving that timeline wrong.
Why did you choose Washington University Olin? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Olin felt like the rare program where the culture actually matched what people said about it. Every conversation I had, whether with students, alumni, or admissions staff, felt genuine rather than rehearsed. As a Consortium Fellow and Dean’s Scholar, I felt like part of the community before I ever stepped into a classroom. Olin’s strength in strategy and marketing, its close-knit community, and its deep ties to the St. Louis region made it clear this was a place where I could thrive, not just earn an MBA.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2028?
I bring a builder’s instinct. Throughout my career, I’ve been drawn to work where something important needed to be created, scaled, or reimagined. Most recently, as Senior Marketing and Program Manager at Admit.me Access, I led the transformation of the platform following its acquisition in October 2025. I reimagined the member experience around Access Coaching, the MBA Roadmap, test prep resources, Leland+, and a community designed to make high-quality MBA admissions support more accessible rather than a luxury. What energizes me most is spotting a gap before it becomes a barrier and building toward it. I bring that same mindset into every room I’m in, including this one.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I’m completely obsessed with astrology. It’s usually one of the first things I ask people about, and almost everyone has an opinion about their sign. It’s become one of my favorite ways to break the ice.
Post-MBA career interests:
Commercial strategy and CPG marketing, with a longer-term interest in entrepreneurship through acquisition.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would spend just as much time evaluating fit as I did evaluating rankings. Familiarity and fit turned out to be two completely different things. Working in MBA admissions, I already knew many programs on paper, but conversations with students and alumni taught me that knowing a school and belonging there are not the same thing. That distinction is what helped me land somewhere I could actually thrive.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would have trusted my own story sooner. Talking about myself has never come naturally to me, yet recruiting requires you to advocate for yourself constantly. Realizing I actually had to believe in my own brand before anyone else would was a real learning curve. It took walking through my resume out loud more times than I’d like to admit before it finally clicked.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
If anything, I would have skipped the scramble that came with recruiting starting the moment I was accepted. What helped me get through it was a real heart-to-heart with my boss, Bianca Keys, CEO of Admit.me Access, during Consortium OP. She saw exactly where my confidence was lacking and pushed me to trust myself before I ever walked into a room.
What is your initial impression of the WashU Olin students/culture/community?
My initial impression is that Olin’s collaborative culture is real. People genuinely want to help each other succeed and are generous with their time and advice. Instead of feeling competitive, the environment feels supportive, which has made the transition much easier.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I’m part of Olin’s Black Business Association, and I’m looking forward to getting more involved with the Consulting and Entrepreneurship clubs.
What is one thing you have learned about WashU Olin that has surprised you?
What’s surprised me most is how close my cohort has grown in such a short amount of time. We’re genuinely going through this experience together, and having a community this willing to help and lean in has made all the difference.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’m excited to build momentum in recruiting and explore opportunities in commercial strategy and CPG marketing. After years of helping others navigate educational and career decisions, I’m looking forward to being the student again, learning from my classmates, and fully investing in my own growth.
