In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, we meet Alexia Brown, Emory Goizueta MBA ’22, who recognized that she not only wanted to grow her own professional abilities, she also wanted to serve underrepresented communities in the business world. Find out how Emory Goizueta MBA‘s student-led supportive community prepared her for her chosen path and to join Goldman Sachs.
Alexia Brown, Emory Goizueta MBA ’22, Investment Banking Associate at Goldman Sachs
Alexia Brown, Emory Goizueta MBA ’22, Investment Banking Associate at Goldman SachsHometown: St. Andrew, Jamaica
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Political Science
Graduate Business School, Graduation Year and Concentration (if applicable): Goizueta, 2022, Finance
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): Corporate Attorney (4) & Entrepreneur (4)
Post-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): Investment Banking (10 months)
Why did you choose to attend business school?
As a founder, I realized there were some hard skills that I would benefit from enhancing (like not being terrified of Excel, lawyer problems). Additionally, I had a deep interest in finding a way to help serve founders from underserved and underrepresented communities and business school felt like the right place to figure out the best way to do that
Why Goizueta? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose GBS for the people, and the breadth of opportunities to explore areas I’ve only tangentially known. But I would say, aside from the small size, the family feel was a major draw.
What about your MBA experience prepared you for your current career?
Emory is a unique place, it is a truly student-led institution. We are empowered to make change, we play a meaningful role in all aspects of the institution. Even roles that are traditionally led by “professionals” are contributed to or even held by ayudes. Being able to really take on leadership roles in spaces that I had no prior experience really enhanced my scrappiness, additionally, it really allows you to be quick on your feet all things that are essential in the fast-paced world of investment banking
What was your internship during business school? How did that inform your post-MBA career choice?
I interned at Goldman Sachs in their Investment Banking Division. Being able to experience banking from the inside and not as a lawyer confirmed for me what I knew well before business school was even a thought. My internship helped to put more form to my long-term goals
Why did you choose your current company? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to work?
I chose my current company for many of the same reasons I chose Emory, I wanted to be in a space where I felt like I could be supported all while being pushed to be my best. I tend to make a lot of my choices based on the sense of community, places where I can contribute while also being challenged to be a better version of myself.
How has COVID impacted your industry/career plans?
Covid fast-tracked my journey to business school, my original plan was to apply for the following year but running a travel business when there is no travel forced me to strategize. Though I had to squeeze the entire application process into a few months it seemed like the best time to take the leap. So Covid shifted my timeline.
Advice to current MBA students:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of the job search?
Talk to as many people as possible in and outside of industries that I am interested in. Without conversations with my classmates who knew they were banking-bound before business school, I would never have found banking because I had tunnel vision to going back to being a founder and possibly launching a VC Fund.
–One thing you would change or do differently?
I would’ve started my job search process sooner, in true-me fashion, I chose to wait until I was sure what I wanted to begin the recruiting process (let’s just say I started my recruiting after most has their internships secured).
–Were there any surprises regarding your current employer’s recruiting process?
Not my current employer but rather the industry as a whole, I was surprised at how structured the process is, which circles back to my prior response of what I would change.
–What piece of advice do you wish you had been given during your MBA?
Lean into coffee chats and networking with people across industries, really put time into building a genuine network, it will reap its benefits in a number of ways.
