Happy Black History Month! Read on to discover Chicago Booth’s tight-knit community from the lens of Prince Akonor Asare, current second year student and member of the African American MBA Association.
- By
- February 12, 2024
- Full-Time MBA Stories
Get to Know Prince Akonor Asare, Full-Time MBA Student and African American MBA Association Member
Tell us about yourself and take us along your journey to Chicago Booth.
I come from a family of six and grew up in Accra, Ghana. I attended the University of Ghana Business School, where I earned a bachelor's degree in Banking and Finance. Following this, I furthered my specialization in finance through the Chartered Institute of Bankers Certification. Over the next eight years, I worked as a Commercial Banker at Guaranty Trust Bank and Zenith Bank (two of the biggest commercial banks in Ghana by total assets). In this role, I was involved in several debt financing projects. Additionally, I spent six years teaching bankers Credit Management, helping them harness quantitative and qualitative data to appraise, underwrite, and manage bank credit. During this time, I became acutely aware of the challenges that Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana faced, particularly in securing financing and business support. This realization motivated my ambition to support SMEs in Ghana. Pursuing an MBA at Chicago Booth was a crucial step to enhance my business acumen, develop robust technical skills, and build a network essential to achieving my goal.
Why did you choose Chicago Booth, more specifically, what sold you on our Full-Time MBA Program?
My decision to choose Chicago Booth was influenced by three main reasons:
- Booth’s esteemed academic reputation; highlighted by Nobel Laureates like Eugene F. Fama and Richard Thaler, which significantly boosted my confidence in the quality of education I would receive. Additionally, Booth's high rankings further confirmed the program's excellence.
- Booth’s flexible curriculum model; having access to a flexible curriculum continues to allow me to customize my learning experience to align with my career goals and interests.
- Most importantly, the pay-it-forward culture prevalent among Booth students; the culture at Booth ultimately served as my deciding factor. Prior to applying, I reached out to Esosa Omozuyi (MBA 2022), Maame Boah Appiah-Korang (MBA 2022), and Kofi Amoako-Gyan (MBA 2022) via LinkedIn, and they were incredibly helpful. Before enrollment, I had already connected with 17 students. This gave me a profound sense of the collaborative community at Booth and reaffirmed my decision to choose Booth. Furthermore, throughout my time here, my choice has been continually validated.
Why was joining the African American MBA Association (AAMBAA) important to you?
Joining AAMBAA was nonnegotiable for me, driven by the support I received from members during my MBA application process. Upon enrolling at Booth and starting the recruitment process, I continued to experience the supportive nature of AAMBAA, receiving guidance from students and alumni. This reinforced my commitment to the community, leading me to actively participate in various admission events and collaborate with alumni and second-year students to support first-year recruits. Additionally, organizing social events and get-togethers has been a highlight, creating a balance between work and play and strengthening the bonds within our community.
What’s been the most memorable event you’ve attended within the African American MBA Association?
Easily the DuSable Conference! The DuSable Conference, held in February 2023 at the Gleacher Center, featured distinguished speakers, each bringing unique insights into community development, venture capital, business, and professional growth strategies. The evening's after-party was equally memorable, as I networked with other black students from the United States and beyond while enjoying and dancing to good Afrobeat music.
What would you like prospective students to know about AAMBAA?
AAMBAA is more than a community. Even before joining Booth, we support prospective students with MBA insights, essay guidance, mock interviews, and virtual chats to navigate admissions. Once at Booth, AAMBAA plays an integral role, offering support in utilizing Booth's recruiting resources and connecting you with an active black community. We also breathe life into the MBA experience through vibrant social events. Lastly, our alumni network provides ongoing support and mentorship for post-MBA challenges and opportunities. We warmly invite prospective students to discover the enriching experience that AAMBAA and Booth offer.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
As a Black student here at Booth, Black History Month for me is a time of renewed celebration of Black history and legacy, and a reminder that we should all continually educate ourselves on the importance of Black history and the contributions that Black people continue to have to society and culture today.
What are you looking forward to most this Black History Month?
I am excited about the 39th Annual DuSable Conference at the Gleacher Center as the highlight. Themed "Reinvesting in Our Community," it will feature sessions on Real Estate Investment, Culture as a Business Advantage, and the Technology Sector. The conference also provides excellent networking opportunities. In addition to this conference, AAMBAA is hosting a variety of other engaging programs that I am eagerly anticipating like The Black-Owned Candle Making Class, The Graduate School Black Club Mixer, and the BHM Book Club.
What makes Chicago a great place to be during Black History Month?
Chicago is a remarkable destination during Black History Month, thanks to its deep-rooted Black heritage, tracing back to its founder, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable. The city's festivities revolve around significant cultural institutions like the DuSable Museum of African American History, dedicated to preserving African American history and culture. Bronzeville, historically known as the 'Black Metropolis,' played a central role in African American culture during the early 20th Century and continues to symbolize Black heritage. Additionally, Chicago's vibrant Black-owned businesses not only bolster the city's economy but also enrich its diverse culture, making it the perfect place to commemorate Black history and achievements during this special month.
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