The HBS African American Student Union (AASU) strives to be an extended family for its members from the moment they decide to attend HBS, through the transition to second year, and beyond graduation. Here we profile two AASU members who attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) about their experiences before and during the MBA program.
Jourdan Henry (MBA 2023)
Where is your hometown?
Spring Valley, New York.
Which HBCU did you attend?
Howard University.
What was your pre-MBA industry and role?
Media and Advertising as a Product Manager.
Why did you choose to attend an HBCU?
I chose to attend Howard University because of the sense of community that I felt upon visiting the campus. I knew the atmosphere at Howard would strengthen my sense of identity and propel me to achieve my career aspirations. At Howard I was able to be my authentic self, which enabled me to excel academically, professionally, and socially.
At what point did you decide to pursue an MBA, and why?
I decided to pursue an MBA when I was two years into my career. I had the opportunity to attend a professional development program at a top business school and I realized that the MBA students there were creating solutions for business problems and societal issues that I had not previously considered. I quickly realized that was the type of learning environment I wanted to immerse myself in, and I was confident that an MBA would help me achieve my full potential as a leader in business and society.
What has been the highlight of your HBS experience thus far?
The highlight of my time at Harvard Business School has been the classroom experience. Every day I am challenged to solve business problems that do not always have a clear right or wrong answer. This has strengthened my ability to think critically and has allowed me to identify and reflect on my core values.
Ashley Reid (MBA 2023)
Where is your hometown?
Chicago, Illinois.
Which HBCU did you attend?
Spelman College.
What was your pre-MBA industry and role?
I was in tech at Google working in social impact and community engagement.
Why did you choose to attend an HBCU?
I come from a strong HBCU family. My grandmother, mother, and many other members of my family have attended HBCUs. I knew from an early age the value of an HBCU education as well as the importance that HBCUs have played in producing Black culture and pivotal leaders in the Black community. I chose to attend Spelman College in particular because after attending majority-white institutions my whole life, it was a welcome reprieve and an opportunity to not feel different based on my race or my gender.
At what point did you decide to pursue an MBA, and why?
I decided to pursue my MBA as a senior in college after attending HBS’s Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP). Throughout college I interned in both nonprofits and tech, sectors in which attending business school was not as common or encouraged. SVMP showed me the value of an MBA, and the unique power of the case method teaching style. I saw firsthand how learning business skills through discussion allowed for more collaborative and inclusive approaches to solving problems.
How have you leveraged your unique HBCU experience at HBS?
Spelman instilled in me a deep commitment to support and advocate for Black and minority communities. Thus, in the HBS classroom I try to highlight the impact that business decisions and new innovations (both positive and negative) can have on minority communities.
What has been the highlight of your HBS experience thus far?
Everyone says this, but the people you meet at HBS really make the experience remarkable. I’ve enjoyed bonding with my section and building lifelong friendships. But it's not just the students who make the experience, it's also the professors. I’ve learned so much from the diversity of experiences and backgrounds of our professors. For example, it’s been an amazing experience to learn operations from an army Colonel, corporate accountability from a former prosecutor, and entrepreneurship from a successful startup founder. HBS faculty are truly world-class.