With Graduation on the horizon, over the coming weeks on the blog, we will be featuring conversations with a few of our Second Year students about their experience at Darden. Today we catch up with Second Year, Godwin Marfo Ahenkorah. Godwin is originally from Ghana, and after graduation, he will be joining JPMorgan Chase & Co. as an associate in their Management Associate Program. Check out Godwin’s answers below and be sure to read our previous Q&A with Second Year, Veronica Rumie Giraldo.
What was your background before business school?
I pursued Accounting and Finance for my undergraduate degree in Ghana. I then joined Vodafone PLC through their Discover Management program where I had rotations with the commercial functions of the company. I eventually settled in a B2B role which combined customer behavioral analytics and strategy.
Why did you choose Darden?
I was looking for a business school that emphasized great community, employed the case method teaching approach and had good career opportunities for international students. Throughout my interactions with current students and alumni, Darden stood out to me in all these areas. I was sold on Darden after I watched a video recording of Professor Luann Lynch teaching accounting using the case method. As a CPA holder, I was very impressed with how Luann made accounting simple and understandable.
What’s been the most surprising thing about your experience?
How genuinely nice and ready to assist people are, especially the professors. Charlottesville is the first place outside of Ghana I’ve ever lived, and my classmates have been very supportive as I’ve transitioned to life at Darden.
What was your favorite highlight from your first year?
On my birthday my Section B classmates stopped the class session to sing a birthday song for me. They even gave me an orange cowboy hat to wear for the day. Orange is my section color and that gesture made my day. Thank you so much “Birds” – This is an experience I won’t forget.
Any particular favorite memory from your second year?
I had a couple of international First Year students reach out to me to thank me for the assistance I provided them during their recruiting process. It is always lovely to help people achieve their goals, no matter how small the contribution.
What will you miss about Darden?
I will miss the nice scenery, great professors, supportive classmates and the rich Darden curriculum.
