Adeline Quaye-Foli (MBA’24) on Sharing the Black Experience at Georgetown Through the BMBAA 

During the month of February, Georgetown McDonough joins the nation in commemorating Black History Month. To celebrate, we are spotlighting several of our exceptional Black students in the McDonough community who are creating impact and exemplifying the Georgetown spirit through their academics, careers, and personal lives.

As co-president of the Black MBA Association (BMBAA) at Georgetown McDonough, Adeline Quaye-Foli (MBA’24) is pushing herself out of her comfort zone to lead the organization with the goal of increasing participation from other McDonough students across all different backgrounds, interests, and identities. 

This Black History Month, Quaye-Foli looks forward to continuing to grow an inclusive community and encouraging meaningful conversations surrounding the Black experience through the BMBAA and other culturally immersive opportunities within the Georgetown MBA program and across the Washington, D.C., region.

Tell us about yourself. What are some of your professional and personal interests?

I predominantly grew up in Ghana and moved to Washington, D.C., in 2021 — just a year before I began the MBA program at Georgetown. For most of my life, I spent summers visiting family in the D.C. area, so I was familiar with the city before moving here a few years ago. After graduation, I would like to go back into the management consulting field. I previously worked in consulting prior to starting the MBA program, and the ability to interact with and solve problems alongside my clients is something I could not pass up.

Why did you want to get involved with the BMBAA, and what has the experience been like so far?

I have never typically been the person who leads from the front. However, when I came to Georgetown to pursue my master’s degree, I decided I wanted to take on more active leadership roles. Upon arriving on campus, I asked myself, “what space(s) do I want to occupy?” I decided that I wanted to do things I am passionate about and within communities that I am passionate about serving. With these goals in mind, I found that the BMBAA was a sweet spot for me. In terms of my involvement, I realize the privilege I have to co-lead this group and to do right by the organization; it’s something that I don’t take lightly. I aim to be very intentional about how I engage with my peers and members of the BMBAA.

What are some ways you hope the BMBAA continues to make an impact at Georgetown?

As an organization, we hope to create scholarship opportunities that are tailored to minority populations. We also hope to organize events that encourage safe and brave spaces for Black students and to make the university more inclusive of people of all different backgrounds. As a result, one of my goals is to help cultivate multifaceted conversations amongst students and to help bring diverse groups together for meaningful conversation around important topics of discussion.

What are some ways that Georgetown students, or the greater Washington, D.C., community, can commemorate Black History Month?

First off, we want people to learn about the Black experience. The BMBAA has been very focused on our marketing efforts and making sure we gain new members across diverse populations. We want to have conversations about these different experiences and find ways that they might overlap with one another. Additionally, being in Washington D.C., there is a myriad of events that highlight Black excellence and the Black experience. We encourage members of the Georgetown community to ask their Black colleagues about what Black History Month means to them and how you might be able to honor it.

Where can people learn more about the BMBAA and events that are happening during Black History Month? 

Check out our Instagram page @blackatmsb for updates on upcoming events, news, and programming.