Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business students come to learn, explore, and build community. As they move forward in their careers, they take everything they’ve learned and use it to power innovation in industries and businesses across the globe. Before graduating, we sat down with a few students to find out what they’ve learned and what advice they want to give to other students.
Meet Curtis King, who is graduating from the Evening MBA program with a concentration in Accounting and Real Estate.
Where are you from?
I'm originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I moved to Austell, Georgia nine years ago to help out my sister due to her having a stroke.
What will you be doing to celebrate your graduation?
Probably just going out to dinner with family and reflecting on the journey.
Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college?
Robert F. Smith.
What was your favorite business course and why?
I enjoyed a whole host of courses. Financial Aspect of Real Estate, Finance and Investments, Financial Reporting and Analysis. But if I had to choose one, it would be Strategic Management. The reason being it allowed me to use knowledge from all of those courses in one.
What advice would you give to a first-year MBA student?
Get your core courses done, so you can enjoy your electives.
What activities were you involved with on or off campus, and did your business education impact those activities in any way?
I'm a worker bee. So, if I'm not working, I'm either reading a book to help my personal development, doing some research on how to become more financially literate, or working on one of my businesses. More specifically, while obtaining my MBA, I worked full-time as a primary patent examiner, invested in local residential real estate, and started a part-time life insurance business.
Where will you be working after graduation?
I will continue to work at the USPTO, and at the same time try to grow my real estate and insurance businesses.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
To become one of the largest real estate developers in the state of Georgia and become an owner of an NFL football team.
What was a moment when you had to practice persistence and/or resilience while in the MBA program?
When I was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy. I registered for nine credits one term and one week before classes started, I was hospitalized and diagnosed with Bell's Palsy. It was a trying time, because I had to take half a month off from work. On top of this, I already missed a couple of semesters due to Covid, so I really didn't want to miss anymore. So even though I had to wear sunglasses to class and overcome the lingering symptoms, I pushed through a nine-credit semester while working full-time with Bell's Palsy.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from your Scheller MBA?
Leadership. More specifically, how to be a leader and the type of leadership style I would like to use to lead.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
My nickname is Tony. People at school and work know me as Curtis. However, all my family and friends know me as Tony. A year ago, I told all my family and friends that I would like to be called Curtis to keep it uniform. However, everyone revolted. So, you can call me Curtis, Tony, or Tony-Curtis.
Meet Curtis King, who is graduating from the Evening MBA program with a concentration in Accounting and Real Estate.
Where are you from?
I'm originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I moved to Austell, Georgia nine years ago to help out my sister due to her having a stroke.
What will you be doing to celebrate your graduation?
Probably just going out to dinner with family and reflecting on the journey.
Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college?
Robert F. Smith.
What was your favorite business course and why?
I enjoyed a whole host of courses. Financial Aspect of Real Estate, Finance and Investments, Financial Reporting and Analysis. But if I had to choose one, it would be Strategic Management. The reason being it allowed me to use knowledge from all of those courses in one.
What advice would you give to a first-year MBA student?
Get your core courses done, so you can enjoy your electives.
What activities were you involved with on or off campus, and did your business education impact those activities in any way?
I'm a worker bee. So, if I'm not working, I'm either reading a book to help my personal development, doing some research on how to become more financially literate, or working on one of my businesses. More specifically, while obtaining my MBA, I worked full-time as a primary patent examiner, invested in local residential real estate, and started a part-time life insurance business.
Where will you be working after graduation?
I will continue to work at the USPTO, and at the same time try to grow my real estate and insurance businesses.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
To become one of the largest real estate developers in the state of Georgia and become an owner of an NFL football team.
What was a moment when you had to practice persistence and/or resilience while in the MBA program?
When I was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy. I registered for nine credits one term and one week before classes started, I was hospitalized and diagnosed with Bell's Palsy. It was a trying time, because I had to take half a month off from work. On top of this, I already missed a couple of semesters due to Covid, so I really didn't want to miss anymore. So even though I had to wear sunglasses to class and overcome the lingering symptoms, I pushed through a nine-credit semester while working full-time with Bell's Palsy.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from your Scheller MBA?
Leadership. More specifically, how to be a leader and the type of leadership style I would like to use to lead.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
My nickname is Tony. People at school and work know me as Curtis. However, all my family and friends know me as Tony. A year ago, I told all my family and friends that I would like to be called Curtis to keep it uniform. However, everyone revolted. So, you can call me Curtis, Tony, or Tony-Curtis.