For the third year in a row, the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business has been honored with the National Black MBA Association® (NBMBAA) Collegiate Partner of the Year award. At the heart of this achievement is Scheller’s Blacks in Business (BiB) Georgia Tech OneMBA club, whose purpose is to educate and advocate the overall awareness of issues that face Blacks in business.
Led by club president Chasten McCrary, Evening MBA ‘25, BiB has been intentional about working with the NBMBAA Atlanta Chapter to build a relationship with students at Scheller. McCrary noted, “For the ninth year in a row, we have held an annual event with the Atlanta Chapter to prepare students for the NBMBAA Conference and Career Expo.”
The fall event is not just for Georgia Tech students. Students come from Emory, Clark Atlanta, Georgia State, and the University of Georgia. “BiB values the importance of building community and sharing resources so that all MBAs in the Atlanta area can feel prepared to attend the conference and career expo,” said McCrary. “This inclusive event brings us all together in the spirit of collaboration rather than competition.”
Scheller's strong connection to the NBMBAA Atlanta Chapter is one reason McCrary believes Scheller received the award, as it facilitates local and national connection between students and opportunities. In addition to the conference prep event, BiB board members have volunteered with the Chapter's Leaders of Tomorrow program as mock case competition judges to help high school students grow their business acumen.
“BiB's goal is to create opportunities for members to connect with industry leaders and peers in a safe space, while developing valuable career skills,” McCrary said. “It's rewarding to see our efforts recognized.”
Funding the Future
One of the biggest initiatives McCrary and her executive board have championed while leading BiB has been the creation of the BiB L.E.A.D. (Leadership, Empowerment, and Development) Forward Fund. This was created to support students' professional development through conferences, licensing courses, professional certificates, and much more.
McCrary’s individual efforts were also recognized at the NBMBAA Conference when she was awarded the NBMBAA master’s scholarship. Arianna Robinson, assistant director of business operations at the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business and advisor for BiB, recommended McCrary’s work which has built the club’s reach and impact.
“Chasten’s leadership is characterized by empathy, openness, and a continuous drive for learning,” Robinson shared with the scholarship selection committee. “She’s deeply committed to both the business world and uplifting underrepresented communities. Her energy and professionalism have been invaluable, and I’m confident she embodies the NBMBAA’s mission.”
In addition to BiB, McCrary’s MBA journey has included work with the Female Founders program and sustainability initiatives. After completing the program, McCrary found meaning in creating sustainable hair goods—a space she said was a natural fit. As she continues her market research, she has discovered that a great way to make a positive environmental impact is by examining and evaluating her own habits first.
As she looks to the future of BiB, McCrary hopes for a four-peat (five-peat and six-peat!) at subsequent annual NBMBAA Atlanta Chapter scholarship receptions. Whatever the outcome of future acknowledgements may be, she discovered what she was looking for through BiB: a supportive community of people who share similar life experiences and lift each other up through laughter, connection, and empathy.
“It is crucial to ensure that students who identify as Black, or are within the African Diaspora, know that Scheller is a place for them,” she said. “There's a community they can tap into, and we're here to support their MBA journey from the very beginning."
As Scheller continues to celebrate this achievement, BiB’s work ensures that the focus remains on empowering the next generation of Black professionals.
Learn More: Scheller MBA Clubs
