Background
Ugochukwu “Daniel” Ofurum is a first-year MBA student specializing in Corporate Finance and Investment Banking. Originally from Nigeria, Daniel holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Babcock University in Ilishan-Remo. Daniel has more than six years of experience in financial services, focusing on financial analysis, reporting, and strategic initiatives to drive growth, support business partners and improve financial and operational efficiencies. His most recent role was working as Lead – Financial Analysis and Reporting, at Emerging Africa Group in Lagos, Nigeria. Emerging Africa Group is an ESG focused group established by collaboration between institutional and private domestic and international investors with the aim of addressing Africa’s financial access gap and advancing Africa’s sustainable development goals. They provide financing and investing solutions to public and private sector projects through various subsidiaries. Prior to this role, Daniel worked as a Senior Finance Associate at Leadway Pensure PFA, and as a Financial Analyst at Atiat Limited.
Daniel shared that growing up in Nigeria taught him the importance of hard work, community, and innovation, and that transitioning to life in the U.S has given him a broader sense of perspectives. His experiences in the U.S. thus far have taught him a lot about adaptability, diversity, and perseverance and have impacted his personal growth and career goals.
First Semester Reflections
Daniel has thrived in the MBA program and his strong financial acumen and industry experience has played a key role in preparing him for the rigorous MBA curriculum and recruiting landscape. During his first semester, he actively networked with alumni which helped him secure a summer internship with American Family Insurance. Daniel is currently an International Representative on the Graduate Business Association Board. He also regularly participates in extra-curricular offerings including industry engagements through the Nicholas Center Don Condon Speaker series where finance leaders speak about various finance topics and share insight into their careers.
Most recently, Daniel participated in the Nicholas Center Career Trek where his cohort visited several Minneapolis company headquarters, which included Target, Piper Sandler, General Mills, and 3M. The career trek experience provided Daniel with increased knowledge about corporate finance careers and provided insight into how he can leverage his finance skills in future roles.
Daniel shared that his favorite class during the first semester was Financial Accounting with Fabio. This class was unique because it retaught crucial accounting concepts in a fun and engaging manner. Daniel enjoyed the innovative approach to teaching, where Fabio referred to exams as “celebrations,” which significantly reduced stress and made learning more enjoyable. A memorable highlight was when the Bucky mascot was brought into class for the final exam “celebration,” adding a unique and spirited touch to the learning experience. This class showed Daniel and others how a positive and creative learning environment can enhance understanding and enjoyment of a subject.
Advice for Prospective Students
Daniel shared the following advice for incoming students:
“Reflecting on my first semester, my advice to incoming students is to actively engage with the resources and opportunities provided by the school and the various centers. What particularly prepared me for this journey was the opportunity to network with current students and alumni, whose insights and experiences offered valuable perspectives and guidance. Additionally, practicing with Wall Street Prep further honed my corporate finance and excel skills, making me more confident and proficient in tackling the academic and practical aspects of Corporate Finance and Investment Banking program. I am especially thankful for the supportive community at the Wisconsin School of Business, the challenging academic environment, the supportive alumni, and the personal and professional growth opportunities. These experiences have laid a robust foundation for my future career in finance.”
Outside his MBA studies, Daniel enjoys watching soccer and anime, playing futsal, and working with the CRoME lab at the UW school of pharmacy to coordinate fitness/dance classes twice a week. Reach out to Daniel on LinkedIn to connect!
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