Q: Tell us about your background and what led you to Northeastern University.
A: I grew up in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, and attended French schools before moving to the United States for boarding school in western Massachusetts. I wanted to broaden my opportunities and challenge myself in a new environment.
When it came time to choose a college for my undergraduate studies, Northeastern stood out for its opportunities beyond the classroom, especially its co-op program and the chance to study in Boston. My brother was also earning his graduate degree in Boston at the time, so Northeastern felt like the right fit both personally and professionally.
Q: Why did you choose to return to D'Amore-McKim for your MS in Accounting?
A: Returning to Northeastern as a Double Husky was an easy decision. During my undergraduate studies, I built strong relationships with my professors, advisors, and classmates, and I knew I would continue to grow in an environment that had already helped me succeed.
I also valued the professional experience I gained as an undergraduate. I interned at PwC after my freshman year, completed a co-op with Boston Consulting Group, and later interned with EY and Morgan Stanley. Those experiences helped me build my professional skills and gave me a broader perspective on the business world, while reinforcing the importance of combining what I learned in the classroom with workplace experience.
When I started planning for graduate school, I knew I wanted to earn my CPA and build on my accounting foundation. The MS in Accounting was the best path for me to strengthen my technical accounting skills and prepare to sit for the CPA exam. I was able to sit for sections of the CPA exam while enrolled, and the combination of academic preparation and professional experience has given me a strong foundation for my career.
Q: Why did you choose to return to D'Amore-McKim for your MS in Accounting?
A: Returning to Northeastern as a Double Husky was an easy decision. During my undergraduate studies, I built strong relationships with my professors, advisors, and classmates, and I knew I would continue to grow in an environment that had already helped me succeed.
I also valued the professional experience I gained as an undergraduate. I interned at PwC after my freshman year, completed a co-op with Boston Consulting Group, and later interned with EY and Morgan Stanley. Those experiences helped me build my professional skills and gave me a broader perspective on the business world, while reinforcing the importance of combining what I learned in the classroom with workplace experience.
When I started planning for graduate school, I knew I wanted to earn my CPA and build on my accounting foundation. The MS in Accounting was the best path for me to strengthen my technical accounting skills and prepare to sit for the CPA exam. I was able to sit for sections of the CPA exam while enrolled, and the combination of academic preparation and professional experience has given me a strong foundation for my career.
Q: How did your coursework prepare you for your career goals?
A: The coursework consistently connected classroom concepts to what I'll actually do in practice. For example, in my tax courses, we worked through book-to-tax differences and other topics that I encountered during my internships but didn't fully understand at the time. Learning the concepts in class made everything much clearer.
Our professors didn't just teach accounting theory. They focused on how you'll apply those concepts in real-world client work, which made those lessons much more meaningful.
Q: How will the MS in Accounting support your career goals?
A: After graduation, I'll be joining EY in the Financial Services Office, where I'll work with wealth management clients. I'm excited to return to a company where I previously interned and build on the relationships and experiences I developed during that time.
The MS in Accounting helped prepare me for my next step by strengthening my technical accounting knowledge, helping me make significant progress toward my CPA license, and giving me greater confidence before entering the profession full-time.
Q: What was it like being selected as this year's graduate commencement speaker?
A: It was an incredible honor. When I was invited to give the commencement speech, I was both surprised and grateful. When I first arrived at Northeastern, I was much more introverted, so stepping up to speak in front of my entire graduating class really highlighted how much I've grown here.
Over the years, getting involved on campus, whether mentoring first-year business students, serving on the Black Student Association executive board, or acting as a Presidential Ambassador, helped me step out of my shell and realize the value of community. That mindset extended beyond campus too, through my work co-leading a nonprofit back home in Côte d'Ivoire that supports orphans and students needing financial aid.
Through these experiences, I learned that leadership is about serving others. I was honored to share that message with my classmates on graduation day.
Q: What advice would you give to future MS in Accounting students?
A: Take advantage of every resource available to you. Your professors, advisors, and classmates all want to see you succeed, and they're willing to help if you ask.
Looking back, some of the most valuable parts of my experience weren't just the classes. They were the relationships I built along the way. Those relationships helped me grow academically, professionally, and personally, and they're one of the biggest reasons my Northeastern experience has been so meaningful.
