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Why Trump’s America Poses ‘A New Leadership Challenge’—Duke Fuqua Dean Bill Boulding

Starting a new five-year term at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, dean Bill Boulding says business and politics are becoming increasingly intertwined

Fri Mar 2 2018

BusinessBecause
Interest in the full-time MBA program at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business is booming. Duke Fuqua boasted a record number of applications to its Daytime MBA program last year.

For the school’s dean, Bill Boulding, it was the icing on the cake of a five-year term which saw Fuqua’s full-time MBA ranked number one in the US in 2014; a smaller-sized business school in Durham, North Carolina, putting juggernauts like Harvard and Wharton to the sword.

It’s no surprise then that, in February, Bill was reappointed to serve another five-year term until 2023. An imposing figure who played basketball in his college days, Bill is not standing still.

Business schools, he says, need to operate outside the b-school bubble, within the context of wider society. And today’s wider society is a complex one. For Bill, a new era means new challenges.

A New Leadership Challenge

Number one challenge? Step forward, Donald Trump.

Bill is more tactful. The political environment in the US today, he says—the divisiveness, the political discourse around immigration, race, sexual identity, and legislation that’s either cast as pro-religion or anti-LGBT—has created a world that’s far more complicated for a business executive to deal with.

And, he notes, a world that’s completely antithetical to the world of business, where diversity breeds innovation and innovation breeds success.

“There’s a new leadership challenge,” Bill explains. “It’s gone beyond the challenge of understanding how to bring people together in an organization and build a strong culture.

“The path has become more complicated as political events force you to make public decisions. Do you stay on the sidelines or do you weigh in?”

Business and politics have become increasingly intertwined. While business leaders in the past weighed in on political issues when their direct interests were at stake—on taxation or import duties for example—today’s executives are faced with moral dilemmas; the choice of whether to speak out or stay silent.

Do you speak out against immigration laws? Do you counter legislation which threatens same-sex couples? It’s about corporate activism, and the internet and social media play a big part in that.

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Fighting Back

To prepare his students for the challenge, Bill runs Duke Fuqua’s Distinguished Speaker Series, where he hosts conversations with leading executives to find out more about the issues they face, and how they decide whether to speak out or stay silent.

Like Adam Silver, commissioner of the NBA, who decided to pull the 2017 NBA All-Star Game out of Charlotte, North Carolina, in opposition to the ‘bathroom bill’—legislation, later repealed, which threatened restrictions on the use of restrooms by transgender individuals. Or Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart, who managed to prevent Arkansas religious freedom legislation, which disenfranchised the LGBT community, being enacted.

Other speakers include Apple CEO and Fuqua MBA alum Tim Cook, who spoke against religious freedom laws in Indiana which allowed for discrimination against same-sex couples, and SAP CEO Bill McDermott who publicly opposed Trump’s immigration ban.

It seems not all decisions in business today are data-driven. Fuqua’s also launched a new strategy class, taught by Professor Aaron Chatterji (pictured below)—who previously served as a senior economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisors (CEA)—which centers on how to make decisions in situations where business and politics collide.

“In a world where it’s ‘Us’ versus ‘Them’, when you take actions that support a certain group, you have to be very careful that they’re not perceived as being against another group,” Bill continues.

“How do you come to a certain decision? What do you fall back on as the basis for making those decisions? We expose our students to the kinds of issues business leaders are confronting and we get them to unpack those issues, taking students through their decision-making thought processes.”

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Significant Headwinds

The Trump effect is being felt by US business and business schools alike. Latest data from the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)—where Bill sits as a board member—suggests that two-thirds of US business schools experienced a decrease in applications from internationals in 2017. Only 32% reported an increase, down from 49% the previous year.

In the face of “significant headwinds,” Bill notes, Fuqua enjoyed a record number of applications in 2017—3,796 applicants for its Daytime MBA class of 2019. Still, those headwinds—tricky visa regulations compounded by the Trump administration’s suspect stance on immigration—are creating a problem.

“Students are asking: ‘Will I be welcome in this country? Is the US still a country that values people from all over the world?’ This is a new phenomenon,” Bill explains. “What we did was to make sure we sent out a clear message that we offer a welcoming community—a rich, robust environment with people from all over the world—and applications held steady.”

Although 46% of Fuqua’s applicant pool for 2016-17 hailed from outside the US, Fuqua’s current Daytime MBA class is 39% international.

The school is fighting on other fronts—expanding its global reach through a key strategic partnership with Kazakhstan’s Nazarbayev University. Duke, in partnership with China’s Wuhan University, runs Duke Kunshan University, which offers a multilingual master’s in management program.

If you can’t get to Duke in Durham, North Carolina, you can get to Duke elsewhere. Fuqua is now offering a 100%-online Master in Quantitative Management: Health Analytics program.

MBA students’ motivations are changing too. Students want to make a social impact in their careers and, at Fuqua, more students want to work in the technology sector. Between 2016 and 2017, 19% of Fuqua MBA students went into careers in tech. Amazon was the biggest employer—taking 15 students into full-time roles and 30 into summer internships—followed by Deloitte, McKinsey, BCG, and Microsoft.

Fuqua has become a school at the intersection of business and technology—a trend Bill only sees increasing. The school’s new Master of Quantitative Management program is also designed to attract internationals. The STEM-designated program means students can gain a three-year STEM extension on their visas to find jobs post-graduation.

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Driving change

From alumni like Apple CEO Tim Cook, to Melinda Gates and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to altruistic MBA grads giving back and building factories in their hometowns, Bill’s mission for the school is to drive change and, in spite of the current political climate, carve out a positive path ahead.

“I don’t separate my goals from the goals of the institution; to drive innovation and change,” he says. “We graduate around 1,000 students a year across all our programs—we’re not a huge factory. But we believe in the power of leadership and the idea that one person can change the lives of thousands of other people through what they do.

“Our students have an opportunity, from this small platform, to do really amazing things.”

Student Reviews

Duke University Fuqua School of Business

Student

Verified

31/10/2023

On Campus

Supportive atmosphere

The professors at Duke university exhibit exceptional commitment to the success and well-being of their students by ensuring their academic growth and fostering a supportive social atmosphere. Moreover, the entire community is recognized for its amicability and inclusiveness.

Maxwell

Verified

30/03/2023

On Campus

Diversity

The people or the students are without a doubt Duke's greatest asset. While all students are driven to succeed, they are also enthusiastic about a variety of hobbies. You run across a huge lot of diversity. It is the ideal example of a school with well-rounded students and the ideal balance of campus life in a metropolis.

Anabelle

Verified

27/02/2023

On Campus

Happy to school

All I could ever hope for is Duke University. That really epitomizes the "work hard, play hard" philosophy that elite colleges frequently pursue. Even though you'll have a lot of schooling to complete over the week, it's simple to keep focused because all of your friends are putting in similar amounts of effort. Many events taking place on and around campus on the weekends provide a great way to unwind. The combination of demanding academics and traditional college fun strikes the perfect balance.

Monica

Verified

27/02/2023

On Campus

Good schooling

Living, eating, learning, and developing who you want to be as an adult are all fantastic at Duke. I participated in student athletics, and I couldn't have asked for a better interaction with the faculty and other students. I appreciate all of the help I get from the Duke community more than anything. Furthermore, the teachers take the time to get to know you, and the lectures are diverse and demanding (if you do the same). I'd give it a 10 out of 10.

Aline

Verified

26/11/2022

On Campus

Beautiful School, Nice Classes

DU remains one the greatest and best universities that I have ever stepped in. The school is beautiful and neat. The classes are spacious and also very nice. I enjoyed attending my Lectures in those lecture halls. I also loved the Lecturers because of the good work they did. The university also has very good dorms that are given to students on first come first serve basis and they are affordable

Student

Verified

29/06/2022

Blended

Amazing experience

I received my B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Global Health with a minor in Chemistry from Duke University. I was able to grow as a student, scientist, and global health advocate with the help of my friends, professors, and other mentors I met along the way. A lot to learn if you look and ask, a great place to learn for those who want to learn.

Student

Verified

29/06/2022

Blended

whirlwind of growth and change

An amazing 2 years, with covid and everything else happening Duke has been a place of growth for me. The courses , classes were one of a kind, online and on campus. But the valuable lessons learned in the classes are irreplicable. The students are amazing here, so much diversity , I had no problem fitting in. The teachers are down right brilliant and so helpful. Don't be afraid to ask them anything. Graduated with my MBA with Duke and now my future awaits.

Student

Verified

29/06/2022

On Campus

One of the best for Business students

Graduated with an MBA. The classes were very insightful and engaging. The staff are very easy to deal with. The teachers and students, are truly amazing people. Grateful to all the people I've met along the way at Duke. I've learnt a great deal that will help me in my future endeavors. The campus itself is a marvel, it is beautiful.

Student

Verified

16/06/2022

On Campus

The university campus is awesome

I graduated with a masters degree in Religious Studies from Duke University. One thing I really liked about the university is its huge campus. It is spread in a large area with a lot of greenery and also have the facilities of reading rooms for single person also. My department building was very well taken care of. The library is immensely populated with books for all your needs. The faculty is very nice to students. The classes are equipped with latest technology to cater the needs of students. The University also provides room rentals for international students. They are very well maintained and priority is given to the International students for a comfortable stay there. There are weekly events conducted by the University as well as Student clubs for the entertainment of students. Anybody can take part in them and show their talents. I enjoyed my degree and I graduated in 2021 and was very happy that I had graduated from a reputed University.

Dhanush

Verified

12/07/2024

On Campus

Program Flexibility and Vibrant Campus Life

Duke University is renowned for its rigorous academic programs and vibrant campus life. The university offers a diverse range of majors and research opportunities, supported by world-class faculty. What I particularly liked about Duke was its strong sense of community and the wealth of extracurricular activities available to students. The campus is beautiful, with top-notch facilities and a supportive atmosphere that fosters both personal and academic growth. Overall, I would highly recommend Duke University for its excellent educational offerings and strong alumni network. If you're looking for a place that challenges you academically while offering numerous opportunities for personal development, Duke is an excellent choice.

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