Rhonda Fischer 2012 MBA

The 2012 Goizueta grad, who earned her MBA in one quick year, has always had far-reaching goals. But her latest, as Chief Operating Officer for the East Lake Foundation, could be her most impressive yet: to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty, forever.

With a goal that challenging, complex, and frankly, ambiguous—Rhonda needed to find an MBA program that matched her philanthropic spirit. One that went beyond traditional academics.

Enter Goizueta.

“I credit Goizueta with sharpening a skill that is more intangible than what you learn in the classroom—dealing with ambiguity,” says Rhonda.

The idea that problem-solvers can’t control every variable was not lost on Rhonda. Through Goizueta’s Leadership and Management courses, Rhonda developed the ability to navigate through uncertainty, and change, while learning how to understand and manage complex team dynamics.

“It’s hard to recall a problem that was presented in class that laid out all of the details,” says Rhonda. “We learned to leverage the knowledge and experience of our classmates and fellow team members, and ask the right questions to gather more information.”

Now, Rhonda is applying the skills that she learned at Goizeuta, and connecting them in deep and meaningful ways. Not only with the staff she works with, but with the communities and people she serves. Rhonda and The East Lake Foundation are revitalizing inner city neighborhoods in Atlanta, and turning them into vibrant communities where all residents can thrive. Her goal of eliminating poverty remains ambitious, but she’s chipping away one neighborhood at a time.

“Goizueta helped me to see what’s around the corner, beyond the current day’s challenges and issues,” said Rhonda. “I am now able to lead our organization into thinking about how to solve what’s next.”