MBA Spotlight

President, Blake Noud

Blake Noud is originally from Edwardsville, IL, just outside of St. Louis. After attending The University of Alabama and spending 2 years in Charlotte, NC, he returned to St. Louis in 2021. Having served 3 years as the sole business analyst at a St. Louis addiction recovery startup, Blake felt the logical next step in his career was to pursue an MBA at WashU. Since he can remember, Blake has always dreamed of attending WashU. In middle and high school, he would walk around campus and daydream about what it would be like to be a student. To not only be part of Olin’s MBA program, but also lead the cohort as GBSA President has been a dream come true. He looks forward to serving the student body in his role as President, in order to advance the program for past, present, and future students to come. When not at school, Blake enjoys running, golfing, cooking with his wife, collecting vinyl records, and playing with his cats Simon and Garfunkel.”

VP Finance, Bansi Shukla

Hello, Everyone. My name is Bansi Shukla, and I am from Nairobi, Kenya, which is the land of the best sunsets and safaris in Savannah. With 12 years of professional experience in finance and impact investing, I decided to challenge myself further academically by taking on the role of VP of Finance, and excited to fill in the role!

VP of International Student Relations, Aisha Lawal

Hi, my name is Aisha Lawal, and I am from Nigeria! I am a molecular biologist who has explored the worlds of product management and retail service. Along the way, I have earned my first master’s degree and loved every moment of the challenge! Fun things about me: I cannot resist moving to a good beat (though it doesn’t make me an exceptional dancer!), I am a lover of all things crafty (skilled in four types of handwork!), you can also find me in the kitchen experimenting with new recipes!

VP of Diversity, Makiyah Murray

Hello everyone! I’m Makiyah Murray, your new Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. As a Dual Degree MBA/MSW, I’m passionate about building inclusive environments that will enhance every experience for every student at Olin.

VP of Social Programs, Cora Bassett

Hello! My name is Cora Bassett and I’m excited to be the VP of Social Programs co-chair with Zach this year! I am from Newburgh, Indiana and have recently graduated from Indiana University. I am now earning my MBA while being a graduate assistant coach for WashU’s softball team. I would like to encourage our cohort to come support the team, they’re going to be fun to watch! I hope everyone has a great start to the year and I’m excited to see everyone at this year’s events!

VP of Social Programs, Zach Douma

Hey y’all, my name is Zach Douma and I am from Austin, TX. Before my time here at Olin, I worked in commercial construction as an onsite superintendent and in high-end residential home building. I also love participating in charity work, most notably with the event, Chilifest, where I chair the advisory board. I am looking forward to the upcoming semester and very excited to bring us all together with many different fun and engaging events. 

VP of Clubs, Rayna Friedman

Hi everyone! My name is Rayna, and I am a proud St. Louis native. Over the past several years, being involved in organizations like this has been a meaningful part of my educational journey, so I am truly honored to have the opportunity to serve my classmates again.

As a recent Bachelor’s degree graduate, my work experience includes a diverse range of jobs and internships, such as working on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., in commercial real estate, and as a head soccer referee.

When I’m not in class or working, I’m likely involving myself in other campus activities, taking photos, or spending time with my classmates. I’m excited to serve as the VP of Clubs and Engagement this year and look forward to building connections and making this an engaging experience for everyone!

VP of Professional Development, Tumelo Magabo

Hi Everyone. My name is Tumelo and I am originally from Zimbabwe and Botswana. I’m someone who loves to bake, read fictional novels, and spend quality time with my friends and family.

One of my greatest passions is meeting new people and learning about their cultures. I truly believe that every individual has a unique story, and I love connecting with others to expand my understanding of the world. Whether it’s through conversations or experiences, I’m always eager to discover new perspectives and traditions.

Overall, I value relationships, cultural exchange, and the simple joys that life has to offer. Looking forward to serving you as VP of Academics and Career Development and creating a WashU experience that we can all be proud of.

Minori Ubukata

Hey guys! I’m Minori and I am super excited to serve you guys as one of the board members this upcoming year. A little bit about myself, I was born in Tokyo, Japan but have lived in St. Louis for about 18 years. I went to undergrad at Baylor (sic ’em!) and graduated with a public health degree. A couple fun facts about me, I can speak Japanese and Korean, I am the oldest kid of three daughters, I enjoy thrifting and cooking, my favorite color is purple, and i’m a foodie so if you want some recs around St. Louis let me know! 

Michael Esare-Beckson

Hi everyone, my name is Michael Esare-Beckson, and I’m excited to serve as a board member of GBSA. A little about me—I am a physical therapist with valuable experience in the healthcare industry. I’m passionate about fostering growth, collaboration, and innovation within our community. I look forward to working with all of you to build a strong and supportive network here at Olin

Uchenna Amazu

Hi, my name is Uche Amazu, and I am a first-year MBA candidate from Prince George’s County, Maryland. I earned my BA in Economics from the University of Maryland before beginning my career in healthcare administration. With WashU’s exceptional rankings in entrepreneurship and healthcare management, I knew it was the ideal school to further my education and help me achieve my goals. I am grateful for the experiences I’ve had and the connections I’ve built at Olin so far, I’m excited about what my fellow executive board members and I can accomplish during our term, and I look forward to assisting all Olin students and staff!