A l u m n i M a g a z i n e - Duke University's Fuqua School of Business

P O T L I G H T
Reiko Segawa
Global Executive
Class of 2000
Reiko Segawa was quite
intrigued by all of the
publicity surrounding MBA
programs in the U.S.
“Many of the publications
I read mentioned how
many people were entering
MBA programs in the
United States. I had to
see why getting an MBA was
so popular, so I thought it would be a good idea if I tried it
myself,” she said.
A graduate of the highly regarded Keio University School
of Medicine, Reiko decided to forego practicing medicine and
instead chose to take on the arduous task of helping her
father run the 50-year-old family business. In Japan, it is
customary for the first son to help run the family business.
“During my last year in medical school no one, including my
brother, was interested in running the business. After spending
an entire summer break working at the company’s head
office, I found that I preferred business to medicine.”
Reiko currently holds the position of executive director
at Kanagawa Mazda Group of Companies in Yokohama,
Japan. Founded by her grandfather, the company has
approximately 200 employees and operates multiple franchises
of Mazda, Mercedes Benz and Ford dealerships. Her
primary responsibilities include overseeing all accounting and
treasury functions, information technology and real estate
management. She reports directly the vice president and to
her father, the CEO.
She chose The Duke MBA – Global Executive program to
hone her general management skills. “I had no business
background after I graduated from medical school. As a
female manager in Japan, I needed to show our employees
that I could become a competent and capable manager
despite the fact that I was a woman and a working mother.”
At the time, there were only a few business schools in
Japan. Reiko decided that she could get a better education
from a top-ranked U.S. school than a neighboring Japanese
school. “If the Global Executive program didn’t exist, I
wouldn’t have come to the U.S. to pursue an MBA. The program
format is best suited for my schedule and allows me to
maintain my work responsibilities and family obligations. My
experience at Fuqua has already enhanced my career and
continues to broaden my perspective through exemplifying
how other executives perform outside of Japan.”
Gail Mathabane
Weekend Executive
Class of 2001
With a master’s degree in
journalism from Columbia
University, a title of senior vice
president at Wachovia Bank
and a novel awaiting publication,
weekend executive student Gail
Mathabane debated whether
or not she should pursue an
MBA. Friends and co-workers
even told her she didn’t need
two master’s degrees.
Her reservations were later dispelled after a conversation
with Wachovia senior executive vice president Jean Davis, ‘85,
who happens to be a Fuqua graduate. “She told me that
graduating from Duke with an MBA had opened doors for
her that she could not have imagined until she entered the
program.” Three weeks later, Gail took the GMAT, and through
corporate sponsorship she entered The Duke MBA – Weekend
Executive program in January 2000.
“Duke was my first choice because I truly believe The
Fuqua School of Business is the best in the nation. I think the
team-oriented approach taken at Fuqua simulates the real
work world far better than the individualistic approach taken
by other top five business schools,” she said.
At Wachovia, Gail is senior vice president of internal communications
and manages a staff of several employees. She also
assumes a leadership role in crafting communications media
involving mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, divestitures and
consolidations.
Time is a precious, yet limited asset when juggling the
demands of a full-time job, business school and raising three
school-age children. Gail credits the support of her husband,
Mark, an internationally renowned author, for stepping in
when academic pressures start to build. Mark has written numerous
books, most notably “Kaffir Boy,” a memoir describing firsthand
the evils of apartheid in South Africa, which rose to No.3
on The New York Times bestseller list in 1987. Gail co-authored
“Love in Black & White,” which led to a publicity tour to 14
cities and included appearances on the Today show and Larry
King Live. This critically acclaimed book has been cited a mustread
among interracial couples.
After graduation, Gail plans to continue working in
the financial services industry. “The knowledge I am gaining
both on the job and at Duke has made me realize just how
critical business communication is to the bottom-line success
of a company, particularly in this information age.”
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