Outstanding grad plans to make positive impacts through business

Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable fall 2023 graduates.

“Growing up, studying business was heavily associated with making money,” says Outstanding Graduate Chitray “Ray” Eddy ('23 MBA). “I wanted my profession to have more meaning than just monetary rewards.”

Before coming to ASU, Eddy was considering graduate school but wasn’t interested in pursuing a degree in business. After participating in a work project supplying donated mattresses to families in need, everything changed.

“I loved the feeling. I knew a broad education in business administration with an MBA would give me the tools to make strategic decisions that could have widespread impact for the greater good,” says Eddy.

It was important for Eddy, who is based in Philadelphia, to get involved with his academic community while pursuing his MBA online. He served as a member of the Student Advisory Board, where he helped to shape the future of W. P. Carey School of Business' MBA programs and attended MBA orientations to share his experiences and tips for success with incoming students. He also participated on the project team that planned W. P. Carey’s first All MBA event, which brought together students and faculty from across all business programs to network and encourage community building.

“I feel I have grown in almost every aspect of my life, professionally and personally, and it is in no small part because of W. P. Carey,” Eddy says. His advice to current students is to invest in their classmates and community as much as their academics.

“It can be easy to overlook the interactions with your peers or even dread team projects,” says Eddy. "But the skills you learn from your classmates’ experiences and interactions working on team assignments are invaluable. Take full advantage of it.”

We caught up with Eddy to learn more about his ASU experience.

Notes: Answers may have been lightly edited for length or clarity.

Question: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective?

Answer: ASU taught me that failure can be one of an individual's or company's most important growth opportunities. I have learned about so many people and businesses that failed to create something and then went on to create something better. The negative connotation of failure I had coming into the program has been wiped away, and making mistakes can actually mean making progress in the business world.

Q: Why did you choose ASU?

A: W. P. Carey has a reputation for rigorous coursework, compelling electives, and a fulfilling team environment. I knew this combination would give me the skills I desired in an MBA and lasting ties with peers. Outside the classroom, I could see W. P. Carey provided world-class career support, campus involvement opportunities, and a network that spanned every industry. These benefits made W. P. Carey the perfect choice to pursue my MBA.

Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?

A: Luiz Mesquita, associate dean of graduate programs and associate professor of management and entrepreneurship, taught me that values should drive your aspirations, not the other way around. While career planning, it’s easy to start with an end point and work backward. But by looking at your values first, you can plan forward with those in mind. I feel this is a better path to happiness, and I will absolutely keep this in mind as I navigate my career.

Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

A: I would tackle world hunger. I feel like a sustainable supply chain can be constructed to stabilize the current imbalance of food supply. I want to eradicate food insecurity completely.