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USC Marshall MBA Student Expands Global Network from Lagos to L.A.

USC Marshall MBA Student Expands Global Network from Lagos to L.A.

Adetokunbo Kosile-Palmer MBA ’25 is making connections and exploring local industries.

by: Alexander Bernard
02.03.25
Adetokunbo Kosile-Palmer

From Lagos to L.A., Adetokunbo Kosile-Palmer is creating a new global community.

[Photo courtesy of Kosile-Palmer]

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  • Scott Abrams

    Scott Abrams
    • Academic Director for the Full-Time MBA Program
    • Professor of Clinical Finance and Business Economics

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The USC Marshall Full-Time MBA (FTMBA) program has provided Adetokunbo Kosile-Palmer MBA ’25 a network that bridges two continents and crosses the Atlantic Ocean. Spanning from Lagos, Nigeria, where Kosile-Palmer was raised, to Los Angeles, which Palmer affectionately calls “Lagos 2.0.,” the MBA student’s professional community transcends industries and nationalities.

Prior to Marshall, Kosile-Palmer worked in a number of roles across the sustainable tech industry including sales, marketing, and product management. Hoping to expand her options, diversify her skillset, and grow her industry connections, she searched for an MBA program that suited her.

After researching Marshall’s curriculum, consulting with student ambassadors, and speaking with the assistant dean, Kosile-Palmer chose USC Marshall.

“[The student ambassadors] provided me with the nurturing reassurance of an ecosystem. They told me about the strong ties to some industries of interest in Los Angeles as well,” Kosile-Palmer said. “I thought it was going to be a place where I would actually be able to pursue both my personal and career interests and then leverage my local support system as well.”

As a student Kosile-Palmer sought to form professional relationships with major LA-based industry players such as Google, Microsoft, and Salesforce. She was fortunate to meet her first mentor, Karen Otuteye MBA ’15, senior director of product management at Salesforce and Marshall MBA graduate.

“The strong industry connection of the Trojan Network — I believe they’re going to be able to help me with career opportunities after graduation,” Kosile-Palmer said.

For Kosile-Palmer, the program’s benefits reached beyond connections. The wide-ranging curriculum reacquainted her with familiar concepts while broadening her knowledge base with unfamiliar topics. Most surprising of all was her experience in the course GSBA 548: Corporate Finance with Scott Abrams, academic director for the Full-Time MBA program and professor of clinical finance and business economics.

The MBA student confessed she never expected to enjoy a corporate finance class, but she also never expected to have a professor like Abrams.

“I can’t believe that I loved my corporate finance class,” Kosile-Palmer admitted. “Luckily we had a professor, [like] Scott Abrams, who was able to teach the corporate finance class in a very simplified way so that even if you do not have background knowledge of finance, you’re going to love it.”

In addition to Abrams, Kosile-Palmer soaked in the expertise of her professors. They provided practical, hands-on experience that prepared her and her classmates for any industry they chose to pursue.

I thought it was going to be a place where I would actually be able to pursue both my personal and career interests and then leverage my local support system as well. I decided to come to Marshall.

— Adetokunbo Kosile-Palmer

MBA ’25

“The core classes make everybody well-rounded, giving us exposure to networking events, industry events,” Kosile-Palmer said. “So even if you don’t want to do tech anymore and you want to take a different route entirely, you’re going to have the basic knowledge already.”

USC Marshall’s international orientation introduced Kosile-Palmer to other students from abroad and provided an immediate warm welcome to the Trojan community. In the classroom, professors encouraged discussion and the exchange of ideas, breaking the ice to form early bonds.

Kosile-Palmer’s cohort features a diverse group of classmates, each hailing from a different sector, industry, and professional background — a hallmark of the full-time MBA program.

“A lot of us in the business school used to work in different industry sectors — finance, healthcare, tech,” Kosile-Palmer explained. “I know for sure that I can actually leverage the connections I’ve been able to build in class in the future professionally.”

True to the Trojan Network, Kosile-Palmer isn’t solely focused on her own success, but on those of her classmates as well. As she enters the corporate world post-graduation, she’ll be looking out for the members of her cohort.

“If I get a job in a company and somebody needs someone that’s an expert in finance, I know who to call. If someone needs an expert in healthcare, I know who to speak to,” Kosile-Palmer said. “Coming to the business school and seeing people from various backgrounds, different areas of expertise, is a very good way to actually be able to get that professional support you need in the future.”

Inspired to take on more leadership roles, Kosile-Palmer joined multiple student organizations. She’s the vice president of DEI for the Marshall Graduate Students Association, a member of the Marshall Consulting and Strategy Club, and the AVP of Community Engagement and Events with the Black Graduate Business Leaders (BGBL).

No longer a visitor, she strives to make campus feel like home for others, especially those with whom she closely identifies.

“I thought that would be an opportunity for me to foster an inclusive environment within the Marshall community and use that platform to bring people together to promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Black culture,” Kosile-Palmer said of her experience in BGBL.

As she looks to the future, Kosile-Palmer anticipates remaining in the United States and entering the tech industry. Long term, she believes her MBA journey has prepared her to take a leading voice in any organization, molding their strategy and making a major impact.

“I want to take up a global leadership role in a company where I can actually put forward all the skills I’ve been able to learn from my experiences and be able to help others grow in the short term,” Kosile-Palmer said.

Looking back, Kosile-Palmer recalls her first uncertain days in the United States and at USC Marshall. Yet, as a soon-to-be graduate, she is encouraging other international students to follow in her footsteps and pursue their MBA.

“I’m going to advise international students to embrace their journey confidently and leverage it as a platform to challenge themselves, grow, and build a strong professional network,” Kosile-Palmer said. “This is an investment in themselves. It’s going to pay in the long run, I promise you. Use this experience for personal and professional transformation. Those experiences will allow you to break barriers and thrive in the corporate world.”

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