Madelynn Duffield
College of Business Experiences
Meet Madelynn Duffield
Hello, I’m Maddie! I am currently pursuing an MBA at Western Carolina University, with an anticipated graduation in Spring 2025. I graduated in December 2023 with a BSBA in Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Leadership. My academic focus is centered on entrepreneurship, with a specific emphasis on skills such as strategic planning, market analysis, and consumer behavior, all of which are applicable to both real estate and retail fashion. This site showcases my entrepreneurial studies and coursework throughout my MBA journey. The content under the “May’s Realty” section reflects my potential career aspirations and serves as a way to integrate my academic pursuits with my future professional goals.
Graduate Research
I had the opportunity to conduct research with Dr. Lahm and Dr. Rokni, and together we were honored with the ‘Distinguished Research Award’ at the IGBR conference. Our 2023 paper examined rising trends and innovations poised to transform the business landscape for entrepreneurs. In 2024, our subsequent research focused on key business considerations for entrepreneurs entering the short-term rental market.
Enriching Experiences
My partner, Mickey Schihl, and I earned second place in the Spring 2023 College of Business Annual Pitch Competition at WCU, where we presented a concept for a sports recruiting service. This experience provided an excellent opportunity to refine my skills in research analytics, public speaking, and communication.
