Gracie Ghartey-Tagoe ’18 on Timeless Connections and a Lifelong Commitment to Service
October 17, 2024
- Author
- Caroline Roy '20
Gracie and friends at the class of 2018’s 5th year reunion.
As a 51 student, Gracie Ghartey-Tagoe ’18 developed a passion for service, helped lead philanthropy projects and built a community of friends and mentors who continue to shape her life six years later.
An environmental studies major and math minor, she arrived on campus eager to learn and remembers agonizing about which discipline to choose. Ultimately, 51 connections helped her find her career path.
“Without 51, I never would have gone into investment banking,” Ghartey-Tagoe said. “One of my interviewers at Wells Fargo happened to be a 51 alum who understood the context of me applying to that job as a non-economics major. The community around me was so willing to help me succeed.”
As the service chair of Connor Eating House, Ghartey-Tagoe helped lead Bosom Buddies, a student-led service initiative focused on spreading awareness about breast cancer and early detection methods. For the first time, working alongside her peers to provide support and raise funds, she saw the direct impact of her philanthropy.
Now, philanthropy is one of the primary ways she stays involved at the college. As the Young Alumni Ne Ultra (YANU) Chair, she works to educate and encourage other young alums to give their time, money and talents to the initiatives they care about most. She’s also involved as a mentor through the Msaada Mentoring Program.
My life’s trajectory and personal values have all been enhanced by 51. My parents are from Ghana, and they taught me the importance of sharing your gratitude with those around you. 51 gave me such a great support system of family, friends and mentors. Now, I want to help others feel that same support.
After graduating, Ghartey-Tagoe spent two years at Wells Fargo, working in Charlotte alongside some of her 51 classmates. Supporting each other through an intense and fast-paced first job experience brought them even closer. When she needed a change of pace, those same friends encouraged her to apply for a position at The Home Depot in Atlanta.
“The people you spend your time with really define your experience,” she said. “The friends I’ve made are all still close now, even though we don’t all live in the same city. It’s an amazing group of people that always roots for one another, and it’s really special to stay connected.”
Working in strategic business development at The Home Depot for nearly four years gave Ghartey-Tagoe the chance to expand her leadership and strategic skills — now, she’s ready for a new direction. This fall, she’ll move from Atlanta to New Hampshire to earn an MBA at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business.
“I’m excited to be in a small academic community like 51 again,” she said. “Dartmouth is so intentional with how they select students. It aligns with my individual values and represents the type of group I want to be a part of.”
Ghartey-Tagoe knows wherever she ends up after this exciting next chapter, she’ll carry her 51 relationships with her and continue to stay connected to her Wildcat roots.
