Leading and Lifting Others: A Fletcher Experience

As an undergraduate at Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Nathaniel A. Buckman F26 studied marketing and corporate strategies. After graduating, Buckman joined the private banking sector, where he focused on inclusive banking initiatives for unbanked individuals. 

“Back in Ghana, those who have little or no education are being left behind, yet they make up the majority of the business sector,” Buckman said. 

Passionate about expanding inclusive banking in Africa, Buckman wondered how a career in humanitarian services and international development could amplify his impact. 

“I want to do something to help people who are unbanked, and one of the best ways to do that is to go into international organizations and influence policies,” he said. 

Encouraged by a friend, Buckman learned about Fletcher’s Master of International Business: Quantitative Methods (MIB:QM) degree and recognized it as the next step in his journey. 

A Curriculum Flexible to Your Interests

Buckman was drawn to Fletcher’s flexibility, which allows students to tailor their studies to their professional goals. In his first year, Buckman enrolled in courses with faculty such as Kimberley Wilson, Bhaskar Chakravorti, Laurent Jaque and Dean Kelly Sims Gallagher.

“I realized that if I had exposure to these professors and tapped into the knowledge and culture of Fletcher, I would be able to grow myself and influence international business,” Buckman said. 

His coursework has deepened his interest in the intersection of technology and financial inclusion. By studying International Business and his self-designed Field of Study in Finance, Global Governance and Technological Policies, he has been able to explore key questions surrounding financial inclusion and public-private partnerships.   

“People who are not exposed to technology may fall prey to cybercrimes,” Buckman explained. “How are we going to safeguard the very people we want to reach –  the people who fall under the financial inclusion niche – and what policies can we put together to protect them?” 

A Capstone That Prepares You for the Future

With guidance from his professors, Buckman is culminating his coursework in a capstone project that will prepare him to advocate for the needs of unbanked individuals across Africa.

“I’m learning about global finance while thinking about how to merge traditional ways of banking with the technologies that can advance it,” Buckman explained.

“I’ve been closely studying the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa, a project for 2030,” Buckman added. “I am choosing my courses to fit into that goal so that by the time I’m done at Fletcher, I’ll be able to contribute to the digital transformation agenda with my niche research on financial inclusion.”

Support That Extends to the Personal 

In the midst of his focused academic journey, Buckman suffered a devastating loss. 

“I lost my dad during my second semester,” he shared. “A few people knew, and then all of a sudden, everyone knew – not because it was news, but because people cared.”

Half the world away from his home in Ghana, Buckman found that the support he received from the Fletcher community left a lasting impression. 

“People reached out. They came to visit. They checked on me, offering help without me asking. Even classmates I had not spoken to would say, ‘Nathaniel, I am so sorry. We are close to final exams. Is there anything I can do to help you?’” 

The support he received from both professors and peers carried him through.

“The community was amazing. I never thought I would finish, but I was able to complete all my courses, all my projects and get good grades too,” he said. 

For Buckman, this experience affirmed the unique, community-oriented spirit of Fletcher. 

“Fletcher isn’t just a graduate school – it’s a community grounded in collaboration, not competition,” Buckman said. “Here, we don’t just share knowledge freely – we’re genuinely driven to learn from one another and grow together. Beyond the classroom, we carry a shared eagerness to contribute meaningfully to global progress and to influence change, however small the step."

Learn more about Fletcher’s Master of International Business: Quantitative Methods degree program.