JumpStart Advisory Group fills a critical recruiting gap in identifying and hiring a diverse workforce across multiple industries.

While many companies understand the proven business case for diversity and inclusion, the process of recruiting the very best candidates can be time consuming, expensive and inefficient.

The JumpStart Advisory Group’s proven methodologies strengthen every link in the diversity recruiting chain.

• Students have access to highly sought after careers, resources and contacts
  
• Seasoned professionals gain unique access to a wide range of employment opportunities
  
• Universities offer students an increased suite of career development services
  
• Employers have access to pre-screened candidates; prepared for lasting success in their specific industries

Discover how the JumpStart Advisory Group can bolster your success.

The JumpStart Advisory Group* was founded by Duke MBAs John Burt and Elton Ndoma-Ogar who collectively garnered nearly 20 job offers during the recruiting season. But what they saw around them were talented women and minority MBAs struggling to gain the proper exposure and guidance so crucial to navigating the recruitment process.

They also observed a lack of diversity in the financial services and consulting industries. So in 2004, the partners formed the JumpStart Advisory Group to create a pipeline between highly qualified MBAs and employers in those fields committed to strengthening their businesses by improving their diversity and inclusion efforts.

About the Founders

John T. Burt, Jr.

A native of Indiana, John T. Burt, Jr. received his Bachelor's Degree in Finance from Indiana University in 1998. Burt began his career within the finance component of Eli Lilly. He achieved career success and promotions within the company and received sponsorship to pursue an MBA in 2001.

Burt earned his MBA from The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University in 2003. While at Duke, Burt served as an executive fellow of the Dean's office and worked simultaneously as a consultant to a small business in the Durham community. During those two years, Burt co-authored a published article on executing an effective career search and mastering interview skills. He also won a national competition through the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) for his commentary on leadership.

After graduation, Burt worked as a consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton, a management-consulting firm focused on strategic business concerns. He returned to Eli Lilly in 2004 as a consultant focused on international treasury and working capital strategy for Africa-Middle East and Asian operations, creating an internal consulting unit for Lilly USA. In 2005, he was promoted to Chief Financial Officer for Lilly's $2B diabetes business.

In late 2007, Burt joined the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as the Director of Diversity Recruiting, North America. Under Burt's guidance, BCG launched several new initiatives resulting in expanded work experiences, scholarships, and a dramatic increase in diversity hires. In 2008, Fortune Magazine recognized BCG as the #3 company to work for in America and highlighted the firm's improvement in the area of recruitment of minorities. In addition, Universum recognized BCG as having the "best on-campus recruitment" for minority students.

Along with his ongoing efforts at BCG, Burt is an adjunct Professor of Finance and Business Planning at Concordia University-Wisconsin, Marian College, and Indiana Tech. He has served as a debt reduction counselor at his church and a treasurer and board member for several local nonprofits. Burt is a member of the 100 Black Men of America, the National Black MBA Association, and NextGen Network, Inc (affiliated with ELC).

Elton Ndoma-Ogar

Elton Ndoma-Ogar graduated with honors from Wake Forest University in 1996 with a degree in Health Sciences. While at Wake Forest, Ndoma-Ogar was recognized regionally and nationally by the ACC and the NCAA for his efforts in academics, athletics and community/social services. Academically, he earned President’s List recognition, was awarded the Arthur Ashe Scholarship, the NCAA Ethnic/Minority Scholarship, and was noted as an Academic All-American. For his community service efforts, Ndoma-Ogar was one of 11 student athletes chosen in the United States to be on the CFA “Good Works” Team in addition to being awarded the Exxon Community Service Award. Ndoma-Ogar was selected co-captain of his football team and received All-American accolades from Football News Magazine.

Following graduation, Ndoma-Ogar began an extremely successful medical device sales career in the northeastern region of the United States. He earned corporate wide recognition for being among the top five percent hospital sales executives while at Johnson and Johnson Medical (1997-1999). He followed that performance by winning Rookie of the Year honors while at Roche Diagnostics Corporation (1999 - 2001).

Ndoma-Ogar graduated from The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University in May 2003. While at Fuqua, he served as vice-president of sponsorship for the inaugural Fuqua School of Business Leadership Conference and served as finance chair for the Black and Latino MBA Organization. Following his summer internship at Morgan Stanley, Ndoma-Ogar was one of two MBA students selected as a Morgan Stanley Fellow.

Ndoma-Ogar began his Wall Street career as an Institutional Equity Sales-Trader at Morgan Stanley. In early 2006, Ndoma-Ogar joined Merrill Lynch as Head of Diversity Recruiting and built one of the most successful diversity recruiting efforts on Wall Street. He developed and led programs that received global recognition from media outlets Black Enterprise, CNN, Bloomberg, Vault, Wall Street Journal, and many others. Ndoma-Ogar was promoted to Head of Diversity for Merrill Lynch in 2008. In July 2009, Ndoma-Ogar joined BP, Inc. as the Diversity and Inclusion Manager for North America. His team is responsible for the recruitment, development, retention, and promotion of diverse talent at the organization.

* MBA JumpStart was restructured as the JumpStart Advisory Group in 2010.