Rifat Mahmud, Business Studies

From a very early age, Rifat Mahmud’s parents encouraged him to learn managerial skills needed to help run the family-owned franchised fast-food restaurant.

“Working in a family-owned business during high school has inspired me to pursue a career in business,” said Mahmud, who was born and raised in Bangladesh before moving to Bellmawr at age 11.

“During my time at Stockton, my professors have inspired me to continue learning and expanding myself as a young professional. For this reason, I have chosen to pursue my MBA at Stockton.”

Mahmud is excited to work collaboratively with Stockton faculty as a research assistant and graduate teaching assistant while pursuing his MBA this fall. Ultimately, he hopes to earn a doctoral degree in management.

I hope to inspire managers to create a healthy workplace culture by identifying and eliminating the causes of toxic behaviors that lead to low morale and high turnover.

“While I have not settled into one specific aspect of management to study, I am most interested in organizational behavior, human resources management, and contemporary topics related to the management of work in large organizations. I hope to inspire managers to create a healthy workplace culture by identifying and eliminating the causes of toxic behaviors that lead to low morale and high turnover.”

Proud of his 3.8 GPA, Mahmud said it has not been easy. “English as a second language has been one of the biggest challenges I faced academically. It has taken me many years to excel in speaking, reading and writing.” In addition to English, he also speaks Bangla and Hindi fluently.

His hard work got him noticed within the School of Business.

The Stockton University School of Business has formed a Dean’s Executive Advisory Board to assist its efforts to provide students with advanced skills, internships, and job placement opportunities. Mahmud was extended a formal invitation to become a founding member of the Dean’s Executive Advisory Board upon the recommendation of Dr. Alphonso Ogbuehi, dean of the School of Business.

“I am deeply honored to be chosen to take part in the initiative of the Stockton School of Business to develop and promote programs within the school to a higher level of excellence,” he said.

But it’s not all business for Mahmud. He was chosen as the student opener for SETchella 2021, a virtual music festival hosted by Stockton Entertainment Team. “I had the opportunity to perform and showcase my talent singing at the WoodStockton stage along with Hunter Hayes,” he said, adding he performed a mashup of The Hills by The Weeknd, Love Lies by Khalid, and This Town by Niall Horan.