Investing in Education

Gibril Mansaray ’19 MBA has seen first-hand the value education can provide. He uses the skills he learned in his courses in his role at Signature Performance, Inc., as a consultant, and as a co-leader of an education center in Sierra Leone, West Africa.

Gibril’s father grew up in Sierra Leone and received his MBA in the United States. Through watching his father, Gibril witnessed the power education holds. With his father’s experience, and advice from mentors, Gibril knew that pursuing his master’s degree would offer him opportunities.

“I wanted to get more experience on the professional side,” Gibril shared. “Like being data driven and looking at how data makes our business better.”

Gibril was familiar with Mount Mercy because of the community events he attended at the CRST International Graduate Center. His colleagues who received their master’s degree from Mount Mercy recommended the programs, so Gibril knew it would be a good fit.

He began taking courses in-person. When his wife accepted a position in the Omaha area, he shifted to remote learning.

“I didn’t have to miss a step because of the flexibility of going from in-person to online,” said Gibril.

He found that he was still able to network effectively with classmates when he switched to learning remotely. 

“The online format allowed me to connect in class,” said Gibril. “The instructors did a great job of building a sense of community virtually.”

Creating virtual community is a focus Gibril has in his role as the Experience Manager of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) at Signature Performance. Over 85% of Signature Performance’s associates work remotely. Gibril strives to create an inclusive culture for in-person and remote employees.

Mount Mercy showed Gibril how people can collaborate virtually. His courses also helped him see the similarities in his nonprofit experience and for-profit organizations.

“I’ve been able to take this degree and make a change in my father’s nation so more kids have access to education."

-Gibril Mansaray '19 MBA

“Adaptability is something I got from the program, and it helped me with the transition from being primarily in the nonprofit space to come to the for-profit.”

In addition to his role at Signature Performance, Gibril also applies what he learned in his MBA as the Founder and CEO of G.S. Mansaray & Associates LLC, a workplace consulting company.

Gibril also wanted to use his education and experience to give back to his father’s home village in Sierra Leone. He launched a foundation to support the education center his father built over 20 years ago following the brutal 11-year civil war in Sierra Leone that destroyed over 1,000 schools.

His family’s P.K. Memorial Primary School educates over 250 kids a year. They have a fundraising goal to expand their education center to provide quality education to over 1,000 kids, from early childhood education to those completing their senior high-level coursework.

“I’ve been able to take this degree and make a change in my father’s nation so more kids have access to education,” said Gibril.

For Gibril, education is an investment you make for your future. He was able to use his education to expand his career opportunities, provide advice to other professionals, and expand educational opportunities in his father’s community.

“For me it’s about what impact I want to make in the world,” shared Gibril. “It’s not just to work somewhere, it’s to do something with my knowledge that makes life better for everyone.”