Precious Ezealigo: UVA Darden Student Determined to Pay Generosity Forward

From selling snacks in Lagos, Nigeria to securing a role as a finance manager at Amazon in Seattle, Washington, Precious Ezealigo’s path has been anything but conventional.

“As a kid, I sold groundnuts and chin chin at school to help my family while repeating grades,” Ezealigo said. (Groundnuts are the equivalent of peanuts, while chin chin is a popular Nigerian snack made of crispy and sweet pieces of fried dough.)

“Now,” she added, “I am about to graduate from the Darden School of Business.”

Ezealigo graduates in May, completing an important part of a journey defined by perseverance and purpose.

Yet her toughest challenge wasn’t only financial, it was academic. Struggling early on in primary and high school, she wrestled with self-doubt. Determined to change her future, Ezealigo poured herself into her studies and was supported by her family.

That perseverance paid off, as she didn’t just improve; she graduated as the valedictorian and the best student in the Arts department in high school and with first class honors as an undergraduate.

That moment reshaped her future, igniting a passion for mentorship, leadership and education, commitments that would ultimately lead her to Darden.

“I know what it’s like to struggle and feel like you’re behind,” she said. “That’s why I’m committed to helping others see their own potential, just like my mother and my mentors did for me.”

A Foundation of Resilience and Mentorship

This mindset shaped Ezealigo’s career in Nigeria, where she took on leadership roles, guiding and developing young professionals.

She worked with organizations like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), where she mentored men and women in Northern Nigeria on financial literacy and entrepreneurship, the Career Desk Initiative, where she helped young professionals navigate career development, LEAP Africa, where she worked on multiple community development projects like Roll-back Malaria for pregnant women, and tutored primary and high school students.

Ezealigo teaching students how to make her favorite Nigerian snack, puff puffs.

Whether coaching team members in the finance sector or mentoring students preparing for undergraduate or business school, she found purpose in empowering others to grow.

When she arrived at Darden, Ezealigo brought that same passion for leadership and mentorship with her. As an international student navigating a new culture, she understood the challenges of adapting to a rigorous MBA program and sought to create spaces where others could thrive.

She became an active member of the Graduate Women in Business (GWIB), First-Generation and Low-Income Students Initiative (FGLI), Darden Christian Fellowship (DCF), Black Business Student Association (BBSA) and Darden African Business Organization (DABO), all communities where she could offer support, guidance and build connection.

Through these communities, she helped first-year students navigate recruiting, case prep, and the transition to Darden’s rigorous academic environment. Whether through coffee chats, resume reviews, or simply being a source of encouragement, Ezealigo became known as someone who lifts others up.

Beyond professional mentorship, she found herself deeply moved by the warmth and support of the Darden community.

(c)2024 Sam Levitan Photography

A Future Rooted in Impact

As she prepares to begin her post-Darden finance career at Amazon, Ezealigo remains committed to paying it forward. She envisions a future where she continues mentoring and investing in the education and success of others, whether in the corporate world or by creating opportunities for young people in Nigeria.

“The people who believed in me changed my life,” she reflects. “Now, I want to do the same for others.