Supporting the Next Generation: Double Smith Terp Pays It Forward

Debo Ayeni ’00, MBA ’07 received a bachelor’s degree in accounting and an MBA from the Smith School. He recently established a Maryland Promise Program Scholarship in 2024 to benefit Smith students and he also serves on the Smith School’s Accounting and Information Assurance Advisory Council.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. 

I grew up in Potomac, Maryland, and after graduating from Winston Churchill High School, I attended the University of Maryland, earning a degree in accounting. I started my career at T. Rowe Price in Baltimore before returning to the Smith School for my MBA. Afterward, I joined an investment firm in Chevy Chase, and I now lead the Research and Analytics division at ABR Capital Partners, a real estate investment management firm in Baltimore.

Tell us about your path from graduation to your current job. 

There were actually two career paths—one after earning my accounting degree and another after getting my MBA. Early in my senior year at Maryland, I debated if I should go into public accounting after graduating from Smith, or private accounting instead. I spoke with my friend’s dad, who was an accountant, and he gave me some great advice, along with a detailed description of what I could expect if I worked in public accounting and what I could expect if I worked in private accounting. Around the same time, I attended a presentation T. Rowe Price gave at the Smith School and was very impressed with the company. After the presentation, I decided to apply for a position at T. Rowe and ultimately started my career there. T. Rowe offered tuition reimbursement, which aligned with my plan to pursue an MBA and CPA. Given my positive experience at Smith, I chose to return for graduate school. After earning my MBA, I joined an investment firm in Chevy Chase, and I’m now at ABR Capital Partners.

Why did you decide to get a business degree and why did you choose the Smith School?

I’ve always enjoyed working with numbers, so accounting was a natural fit. During my senior year of high school, I visited Maryland and was impressed by the students, faculty and overall atmosphere at Smith. That experience, combined with the school’s strong academic reputation made Smith the clear choice.

What Smith resources or relationships played a role in your career journey?

The Smith School has tremendous resources to help students excel in whichever discipline they choose. For me, exceptional professors played a key role in my academic growth, and Smith’s career development resources–particularly, its ability to attract top-tier companies for student engagement and recruitment–were invaluable.

How has your Smith education helped you with your professional career? Were there specific classes, experiential projects, team projects, or internships that have been especially helpful to you? 

My undergraduate accounting and finance courses were directly applicable to my job responsibilities early in my early career and still play a role in my current position. In the MBA program, the emphasis on team projects and presentations was instrumental in developing communication and collaboration skills that have been critical throughout my career.

What about your personal journey has led to your success?

Support and encouragement—whether it comes from family, friends, colleagues, or others—can make a significant difference in anyone’s life. I’ve been fortunate to receive both, and they’ve been tremendously helpful for my journey.

What are some of the achievements that you are most proud of?

One of the things I value most is staying connected to the Smith School and observing the different projects and directives Smith is constantly implementing to enhance the entire Smith School experience for its students.

You are still involved with the Smith School. Why is it important to you to give back to Smith?

I had a terrific experience at the Smith School. Smith provided me with a strong education and

introduced me to incredible people, giving me the best of both worlds. Because of my experience at Smith, I feel a natural desire to pay it forward and help the next generation of Smith students achieve their goals.

What advice would you give to current students?

Work hard, challenge yourself, but also make sure to enjoy your time at Smith, because it really is going to be a special chapter in your life. Also, take full advantage of the school’s incredible resources and don’t hesitate to seek out opportunities for growth and development.

Is there anything else you would like to add that was not covered in the questions?

Smith is more than just a top-tier business school—it’s also a special community. Its reach and influence are apparent in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area, but they extend nationwide, and it’s impressive to see and be a part of. Smith students should work hard and challenge themselves but also enjoy their time at Smith and know that they’re part of a large community where everyone supports each other, roots for each other, and wants to see each other succeed.