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How VCU M.B.A. grad Berkeley Goodloe turned a mindset of problem-solving into a career that keeps evolving.


By Megan Nash

Berkeley Goodloe (M.B.A. ’24) arrived at a roundtable discussion at the Association for Financial Professionals conference and quickly realized there were no open seats. Instead of squeezing in or walking away, he and another attendee made their own space. What started as an offhand conversation turned into an extended discussion on corporate treasury—with a senior executive from Discover.

A vibrant trade show booth featuring Goldman Sachs branding and a large blue-and-white display. Attendees are interacting near the booth, and a tall sign promoting seamless financial processes is visible in the foreground.

That’s how Goodloe operates. When he sees a gap, he fills it. After 15 years at SunTrust, he pivoted to academic editing, co-founding a nonprofit to help scholars avoid last-minute scrambles in the publishing process. He earned his M.B.A. from VCU last December—not to change careers, but to formalize the one he was already building.

And if there’s one thing he’s learned, it’s that people often overlook the resources right in front of them.

“I tell my classmates, imagine you’ve walked into a prepaid mall—you’ve already bought a hundred things. Are you going to take them home or leave them there?”

We met at the VCU School of Business to talk about his career path, what the M.B.A. added to his toolkit and why he thinks more students should be paying attention to what’s right in front of them.

You spent 15 years at SunTrust–exactly to the day. What was your role when you left?

I was in document services, part of the bank’s innovation division. The goal was to get the bank off paper. My job was to manage projects that streamlined processes across the bank—my last big one was overhauling mortgage document handling, making sure everything was scanned and routed digitally for peak efficiency in processing.

Was that a project you enjoyed, or were you ready to move on?

It wasn’t really about the work—it was the environment. My manager was, let’s say, difficult.

But here’s the sweet part: The morning I was laid off, I had already accepted another job. So when my manager handed me my severance package, he patted me on the back and said, “Are you going to be okay?” And I just smiled and said, “Oh, I start my new job Monday. Are you going to be okay?” He looked stunned.

That’s a mic-drop moment. Where did you go next?

I spent nine months at a trade organization supporting the banking industry, which I found wasn’t the best fit for me. So I switched careers entirely.

To what?

Academic editing. I had networked with a former professor who had her own business, and she needed help. I had no background in editing, but I liked words, and she took a chance on me.

Was it a steep learning curve?

Not as much as you’d think. The real issue wasn’t just editing—it was that a lot of scholars didn’t have the budget for the level of editing they actually needed. They’d get $3,000 from their university, but the job would require $10,000 worth of work.

So what did you do?

We saw a gap—scholars needed help earlier in the writing process so they wouldn’t end up in a panic, scrambling for money at the end. My colleague had the subject-matter expertise, I had the business background and together we founded Academic Writers Studio.

A nonprofit to help scholars with writing and publishing?

Exactly. We worked with academics across disciplines—religious studies, women’s studies, even puppetry scholars. Most were women, many were people of color and a lot were coming off five-year stints as department chairs trying to get their research momentum back.

At this point, you’ve left banking, built a nonprofit and are working in higher ed.
What made you decide to get an M.B.A.?

I needed to bridge the gap between my old world (banking) and my new one (nonprofit/higher ed). I felt like it would be hard to translate my experience in an interview.

The M.B.A. was about pulling things together so I could say, “Yes, I started a nonprofit, but I also understand business strategy.” Because at the end of the day, the only real difference between for-profit and nonprofit is where the retained earnings go.

How did it feel to be a student again?

Terrifying. I was worried—could I do this? My first semester was tough. I started with finance in a six-week summer session. That was trial by fire.

Did anything surprise you about being back in school?

It made me reflect on student success in a way I hadn’t before. I’ve spent years coaching scholars on productivity, but suddenly, I was on the other side.

I had to apply the same lessons to myself—how to set up my environment for focus, how to manage my attention deficit, how to build a system that worked for me.

You mentioned structuring your environment. What did that mean for you?

I work from home, so I had a lot of control. I experimented with different lighting setups, background music—small things that made a huge difference.

And I set clear boundaries. If I had a remote class, I’d treat it like I was leaving the house. I’d eat dinner, hug my family, tell them “See you later,” and shut my office door.

You also took advantage of the VCU Professional Development Fund to attend the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) conference in Nashville.
How did that come about?

I kept seeing the funding announcement in the student newsletter. By the fourth or fifth time, I thought, “Why not?” So, I Googled upcoming conferences, saw AFP and knew it was the one.

A bird’s-eye view of a vibrant exhibit hall, with colorful signage, booths, and attendees walking through the carpeted space. A large digital sign reads "Exhibit Hall."

What was your strategy going in?

Networking. LinkedIn is a job seeker’s billboard, so I documented everything—sessions, insights, takeaways—to show engagement.

If a recruiter looked at my profile, they’d see an actively engaged professional, not just a student attending a conference.

Did it pay off?

Yes. I had a chance encounter with an exec from Discover. We were both trying to find a roundtable session, but by the time we got there, it was full. So, I said, “Want to just discuss this on our own?”

We ended up having this incredible one-on-one conversation. At the end, I found out she was in upper management.

That’s a dream networking scenario. Any advice for students?

Yes—don’t just focus on exhibit halls. Look for small-group discussions, roundtables or niche panels. That’s where real connections happen.

And if you’re at a big event, plan logistics. I wish I had mapped out where my sessions were—one of them was on the opposite end of the building, and I got turned away for being late.

On the left, a bustling exhibit hall filled with booths and attendees. On the right, a panel discussion with speakers seated in a wood-paneled conference room, under a screen with the title "Adopting a forward-thinking mindset for your working capital."
On the left, the FIS booth at a trade show with large digital displays showcasing financial technology. On the right, a panel discussion at the "Insight Stage" with a colorful backdrop and a moderator at the podium.

How should students transition from networking at a university event to the uncertainty of professional conferences?

At a career fair, for example, recruiters expect students—they’re prepared for raw, entry-level talent. At a professional conference, no one knows you’re a student unless you tell them.

You have to assert yourself, ask questions, be curious. And always have one well-informed question ready.

I walked up to a booth for The Clearing House—one of two ACH operators in the U.S.—and asked, “Why would a bank use you instead of the Federal Reserve?” That turned into a 45-minute conversation.

Final thoughts?

Go where the professionals are.

The best networking happens when you stop thinking of yourself as a student and start engaging as a peer.

A packed audience attentively watches two speakers on a stage discussing financial topics. The stage backdrop reads "Payments Stage," with large screens displaying presentation slides.

2024 Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) Conference, photos by Berkeley Goodloe


For more information on the VCU School of Business graduate programs visit business.vcu.edu/graduate-programs.
To learn more about the Professional Development Fund, visit the program website or contact [email protected].

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