Members of the Tuck community reflect on their goals, accomplishments, inspirations, and passions in honor of Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month.
I spend time outside of work taking care of myself and the people around me. I am a true believer in balance in all areas of our life. So, when I am not studying or working, I cultivate my physical health by running and doing Pilates or yoga. I cultivate my mental health by meditating, listening to podcasts, or reading something radically different from what I do at work. I cultivate my social health by spending time with friends, traveling to visit family, and dancing like there is no tomorrow.
In the spirit of Hispanic Heritage Month, I’ll share something related to my heritage that not a lot of people know about me: I know the lyrics of almost all reggaeton songs.
It means sympathy and empathy. To me, sympathy and empathy—in the context of diversity, equity, and inclusion—are crucial to understanding each other. There is no inclusion without acknowledging and understanding how others feel or have felt. And without that, there is no honest communication.
Radical candor, confident humility, intentional communication, and unapologetic inclusion.
This year I read My Life in Full by Indra Nooyi and I truly enjoyed learning about her life and her perspective as a female immigrant. I resonated with her struggles of adapting to a new culture while still embracing change to reach her professional goals.
Additionally, the book shows tradeoffs and challenges inherent to being a woman in business. There is a quote from the book that stuck with me: “‘Listen to me,’ my mother replied. “You may be the president or whatever of PepsiCo, but when you come home, you are a wife and a mother and a daughter. Nobody can take your place. So you leave that crown in the garage.’”
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the challenges women need to embrace when deciding to pursue highly demanding professional careers and motherhood at the same time.
I am a Venezuelan ex-financial services consultant and have been living in the US (Boston, Miami, and now Hanover) for the last 12 years. I am currently working toward my MBA at Tuck with the intention of pursuing entrepreneurship.
Nothing makes me happier than being in the great outdoors. Outside of work, I can often be found hiking, trail running, or playing soccer with fellow Tuckies.
I grew up believing that asking for help was a weakness. It wasn’t until high school, when my academic aptitude was truly strained, that I shared my difficulties with others and requested assistance. Through this, I discovered that asking others for help is a strength. I ask others for help frequently at Tuck, not only to further my understanding but also to receive the perspectives of those with experiences that differ from my own.
When I was a freshman in college, I experienced a serious health challenge. My life changed in a heartbeat; the physical activities that fulfilled my desires to be outdoors, push my physical limits, and bond with teammates while achieving a common goal were no longer safe.
For months, I struggled to find my foothold as, despite my surroundings staying constant, my new life had limited resemblance to my life prior. But due to the invisible nature of my health condition, few knew of my struggles. I realized that, just as others are unaware of the difficulties I endure daily, I am unaware of the obstacles facing others.
While my greatest challenge is managing my health, I believe each of us has unique difficulties that affect every aspect of our lives. The most important thing we can do is provide others with respect, grace, and support; we are all in this together.
A good leader is one who provides others with the opportunities, tools, and structure to promote growth while maintaining stability, allowing others to fulfill their personal and professional dreams and become the best version of themselves.
Prior to attending Tuck, Chris worked in consulting and advised public sector clients on strategic technology topics including finance, procurement, and supply chain. In addition to serving clients, he was heavily involved in business development and undergraduate recruiting. Chris received his bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University.
I wanted to study nutrition before deciding to pursue a major in economics. My goal was to open a center for high-performance athletes, targeted at unprivileged, talented athletes playing sports other than soccer. Despite my short height, I am an avid basketball player and fan, who have always wished for basketball to become more popular in Peru.
DEI is about respect. DEI is about learning to value differences. DEI is about continuous personal growth. DEI is about open dialogue.
Whether it is the design of a recruiting program, the redefinition of a firm’s internal culture, or a genuine conversation with a fellow classmate, DEI will be present. DEI is embedded in every aspect of our lives, giving us an opportunity to reflect and become a better version of ourselves and improve the world of business.
Certainly, there is no unique set of characteristics. However, any good leader should not fall short of the following: listening capabilities, assertiveness, humility, and empathy. Otherwise, how would you identify others’ needs if you don’t listen? How would you solve conflicts within a team without assertiveness? How would you help others grow if you are not humble enough to acknowledge your own weaknesses? How would you understand your family, co-workers, or teams if you can’t put yourself in their shoes?
Born and raised in Peru and married to Francesca Ferrero (T’23), Nicolas is passionate about the intersection of financial and social returns. He worked in finance and investment-related roles for more than six years, including a Peruvian investment banking boutique and AFP Integra—the largest pension fund administrator in Peru. Nicolas earned a B.A. in Economics with a minor in finance from Universidad del Pacifico in Lima.
Many Voices, One Tuck (MVOT) celebrates the stories of our vibrant and diverse community. What’s your story? Email DEI at Tuck if you’d like to contribute to the MVOT project.
Note: MVOT is open to members of the Tuck community, including students, alumni, faculty, staff, TEE and Tuck Bridge participants, and MHCDS graduates.
Create a profile to learn more about Tuck and receive news and updates
