Adrian Rodriguez T'23

“My involvement in clubs has allowed me to harness my leadership skills to help mobilize different groups of people for a common cause.”

Read My Story

WHY MBA
As someone with a liberal arts background, I always had a keen interest in developing my quantitative and managerial skills. So, I figured that enrolling in a business school was the perfect way to achieve my goals. After working for seven years in various tech companies, both big and small, in business development and sales roles, I felt that the time was right to take the leap and explore new functions within the tech sector.

I made the decision to pursue further education because I wanted to challenge myself and broaden my horizons. I was excited to delve into different aspects of the technology industry and gain a deeper understanding of other functions. I had every confidence that the academic rigor of a business school program would provide me with the necessary tools and knowledge to tackle complex business problems and make informed decisions that would drive organizational growth, something as aspire to be part of as I progress in my career.

WHY TUCK
When considering where to pursue my MBA, I had a clear vision of what I wanted out of the experience. Living in New York City, I craved a change of pace and scenery. I wanted to be a part of a small and remote community, free of distractions, where I could fully immerse myself in my studies and IN MY personal growth, just like I did for my undergrad. Tuck offered me that and more.

What drew me to Tuck initially was its reputation as one of the best MBA programs in the country. However, what truly impressed me was its unique, close-knit community. Throughout the application process, I was blown away by how responsive and helpful everyone was. The admissions team, current students, and alumni all took the time to answer my questions and share their experiences, making me feel welcomed and valued.

As I learned more about Tuck’s culture, I realized that its collaborative and supportive community was exactly what I was looking for in a business school. The faculty and staff are committed to providing a personalized educational experience, and the small class size ensures that every student receives individual attention and support. Tuck’s immersive First-Year Project and second-year Elective Curriculum offer opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, preparing students to become effective leaders and problem-solvers.

When I received my acceptance letter from Tuck, my decision to accept the offer was easy. I knew that Tuck’s community, combined with its exceptional academic program, would provide the transformative experience I was seeking. I am excited to be part of the Tuck family and to contribute to its legacy of producing outstanding business leaders.

ON TUCK’S CENTER FOR DIGITAL STRATEGIES
My career has been exclusively in the AdTech space and although I’ve found the industry fascinating and impactful, I also wanted to expand my understanding of other areas in tech. Being a Center for Digital Strategies fellow has allowed me to do just that. CDS fellows are curiously-minded individuals who bring different and unique perspectives about relevant topics in the wider tech industry. The best part is our bi-weekly sessions where we get to dive deeper into different topics and questions relevant to the future and the role technology plays in it all. Over the last year, I have had the opportunity to work on a fellowship research about the future of work in regards to hybrid and remote work. This research has allowed me to speak with various executives and business leaders gaining their knowledge and perspective to inform not only my project but also for my career and aspirations as a future business leader.

ON THE TUCK ACADEMIC AND LEARNING EXPERIENCE
It’s been transformative. One of the best parts of being at Tuck is the diversity of different class structures you can have; from experiential, to lectures, to case-based—there is a learning method for everyone. I was particularly grateful to engage in the experiential classes, such as the First-Year project (FYP). During my FYP, I, along with four other students, got to work with Wayfair as an MBA consultant to solve a real strategic problem for them. We met regularly and collected all the data we needed, making sure we stayed within our scope. After months of analysis and research, we delivered a final recommendation with clear steps and risk assessment the Wayfair team found extremely valuable as they were building up a case internally. It was great opportunity to be part of such a unique experience of delivering great value to a well-known organization.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH FACULTY
Building authentic relationships with your professors is a big plus of being at Tuck. Due to the size and just the general culture of Tuck, it is amazingly easy to engage with professors in ways that I never would have imagined when I first came to campus. As co-chair of the Hispanic-American Student Association (HASA), I’ve had the amazing opportunity to collaborate closely with two Latino professors, Professor José Alvarez and Professor Ramon Lecuona, on programing, increasing the pipeline of Latinx students to campus, and bringing alumni to speak with our current members.

One of my favorite events was being able to host a welcoming hike and breakfast session for our HASA members at Professor Alvarez’s beautiful barn. He was kind enough to open his home to us and allowed us the opportunity to kick off the year with such a wholesome bonding event. Professor Lecuona helped us put together a great tequila tasting event for the school which was a big hit.

ON LEARING TO SKI
I was skeptical about learning how to ski as it is an obviously dangerous and expensive activity but boy have I fallen in love with it. Being in the Upper Valley has made it easy to dedicate time and energy to the sport. It also provides a great bonding exercise with other new learners. It is hard to imagine doing this in any other place outside of Tuck!

ON WHAT I’LL MISS MOST
What I will miss the most about the Tuck community is undoubtedly the people. From my fellow students to the faculty and staff, everyone at Tuck is incredibly supportive, collaborative, and inclusive. The sense of belonging and connection that I have felt here is unparalleled, and I know it will be hard to find elsewhere.

One of the things that made my time at Tuck so special was the opportunity to participate in the school’s unique traditions. Whether leading certain clubs like HASA and the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, enjoying winter festivities and activities from skiing to tripod hockey, or getting to know different students at various Tuck Tails events, these traditions have helped to build a sense of identity and pride within the Tuck community. I will always cherish these memories and the relationships that I have formed through them.

As I prepare to leave Tuck and move on to the next chapter of my life, I feel grateful for the experiences and connections that I have gained here. The Tuck community is truly a special and tight-knit group, and I know that the relationships and memories that I have built during my time here will stay with me for a lifetime.

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