Daytime MBA Student Gerard Pozzi

"To me, 'Team Fuqua' means a lot of things—holding the door open for someone, helping someone prepare for an interview, dropping off soup when someone’s sick. 'Team Fuqua' isn’t lip service; it defines the experience of being here and makes the experience that much more magical."

Daytime MBA

Class of 2025
Industry:
Sustainability

Prior Education:

Hamilton College
Environmental Studies, 2018

Hometown:
Greenwich, Connecticut
Nationality:
USA / Italy

Why I Chose Fuqua

It became very clear to me very quickly that Fuqua was the place for me. I spoke to a dozen alumni and current students, and the common thread holding their stories together was that Fuqua is a team culture and that learning who to manage in this way is crucial to succeeding in the business world. I knew I wanted to join a team of intelligent, motivating, and caring people. I also wanted to study at a school that offered a wide range of sustainability and impact-related resources. Through the Center for Energy, Development, and the Global Environment (EDGE), the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE), and Net Impact, I have developed my leadership skills and my own theory of change. I wanted to be in a place where I knew I could develop strong relationships, not just with other students but with faculty as well. I am grateful to say “mission accomplished” there.

And I now see the world differently on every level. I look at my surroundings with a more critical and realistic lens, I ask 10x more questions, I resurface to see the big picture, and I dive back in to implement changes. Being a Center on Leadership and Ethics (COLE) Fellow—mentoring a team of students through their first year experience at Fuqua—and Co-President of the Net Impact Club are the two activities that have transformed me the most.

Before Fuqua

I worked at a global environmental think tank, World Resources Institute, in Washington, D.C. where I focused on helping companies, universities, hospitals, and cities track and report their food-related greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). I managed a membership of 65 clients, holding monthly progress check-ins and presenting to senior CSR/ESG leadership at member organizations, e.g., IKEA, Genentech, and New York City.

After Fuqua

I plan to work in areas related to supply chain management and circular economy practices. I am particularly interested in tackling complex challenges that revolve around sustainability, resource optimization, and innovation. This could be at a large multinational company, where I can leverage scale and infrastructure, or within a startup environment, which allows for agility and experimentation. Fuqua has equipped me with a solid understanding of the latest trends, problems, and opportunities in these topics, as well as systems thinking. I intend to apply this knowledge to drive initiatives that reduce environmental impact, improve operational efficiency, and create long-term value.

5 Random Things About Me

  1. Every summer, my fiancée and I bicycle ~500 miles with our food, clothes, and camping gear. We’ve ridden the entire West Coast, Montana, Iceland, and other regions. TBD what is next on the list!
  2. If I’m not talking, eating, or sleeping, I’m most likely whistling.
  3. When I was three years old, I got a dandelion stuck up my nose. I loved smelling flowers, which earned me the nickname of ‘Ferdinand the Bull’ (since my middle name is Ferdinand).
  4. I am an Italian citizen, and my long-term retirement plan is to move to Umbria or Tuscany and build an agriturismo.
  5. My goal is to speak six languages by the time I turn 50. I'm halfway there!

Diversity of Thought and People

My first year taught me just how valuable being on a diverse team really is - and as a result every opportunity I have to build or be a part of a team, I am working to ensure all perspectives are heard and baked into our decision making.

Top 3 Tips for Acing the Admissions Interview

  1. Be genuine, really
  2. Make it a conversation
  3. Let your curiosity show