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
Prior Education:
Hamilton College
Environmental Studies, 2018
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
- 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!
- If I’m not talking, eating, or sleeping, I’m most likely whistling.
- 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).
- I am an Italian citizen, and my long-term retirement plan is to move to Umbria or Tuscany and build an agriturismo.
- My goal is to speak six languages by the time I turn 50. I'm halfway there!
Diversity of Thought and People
Top 3 Tips for Acing the Admissions Interview
- Be genuine, really
- Make it a conversation
- Let your curiosity show