Thomás Alberto Peña
MQM: Business Analytics
My Program Track:
Prior Education:
Business Analytics, Finance, & Data Science, 2022
Why I Chose Fuqua
Coming from a family and culture that both emphasize the importance of community building, when I visited Fuqua for the first time, I experienced open-arms of support from current and former students, faculty, and staff. Now as a student, if I ask my peers for help on anything, they will jump in. Additionally, I knew Fuqua would provide the opportunity to sharpen not only my technical skills but also my presentation, visualization, and speaking skills. As important as it is to have the ability to solve any analytics problem, as expert data storytellers, I believe it’s equally important to be able to share and explain findings and insights.
Before Fuqua
Prior to MQM, I interned at Dell Technologies three times with their Procurement, Global Logistics & Trade, and Risk & Resilience teams. These experiences profoundly influenced me to pursue my master’s in business analytics because I wanted to expand my understanding of how to use analytics in operations after seeing firsthand how COVID-19 and trade compliance laws affected all supply chains.
After Fuqua
I will join Dell Technologies in Austin, Texas, as a Senior Project/Program Analyst with their Supply Chain Immersion Program. I will be working within Dell’s Supply Chain Risk & Resiliency team, leading their analytics initiatives in assessing and predicting security risks globally. I am ecstatic that this role will mix my interests in analytics, operations, and geopolitics!
5 Ways to Make Friends at Fuqua
- Go to MQM professional, social, and cultural events! I was able to try moon cakes and samosas for the first time and play bingo for the first time as well. I wasn’t the only first-timer, so it was great to share that experience with others.
- Offer to help your classmates with their resume, cover letter, or interview prep! Nothing better than making friends all while securing future job opportunities.
- Go to Duke’s Basketball Camp Out. There’s no better bonding experience than sleeping in tents over a cold/rainy weekend, being woken up at crazy hours to take attendance, and celebrating staying all three days.
- Go to Fuqua Friday. Something in the free food and drinks gives you the courage to approach people all across Fuqua.
- Say “yes” to every dinner with peers! You never know when you’ll meet someone new.
Achieving Personal Goals
Before coming to Fuqua, I set a goal of learning how to cook. Now, I can confidently say that I have achieved my goal, and I’m getting better every day. (I even got approval from my mother and grandmother!) Since I am far from home, cooking has allowed me to stay connected to my roots in Texas and Mexico. From milanesas to carne asada to chilaquiles, I can do it all now!
