Natalie Rojas
New York University, Stern School of Business
Age: 36
“I am a political nerd that loves to read and get out the vote.”
Hometown: Washington, DC
Family Members: Spouse: Cameron Harsh
Fun fact about yourself: I studied ceramics in undergrad and love the quiet it brings me.
Undergraduate School and Degree:
University of Notre Dame, Philosophy, B.A.
University of Notre Dame, International Peace Studies B.A.
United Nations University of Peace, Responsible Management and Sustainable Economic Development, M.A.
Where are you currently working? I am currently the Chief Operating Officer at BGSD Strategies, LLC, and Chief Strategy Officer at Political Business Institute.
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles: N/A
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? In my Analytics and Machine Learning for Managers course with Professor Rohit Deo, we were asked to outline a use of machine learning in our careers to solve a problem for our final project. I was able to directly apply what we had learned over the past three months into developing an algorithm that could help better determine what demographics matter in understanding how to strategically message young voters. I was inspired enough to go ahead and create the algorithm and implement it at work, something we have continued to develop and use.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I helped launch a new business, Political Business Institute, that focuses on business consulting from the niche world of politics. Throughout the NYU Stern EMBA program, I gained tools that I used to be able to imagine and build this new business, which is an astounding experience.
Who was your favorite MBA professor? This is an incredibly difficult question because everyone has given something special that I will carry with me. I will say Professor Paul Hardart in Entertainment and Media Industries was remarkable. This was the only elective class I took that didn’t have a direct link to my industry, and his passion and knowledge inspired me to learn as much, if not more, than any other class. Professor Hardart created an engaged class environment that brought everyone into the conversation, excited to learn.
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? NYU Stern’s EMBA program emphasized both the integrity and quality of the program and the diversity of classmates. I was looking to learn from my cohort as much as I learned from my professors, and I am incredibly grateful that that has happened.
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? The biggest lesson I learned was to take time for deep thinking. We are taught that we get inspiration and big ideas in quick moments of time, but taking the time to dedicate yourself to your craft and what you are excellent at is essential. In Professor Nate Pettit’s course Behavioral Leadership Skills, we went between learning the theory, practicing within class exercises, and then coming back together to work through how that theory played out in real life. I learned from listening to other people’s experiences while also coming together as a group to understand what these different perspectives meant to real life application.
In Professor Gavin Kilduff’s course Collaboration, Conflict & Negotiation, we also had in-class simulations where we applied what we discussed in class and then came back together to learn as a group different experiences and perspectives. I took so many practical and theoretical applications from both courses immediately into my job.
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? I don’t think there is a singular moment, as completing this program while having a family and a full-time job has been a constant juggle. Every day I had a conversation with myself of what needed to get done and what I could possibly do. Letting go of the impossible was incredibly important here. There was a class weekend where I was recovering from a stomach bug, my spouse was traveling, and I was in the hardest two classes I had ever taken. Classmates brought me water and snacks, kept an eye on me, and kept my spouse up to date — I couldn’t have made it without everyone.
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? Be ready to give it everything (and know where your limits are), and also know that with an EMBA, life happens and you have to be flexible.
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? After over a decade into my career I wasn’t ready to put anything on pause. I also had a team that was supportive knowing I wanted to go into this program and would help me along the way. Being able to apply school to my profession in real time has been unbelievably useful.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? I want to participate in campaign work that continues supporting the life I am building for myself.
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