Sebastian Rojas, MBA '16: "The Rutgers MBA program gave me the analytical and soft skills to contribute to any business situation"

Sebastian Rojas, president of the MBA Student Government Association, earned an MBA with concentrations in finance and supply chain management.  He will be joining Microsoft with the Enterprise Partners Group (EPG) in Manhattan.

The dean's Distinguished Leadership Award was created in 2011 to recognize student leaders from Rutgers Business School's graduate programs and its undergraduate programs in Newark and New Brunswick. The award is given to students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, service to RBS and leadership potential. The name of each recipient is engraved on the Rutgers Business School bell.

Why did you decide to study business?

"A few years after entering the workforce upon completion of my undergraduate degree, I realized that if I wanted to continue excelling in business and break through the glass ceiling, I needed to expand my skill set. Business school seemed the best way to acquire those skills and open up a world of opportunities across industries."

In which clubs/activities were you involved at Rutgers Business School?

"I was the president of the MBA Student Government Association. My concentrations were finance and supply chain management, so I was involved in the Supply Chain Student Initiative (SCSI) and the Finance Club, as well as the Black and Hispanic MBA Association. I also had the opportunity to represent Rutgers Business School on multiple case competition teams against other schools."

Which RBS class was your favorite and why?

"Professor Farrokh Langdana's aggregate economic analysis course was phenomenal. It painted a clear picture of what happened during the financial crisis, the problems with hot capital and 'toothpaste money,' as well as the 'cycle of one.' I also really enjoyed accounting for managers with Valentin Dimitrov. And for learning real-world consulting skills, the supply chain management professors Eric Larson and Thomas York were incomparable."

What do you think the program has done to prepare you for your future?

"The Rutgers Business School MBA program has given me the analytical skills, and allowed me to develop the soft skills, to know I can walk into any office, conference room or networking event and know that I can contribute something of value."

What was your favorite "RBS Moment?"

"There have been many, but it all goes back to comradery; be it in case competitions, within course work assignments, or extracurricular activities. One of my favorite RBS moments was during one of the national MBA conferences taking place in Chicago during fall of my second year. After a day full of elevator pitches, impromptu interviews and conference calls, Andy Gogates from the MBA Office of Career Management organized an informal meeting for all MBA students to meet after the conference floor closed. It gave us an opportunity to relax and unwind as we prepared to continue representing Rutgers well in interviews the next day."

-Sean Ireland