Meet Foster’s MBA Class of 2018

rob-della-moretta-washingtonfoster-poetsandquants-classof2018

Robert A. Della-Moretta

Foster School of Business, University of Washington

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I’m a former Army Infantry Officer who’s visited or lived in over 30 countries.

Hometown: Leavenworth, KS

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I am currently a campus ambassador for Chubbies Shorts. They are a great place to get some fun swim trunks or shorts for your next weekend adventure or international travel

Undergraduate School and Major:  University of Colorado at Boulder, Political Science

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: US Army 2008-2016

  • Brigade Operations Chief of Plans
  • Company Commander
  • Operations Officer
  • Infantry Platoon Leader
  • Tank Platoon Leader

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My greatest accomplishment was being selected for company command in the US Army. I commanded over 100 paratroopers in the United States and Afghanistan. We supported ongoing operations along the eastern border of Afghanistan, staying on seven different bases within a nine-month period. The ability to train paratroopers and then see them successfully perform in a combat zone was absolutely the most satisfying experience of my military career.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? I sought out as many people as I could when I first started considering an MBA to get as clear a picture as I could about what I was getting into. I found that most of the feedback and recommendations I received while studying for the GMAT or essays was fairly straight forward from everyone I talked with.

The best advice I received was to take the time to actually find the school that fit me the best. Since I was leaving the Army before starting my MBA, another aspect to consider was where I eventually wanted to settle into the next chapter of my life. I have known people who applied to different schools for the wrong reasons and later regretted putting in the effort to apply to that school instead of another school they later found fit in with their goals better. The extra legwork in the beginning of your research will ensure you apply to the right school that best fits your goals.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? I knew I wanted to live on the west coast after leaving the Army and I knew that I wanted to leverage my education to give me the opportunity to have a job where I can travel. After visiting Seattle and meeting with the UW Foster students and faculty, I knew that the best fit for my personality and my future professional goals was here at UW Foster.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? My dream job would allow me to travel internationally and tackle a variety of problems. Working for a premier consulting firm with international reach would give me the perfect mix of establishing roots in my community while also being able to enjoy international travel and tackle the challenges that come with ever changing problem sets.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? My goal is to have my peers see me as a trustworthy friend and professional peer they can depend and will communicate with for years to come. I’ve always been a team player and I will continue to foster that work environment with my classmates.  Perhaps a few times along the way we will have a few laughs to remind us why it’s important to take time to enjoy ourselves.

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