Antonio Roa 

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

“Inherently positive and uplifting leader. Committed to teamwork, growth, and development.”

Hometown: Hanford, CA

Fun Fact About Yourself:

• Shook hands with former President Barack Obama during the Naval Academy commissioning ceremony.
• Spent two months at a naval facility training to “hunt” enemy submarines, which led to participating in a joint exercise employing war tactics and techniques in a real-world environment.
• I’m a Naval Academy boxer who became All-American at the national collegiate level.

Undergraduate School and Major: United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD – Bachelors of Science in Information Technology ‘13.

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: U.S. Navy – Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer and Maintenance and Material Management Officer (Translates to a Senior Division Manager)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: The biggest accomplishment in my career was when I took on the role as the principal coordinator for the maintenance and modernization of a Navy warship. I was the liaison between the navy warship’s personnel and project managers and contractors. I problem solved and de-conflicted arising issues, and provided updates to my site leads and director. As a result, the warship was able to complete all its scheduled maintenance and modernizations in a safe and controlled environment.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? If I were to summarize my MBA classmates into one word, it would be “inspiring.” After meeting with many of my classmates during the first week of orientation, I can’t help but be reminded of their unique visionary ideas. Their ideas stretch far-and-wide, and ultimately share a common theme of making a change in the community. I think it’s inspiring how discussing a simple, general idea can grow into a complex, intriguing passion.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Carlson’s small, diverse, and prestige community reminded me of the Navy. I felt that their support toward military veterans, coupled with their collaborative, welcoming, and supportive culture made them a perfect fit.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am looking forward to the Graduate Volunteer Consultants Club. I am excited to be a part of a team that is dedicated to solving real-world issues free of charge for local nonprofit organizations. I’m excited for both the experience and positive impact our team will provide.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career?  I realized that the experience and knowledge gained through pursuing an MBA would complement the military leadership skills that would propel me into becoming a more effective business leader.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I decided that an MBA was worth the investment after humbling myself and realizing that I was missing a key aspect for sustained success: the language of business.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Carlson was the one school that I applied for.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? The main factor in determining my best fit was having a strong presence of veterans with veteran support. I wanted to be around a small and diverse community that had a large talent pool. I valued Carlson’s high reputation with top businesses. When I learned that Carlson had all these qualities, I knew that it was the perfect fit for me.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment was forged during my time in the Navy working to earn my qualification as a Surface Warfare Officer. During these difficult times, I became a person who continually persevered, made no excuses, and produced results. I understood that if I were to fail, I would fail falling forward. I would get up, and continue to move forward until the mission was accomplished. I became a warfighter who approached challenges with fearless enthusiasm.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? After graduation, I plan on transferring to a strategic management consulting firm as a generalist. During this time, I look forward to traveling and being exposed to a vast amount of projects within a variety of industries. As I find my niche, I aim to specialize in that area and truly refine my professional reputation.

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I see myself as a senior consultant and aspiring project leader. As a senior consultant, I will have improved my brand as a “Jack-of-all-trades, master of none” to a “Jack-of-all-trades, master of all.” I would love to see myself coming back to Carlson as one of its success stories, inspiring incoming students on the bright future ahead of them.