Joey Delgado

University of Washington’s Foster School of Business

“Goofy friendly nerdy Texan who likes music, travel, and barbecue.”

Hometown: Austin, Texas

Fun Fact About Yourself: I lived in a Mayan village once.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Texas at Austin (B.A. and J.D.)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services) Staff Attorney

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Handing a Client their Green Card (well, that’s my favorite anyway).

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Inclusiveness. They are as interested in my success and the success of other classmates as their own.

What makes Seattle such a great place to earn an MBA? The Foster School’s community of staff, faculty, and students.

Aside from your classmates and location, 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? Foster’s experiential learning opportunities are second to none. I highly value learning by doing at this stage of my career. The Applied Strategy Projects allow students to get a real consulting style experience with firms ranging from being as large as Microsoft to as small as local startups. The Foster school also partners with the larger UW community on student-led start-ups that can earn funding at the university’s Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship. I am also looking forward to serving the community through Foster’s Board Fellows Program, where students can serve on a board of directors.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am looking forward to climbing the Cascade Mountains with the Outdoor & Sports Industry Club.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I wanted to make a career change from the law to business. I would like to use more quantitative and analytical skills moving forward in my professional life.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? UC Berkeley Haas, Rice Jones, Texas McCombs, Vanderbilt Owen

How did you determine your fit at various schools? School Culture, School Culture, Job Opportunities Provided, Learning Opportunities Provided, Geographic Location (the city and surrounding outdoor opportunities).

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My time in law school defined most of my adult life. I was able to relatively succeed in a fiercely competitive environment in the wake of the great recession. I had to learn new professional skills and habits that were not necessarily natural to my personality. That experience taught me that I have a good chance at succeeding at most things if I am willing to apply myself. I was also able to make friends through school and internships those years that will last me a lifetime despite the competitive environment.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? I hope you would find me on a hiking vacation in the mountains with my family and/or friends. I have always turned to the mountains of the American west to reflect, recharge, and reconnect with life and myself. And I hope that never changes.