Tatiana Dasso

Duke University, Fuqua School of Business

“I believe in equality for all, to which I try to contribute through my actions.”

Hometown: Durham, North Carolina

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am one out of nine siblings. When we were young, we used to create a supermarket in our house with our toys and create money with paper. Then, we divided and some of us were the consumers and the others the sellers. It was really fun!

Undergraduate School and Major: Economics, Universidad de Piura

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Chief Financial Officer at Corporacion Gala

The MBA program is renowned for its “Team Fuqua” culture, which is predicated on six paired principles: Authentic Engagement, Supportive Ambition, Collective Diversity, Impactful Stewardship, Loyal Community, and Uncompromising Integrity. Which of these resonates most with you – and what does that principle demand of you as a Fuqua MBA? I love the six principles, but if I have to choose one, the principle that most resonates with me is Supportive Ambition.  I love this phrase that describes very well this principle: “To go fast, go alone. To go far, go together.” We have to learn, as a real team, that the success of someone else makes us all stronger.

What word best describes the Fuqua MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far and why?  I feel very lucky for having met so many Fuquans, who have always shared with me their experiences and thoughts of the school. If I have to choose a word for the spirit of the Fuqua community, it will be “supportive.” Fuquans are always there for you, no matter the type of help or the time. They are going to help you to achieve your goals. This community is formed by students, alumni, professors, the Career Management Center (CMC), and everyone at Fuqua!

Aside from your classmates and school culture, what was the key part of Duke Fuqua’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Fuqua convinced me not only for its strong curriculum, but also because of its strong alumni community and its CMC, who are always willing to support you in finding the career path you choose. I have felt this spirit from my multiple conversations and now I am experiencing this support in real life. The CMC is supporting me to prepare for the recruiting process. No details are left out and you really feel confident that you are going to outperform in your internship and full-time jobs interviews, no matter the sector you are targeting.

Further, for me, as a woman, it’s important to look for ways to include women in business at different levels. When I was living in Peru, I created a project with some friends called ¨Creando Negocio¨ where we gave classes to a group of underserved women to help them to develop their businesses. I had the opportunity to participate in the Duke MBA Women´s Leadership Weekend and it was incredible to know women from different parts of the world with similar goals. I felt that at Fuqua, there is a focus on supporting and empowering women, which is something I truly believe is needed to create a more equal world.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Duke Fuqua? I am really excited to have the possibility to attend a class of Professor Dan Ariely. After many years reading his books, I have learned that psychology and behavior play a very important role in business.  Just by reading one of his famous books, Predictably Irrational, I felt I learned a lot. I just can’t imagine attending a class with him.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: At my previous job at Credicorp Capital, I was part of the Talent Group, which is made up of three percent of employees who are considered the next generation leaders. Further, I worked for one of the best LATAM funds (Latin American in the fixed income space). Finally, one of the biggest objectives I had as an undergraduate was to pursue a top MBA program. I really put a lot of effort into the application and I was finally accepted with a scholarship to the program that I wanted to be a part of, something that for sure I can feel proud of.

How did COVID-19 change your perspective on your career and your life in general? Plans in life change constantly and we have to learn to adapt to changes. During the pandemic, I became more flexible and understood that I needed to be grateful for every little aspect in my life. We really don’t know if we, any family member or close friend, will be present tomorrow, so we should always care for how others are feeling and the impact of our actions on them. This also applies to my career. Taking chances could be scary sometimes, but if you don’t take them, unfortunately, in most cases, you don’t have a second chance.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? My long-term goal is to develop financial technology in Latin America, providing access to credit to the underserved to reduce poverty. To achieve this goal, I will leverage my investment and startup experience with the value added by my MBA from Fuqua.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Columbia Business School.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Duke Fuqua’s MBA program? My advice for a potential applicant is to enjoy the process as the time passes very quickly. Sometimes we are very focused on the main goal and we don’t enjoy the journey. Talk to people, ask questions. Don’t be afraid of sending an email to alumni, first or second-year students, the admissions team, or even professors. If we all have something in common at Fuqua, it is that we are very supportive and really love to talk about Fuqua and our experience with applicants.

DON’T MISS: MEET DUKE FUQUA’S MBA CLASS OF 2023