Lydia Filosa

Fordham University, Gabelli School of Business

“Former educator pivoting into consulting.”

Hometown: New York City, NY

Fun fact about yourself: I taught English in Paris for a year after college.

Undergraduate School and Degree: University of Pennsylvania, BA in Classical Studies

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? St. Hilda’s & St. Hugh’s School, Director of Alumni Engagement and 7th Grade Latin Teacher

Where did you intern during the summer of 2022? PwC, New York

Where will you be working after graduation? PwC, Senior Associate

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: Class Representative (2021-2022); Graduate Assistant for the Responsible Business Coalition (2022); Gabelli Green Business Club Founder & President (2022-2023)

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I really enjoyed working as a graduate assistant last year for Fordham’s Responsible Business Coalition, a coalition of business and nonprofit leaders, (NGOs), and research partners who help advocate for social and environmental efforts.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I’m grateful for the work experiences I’ve had in education, and I’m also proud of myself for trying something completely new. I’m really looking forward to working in consulting at PwC after graduation.

Why did you choose this business school? I was drawn to Fordham’s emphasis on mission-driven leadership – and I loved that it had small classes.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Anatoly Nakum – Modern Finance. Professor Nakum was great at answering our questions and getting us excited about finance.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? I really enjoyed Randy Strickland and Peter Lupoff’s Impact Investment Workshop, where we learned about ESG and impact investing.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? I loved going to London with my classmates for a consulting project last year.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I’ve really enjoyed my MBA experience and feel like I’ve gotten so much out of it. The one thing I may have done differently is going back to school earlier.

What is the biggest myth about your school? I think Fordham is sometimes thought of as being mostly New Yorkers, but really our class comes from all over the world.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? I loved learning in New York City, because it provided easy access to business leaders and great learning opportunities.

What surprised you the most about business school? Coming from a non-business background, I was nervous about not having anything to offer in business school. I was pleasantly surprised that coming into school with a different perspective can be just as meaningful – everyone comes in with a range of experiences and that makes the classroom more interesting.

What is one thing you did during the application process that gave you an edge at the school you chose? Connecting with current students helped me to get a better understanding of the program and its benefits.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I admire my classmate, Catherine Gbogi, for always taking the lead in organizing events for our classmates to better get to know each other.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? I’m looking forward to this next chapter in my career and learning as much as possible in consulting. I would like to ultimately pair my background in education and consulting to contribute to meaningful change in the NYC education system.

What made Lydia such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2023?

“Lydia is an outstanding individual who possesses exceptional communication skills, empathy, and a strong work ethic. Her leadership skills and contributions to the business school community have been exemplary.

Lydia’s dedication to sustainability and the environment has been evident through her leadership role as the President of the Green Business Club. She has led several initiatives that have encouraged sustainable practices within the business school community, and her efforts have been recognized by her peers and faculty alike. Lydia has also served as the MBA Class Representative, where she has played a pivotal role in representing the needs and concerns of her classmates to the faculty and administration.

Lydia’s academic excellence and leadership skills have earned her a job as an Advisory Senior Associate at PWC (previously served as a Summer 2022 intern), which is a testament to her exceptional abilities. I have no doubt that she will continue to excel in her career and make significant contributions to the business community. Lydia is an exceptional individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to excellence.”

Dylan Mosenthal
Senior Associate Director of MBA Admissions

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