Nicholas Felli

Rutgers Business School

“Nicholas is a highly motivated Full-Time MBA student graduating with concentrations in Finance and Entrepreneurship.”

Hometown: Teaneck, NJ

Fun fact about yourself: I want to start a business one day that will revolutionize how we eat food.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Amherst College with a BA in Mathematics and Economics

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Epic Health Systems – Technical Problem Solver

Where did you intern during the summer of 2022? Auramet International located in Teaneck, NJ

Where will you be working after graduation? Quest Diagnostics – Senior Financial Analyst

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

President Black and Hispanic MBA Association

First Place Tepper International Case Competition

Certosimo Family Award in Leadership

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school?  Winning the Tepper International Case Competition was a significant moment for my teammates and me. We put in a lot of effort and overcame numerous challenges, so it felt really satisfying to bring home the victory for Rutgers.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? During the COVID pandemic, when Erlanger Health Systems, a hospital located in Tennessee, suffered substantial revenue losses. I assisted them in resolving over $3 million worth of insurance denials. Although Epic played a significant role in helping Erlanger claim additional millions by reviewing data within their system, it was gratifying to be personally involved in supporting a hospital that had to furlough numerous staff members due to the circumstances at the time.

Why did you choose this business school? Rutgers Business School is recognized as the top public Full-Time MBA program in the Northeast. Although, I am originally from New Jersey, my academic and professional pursuits have taken me across the country: from attending boarding school in New Hampshire, to college in Massachusetts, and starting my first job in Wisconsin. Wanting to return to my home state and to understand business at a higher level, pursuing an MBA was a natural step for me. Rutgers proved to be the ideal choice for me, and I have experienced a fantastic time here during my two years here.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? While it’s difficult to single out just one favorite MBA professor, I would have to say that Professor Lyneir Richardson stands out for me. He teaches Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development and has created a remarkable course that emphasizes experiential learning. Through his class, my classmates and I have had the opportunity to engage with local entrepreneurs and explore the community of Newark, which has been an amazing experience. Professor Richardson is truly inspiring, and his classes have demonstrated how Newark is making positive strides towards change.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite course during my MBA was Business Communications, which was taught by the outstanding Professor Susan Mach, Ph.D. She was adept at pushing her students beyond their comfort zones by having us present every class. This course resonated with me because it emphasized the fact that no matter how exceptional an idea is, if you are unable to communicate it effectively, it will not make an impact. Professor Mach’s teaching approach and the practical skills I learned in this course have been immensely beneficial to me both academically and professionally.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? The focus on mentorship. Rutgers genuinely prioritizes having a mentor, and I have found that the rewards of engaging in the mentorship process far exceed the investment of participating in the process. As a mentor to a first-year MBA student, I was delighted to share my insights and guidance. In the future, I will remain willing to be a mentor because I firmly believe in the power of networks and mentorship. This tradition at Rutgers highlights a commitment to fostering strong relationships that benefit students, both during and beyond their academic careers.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Overall, I am content with how I approached my MBA experience, and I feel fortunate to have made lifelong friends. However, if I had to choose one thing to do differently, I would have made a more concerted effort to get to know my professors and the administration even more. They played an integral role in supporting me and many other students during our MBA journey, and I believe that establishing stronger connections with them would have enhanced my academic and professional growth even further.

What is the biggest myth about your school? To be honest, I haven’t heard any myths about my school, so I don’t have anything to compare it to. My experience at Rutgers has been positive, and I’ve had the opportunity to learn from excellent professors and engage with talented classmates. I haven’t encountered many discrepancies between what I was expecting and what I experienced. Overall, my MBA journey has been very fulfilling and rewarding.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? What surprised you the most about business school? One thing I love about my school’s town is the abundance of excellent food options. Halsey Street has a wide selection of restaurants that offered lots of delicious food. What surprised me the most about business school was the friendliness and helpfulness of my classmates and professors. I had anticipated a competitive, and possibly, even cutthroat environment, but instead found a supportive and collaborative community. Most people were willing to lend a hand and share their expertise, which contributed to a positive and enjoyable MBA experience.

What is one thing you did during the application process that gave you an edge at the school you chose? Attending optional informational calls gave me an edge during the application process as it allowed me to have face-to-face interactions with recruiters, administration, and current students. This enabled me to make a more informed decision about which school to choose, and to be known more personally by the school’s admissions staff.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I greatly admire Madhav Misrav. Although we are both on the younger side, Madhav carries himself with a remarkable level of maturity. He is incredibly intelligent and always finished tests early with exceptional grades. I wish I had taken more opportunities to get to know him better, but I hope that we can stay in touch after the program concludes.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? My top two professional goals are to assume a managerial position within the next 2-5 years and to launch my own business within the next 5-10 years, or even earlier if possible.

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

“Nicholas Felli is indeed a talented young man.  He served as president of our National Black and Hispanic MBA Student Club Organization.  His selfless acts of service with respect to the overwhelming commitment and demands to serve in this role speaks boundaries of his character.  However, it also speaks to the galvanizing of his peers that were as equally involved and dedicated.  He worked to organize special events; from soliciting engaging speakers that represented top companies; to those that spoke to the given demographic and included all other constituencies. He made certain to exclude no one.

Nicholas and two other BHMBA students volunteered to participate in the annual National Black MBA Association Case Competition which took place in Atlanta, Georgia this past fall. Despite their busy schedules as second year MBA students, they put together a very compelling case against 30 plus MBA students nationwide.

Nicholas has also been a complementary ambassador in speaking with prospective Full-Time MBA students and answering questions about the program from a student’s perspective. He was able to provide candid insight regarding the first-year experience, the internship process and just a day in the life of an MBA student. He’s also been a mentor for first-year students, helping them acclimate but also navigate their first-year challenges.

He’s secured an offer after graduation with Quest Diagnostics, and they’ve made a great acquisition.”

Albert Turner, Assistant Director
Rutgers Business School Office of Graduate Admissions

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