Núria Boj

New York University, Stern School of Business

“Direct-to-consumer marketer turned consultant, Spanish, keen cook, and endlessly curious (always reading something new!).”

Hometown: Barcelona, Spain

Fun fact about yourself: I’m a huge soccer fan – I’ve been a member of FC Barcelona since the day I was born (or close enough!) up to now. Since living in New York City, I’ve also become a fan club member to go watch games with fellow fans here.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Boston College, B.S. in Management

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Samsung Electronics America, eCommerce Demand Generation

Where did you intern during the summer of 2023? McKinsey & Company, New York

Where will you be working after graduation? McKinsey & Company, Associate

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• Fellow, Forté and Consortium for Graduate Study in Management
• VP Admissions, Association of Hispanic and Black Business Students (Stern)
• VP Diversity Committee, Student Government (Stern)
• VP Allyship, Outclass (Stern)
• Pay Equity Advisor, 81cents
• Career Advisor, CareerSpring

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I led a consulting recruiting boot camp for Consortium fellows and members of the Association of Hispanic and Black Business Students (AHBBS), which is a long-held, student-driven tradition at Stern. Here, I worked with students extensively to prepare for consulting case interviews. Having been on the other side, I knew the value of having second-year students be your cheerleaders, and equally highlight areas of growth throughout the process. I believe I became a trusted confidante for some, and it was rewarding to see the outcomes, but above all, I loved getting to know such bright, determined, hard-working individuals.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I’m proud of learning how to navigate highly matrixed organizations to find individuals who will advocate for me and the initiatives I want to lead. I saw this unfold in various ways during my time at Samsung, but most meaningfully when I identified the opportunity to build an education marketplace on Samsung.com to drive demand during back-to-school season. Having a network of sponsors who were more senior than I was at the time allowed me to unlock budgets for this opportunity and push approvals up the decision ladder. In retrospect, I can see how this idea could have been nixed along the way. Because I had active support and voices in conversations I wasn’t a part of, I rolled out a comprehensive education value proposition for the business which became a prominent success in e-commerce strategy.

Why did you choose this business school? Stern’s unmatched access – geographical, academic, and professional – to all kinds of companies. I knew this would best position me to shift functions and industries once I was in business school, as well as broaden the scope of how I think about my optionality in my career down the line.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Professor Sonia Marciano is brilliant. I’ve taken two of her strategy courses at Stern in which she examines industry dynamics and dissects businesses’ strategic choices using tactical frameworks. She’s an expert, hilarious, and incredibly well-networked. Professor Marciano has made me a better thinker and has helped me contextualize the drivers of long-term profitability and competitive advantage for a business.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? The MBA companion course associated with Endless Frontier Labs at NYU Stern, an accelerator for early-stage science and tech startups with both in-class and practical components at one of the companies in the cohort. I’ve been working with Compound Foods, an alternative food venture that makes beanless coffee, on its business development and go-to-market strategy. At Compound Foods, I’ve been working directly with Maricel, the founder and CEO, and have been exposed to conversations with mentors, investors, and other alternative food startup founders. In class, Professor Deepak Hegde, Founder, and Andrew Hamilton, Director of Endless Frontier Labs, have extensively taken us through the nascent stages of entrepreneurship and defining strategic choices, all the way to venture capital and funding strategies. This year-long course is excellent, and I recommend it to anyone interested in experiential learning, venture capital, or the startup scene.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favorite tradition is Stern’s version of candid student-led talks called Stern Speaks in which students very vulnerably share stories and experiences that define them. I am continuously in awe and so impressed by my classmates, many of whom have become close friends. There’s a palpable air of support and respect at Stern Speaks events and I’ve felt like they bring our community closer together.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Go to professors’ office hours more. Pursuing an MBA, recruiting for an internship, and maintaining a semblance of a social life outside of Stern became a scheduling game of Jenga for me. Professors are continuously available and keen to talk to students – I wish I had taken advantage of one-on-one face time from the start.

What is the biggest myth about your school? That NYU is a commuter school where students immediately check out when they’re done with class. I find that students are deeply involved at Stern and there’s a strong sense of community. Clubs and social activities are entirely student-led, and it’s clear from the intention and dedication poured into these how much Sternies collectively care about connecting.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? New York City has it all and it’s made the social component of business school very fun. My friends and I organize a standing happy hour on Thursdays to explore all of the wine bars in the city. We’ve also organized picnics in the park, explored the city’s rich dining scene, and have gone to live music concerts. An unexpected bonus for me: since I already lived here before business school so I have been blending friend groups and introducing Sternies to friends outside of the program – worlds colliding in the best possible way!

What surprised you the most about business school? The friendships I’ve made. I didn’t foresee making meaningful, profound friendships in adulthood the way that I’ve had at Stern.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Daniel Radoff is one of the most impressive people I know. Not only is he deeply intelligent – he holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry and has continued to teach biochemistry while attending Stern – but he’s beloved by the entire student community. Daniel may very well be a teacher but he’s a student at heart, and I’ve been continuously impressed by his commitment and drive to excel. He doesn’t do anything but the best. Academically, he is brilliant and has generously helped me and others understand topics that come so naturally to him. As the co-president of Outclass, a role which he’s taken very seriously in classic Daniel fashion, I’ve seen him meaningfully strengthen the queer community at Stern. He’s also known for his “fun facts” which he shares widely to bring humor and levity to the halls of Stern. Daniel is one of my best friends (and soon-to-be coworkers!) and for that, I am grateful.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? Invest in a women’s health venture and become a trusted sponsor for someone’s career.

What made Núria such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024?

“Those of us who have the privilege of meeting Núria know how lucky we are to have her as a member of the NYU Stern community. In all of my interactions with Núria, I have witnessed her to have a thoughtful, inclusive, and ambitious approach in each role she holds.

While at Stern, Núria has played a vital role in helping to prepare first-year MBA students for the consulting recruiting process as Lead for the Consortium Consulting Corps. In this role, Núria trained dozens of students on their casing interview skills and provided a safe environment for students to ask questions and practice their technical skills, and feel more confident going into interviews. In coaching sessions, I have had several first-year MBAs share how Núria helped them to hone in on their presentation skills and approach problems from a creative lens.

Additionally, Núria offers a helping hand in welcoming prospective Stern MBA students. As the Vice President of Admissions for the Association of Hispanic and Black Business Students (AHBBS), Núria helped support prospective students by answering questions and engaging in discussions about the Stern community. She helps facilitate campus visits and admissions-related activities, and addresses questions related to the Stern experience on campus. Her approachable personality is crucial in demonstrating that Stern is a warm and welcoming environment.

In addition to her strong commitment to Stern, she is also actively involved with 81cents – an organization that aims to close the pay gap for underrepresented minorities as a Pay Equity Advisor. She helps individuals negotiate confidently by providing them with relevant data points and advice on how to negotiate new job offers. Her deep commitment to community engagement is what inspires other Stern students to get involved in causes and make a difference – big or small.

Núria continually finds ways to make a positive impact by exploring her interests, pursuing her passions, and being an active member in the Stern community. Núria exemplifies the best of Stern values – being an agent of change and using both IQ + EQ to empower others.”

Fatim Lelenta
Career Coach
NYU Stern

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2024