Daniella Morgan-Pascualvaca

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

“Spanish-American rower and triathlete, featured on Shark Tank for a pet health business!”

Hometown: Washington, DC

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love international travel (and am the creator of a travel blog) and will visit my 50^th country at the end of the year (Egypt!)

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Chicago, Biology and Business Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Chief of Staff at Mella Pet Care

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Chicago Booth’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The New Venture Challenge is an incredibly unique aspect of Booth that mixes hands-on entrepreneurial experience and mentorship. Being part of this network will be critical because no other program offers the same opportunity to join a team, turn ideas into a business, and potentially receive funding.

The Booth MBA is also known for being highly data-driven. Why does the program’s focus on quantitative analysis and decision-making appeal to you? How have you been able to leverage this approach in your career so far? From my position at Mella, I have noticed that the field in general would greatly benefit from more precise decision-making and efficient marketing. Data has helped our company take a hands-on approach to creating financial reports that have been crucial in gaining investor support.

Booth’s focus on data is crucial for learning the analytical and technical skills necessary to run a successful business. Quantitative analysis will give me an indispensable tool to grow within the industry.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Chicago Booth? Booth’s BOLD (Outdoor Leadership) club is very exciting to me. The club’s trips range from exploring local Chicago waters to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. I’m looking forward to getting outside and seeing more of the world.

What has been your first impression of the Booth MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best Booth story so far. Booth provides a family-like community, and the peers you meet throughout the program become friends, colleagues, and business partners for life.

Through the Booth Scholars Program, I was able to meet wonderful peers. My fondest memory was meeting other students in deferment and going ice skating at Maggie Daley Park. While we were all terrible, we had a great laugh and a sushi dinner afterward.

What makes Chicago such a great place to earn an MBA? Chicago Booth is a school that challenges students to see the world in a different light and gives us the flexibility to explore new areas of study. Whether you want to start your own business, return to your current company, pivot entirely, or haven’t figured it out yet, Chicago will welcome you with open arms.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I recently had the incredible opportunity to pitch my pet device company, Mella Pet Care, on Shark Tank. Our episode was fun, featuring a rap and a demonstration with a real dog. We made a deal with Mark Cuban for $250K, which we are using to develop future products. As the only company making novel monitoring devices, it is thrilling to be on the cutting edge of the pet health industry.

Describe the best memory of your life. Why does that moment resonate with you? My senior year of college, I won gold at a national rowing championship.

Four years earlier, I walked onto the team with no rowing experience. In fact, I had no sports experience at all. I became captain to encourage other novices to join and helped the struggling team stay alive during the pandemic. If you had told my first-year self that I would win a championship, I never would have believed it.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Chicago Booth’s MBA program? Be your unique self! Yes, many applicants want a traditional post-MBA job, but don’t be discouraged if that isn’t your path. Your passion, no matter how niche it may be, will speak volumes and alter the course of your career.

DON’T MISS: MEET CHICAGO BOOTH’S MBA CLASS OF 2026