Nico Pedreira

Yale School of Management

“People-centered. Focused on driving impactful, lasting, positive change. A global foodie.”

Hometown: Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Fun fact about yourself: I have visited 6 of the 7 Wonders of the World and hope to complete the set by visiting Machu Picchu in the next year

Undergraduate School and Degree: George Washington University, B.A. in International Affairs

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Principal at Hilltop Public Solutions

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? BCG Los Angeles

Where will you be working after graduation? Consultant at BCG Los Angeles

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

* President, Yale SOM Student Government: The Yale SOM Student Government is the principal means by which students collectively shape their SOM experience and the experience of future classes. I lead regular meetings and collaborate with an exceptional group of over 50 classmates across our priorities in academic affairs, community service, student clubs, cultural celebrations, on-campus events, recruiting, campus sustainability, and other issues.

* Chair, 2025 Commencement Student Committee.

* Student Representative, Yale SOM Alumni Advisory Board and other Yale committees.

* Admissions Interviewer, helping to shape the incoming class of SOM MBA students.

* Recipient of the Dean’s Scholarship.

* Recipient of the ROMBA Fellowship, a prestigious scholarship and leadership development program for LGBTQ+ MBA students.

* Member of the Consortium, a merit-based award for students committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in business.

* Student Organizer for the 2024 ROMBA Conference, the world’s largest gathering of LGBTQ+ business students and alumni

* Volunteer, Kamala Harris For The People. Having worked in key political campaign roles for state and national elections, I remained involved in advocacy by organizing canvass launches for Yale graduate students into Pennsylvania during the 2024 presidential election.

* Chair of Academic Affairs, Yale SOM Student Government (Year 1)

* Year 1 Leader, Out of Office (Yale SOM’s LGBTQ+ student club).

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am most proud of serving as President of the Yale SOM Student Government. This academic year has called for strong, unifying leadership, and I’ve been honored to work alongside my classmates, Dean Kerwin Charles, Dean Anjani Jain, Dean Anita Sharif-Hyder, and the dedicated faculty and staff at SOM to continue fostering our school’s distinctive culture of collaboration and curiosity. SOM is more than just a business school—it’s a tightknit community with a family-like feel, where students support one another and push each other to grow. Through our work in student government, I have been proud to champion student voices and help strengthen the bonds that make SOM such a special place.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I will always be filled with a deep sense of pride for the work I did to help elect my former bosses and clients to public office across California and the United States. I had the privilege of serving on the political teams of some of California’s most prominent leaders, including Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, Rob Bonta, and Katie Porter, among others. In my work, I was tasked with building coalitions and securing endorsements for campaigns. In the end, I left everything on the table because I truly believed that electing these leaders could drive our communities and society forward in meaningful ways. I will always be proud of that.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Yale SOM because I wanted a business education that explored impact beyond the bottom line. Coming from political campaigns, I was drawn to SOM’s mission of educating leaders for business and society—where success is measured not just by a company’s growth, but by the meaningful impact it has on the world. SOM’s curriculum combines business fundamentals with a deep curiosity for purposeful leadership, and I wanted to develop my management skills in that spirit—learning how to lead and win with both strategic insight and a commitment to positive change.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? My favorite MBA professor has been Judy Chevalier, the William S. Beinecke Professor of Finance and Economics at Yale SOM, who taught me Strategic Management of Nonprofit Organizations and part of Competitor in SOM’s core curriculum. Prof. Chevalier is a renowned expert in her field, bringing passion and humor to every class. She deeply cares about her students’ growth, evident in her incisive questioning that sharpens their thinking. Having Prof. Chevalier as a professor made me a more astute decision-maker, a more thoughtful student, and a more curious leader.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite MBA course at SOM has been America’s Future Role in the Global Economy, taught by Dean Emeritus Jeffrey Garten. This semester, we are reading, writing, and debating how the international financial system is undergoing major changes and what that means for the business leaders of tomorrow.

It is a fascinating time to study this topic, as the course offers a macro-level view of the systems and levers that shape global business. Dean Emeritus Garten brings a wealth of experience from his public and private sector careers. Thanks to his extensive network, we have weekly expert speakers who share behind-the-scenes, incisive analysis.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I have immensely enjoyed my time at SOM and in New Haven. If I could do one thing differently, it would be to dedicate even more time to exploring all that the broader Yale community has to offer. I have been fortunate to take courses at other Yale graduate schools and experience the university’s rich arts scene, including performances at the legendary Yale Repertory Theatre. With so much to discover beyond SOM’s extensive and fulfilling programming, I only wish I had more time to take advantage of the incredible opportunities across broader Yale.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? With a population of 135,000, New Haven is the ideal place to study and grow during a two-year MBA program. The city is large enough to offer a vibrant array of ever-changing entertainment and cultural experiences, yet small enough to maintain a deep sense of community and rich history. It strikes the perfect balance between intellectual energy and local charm—home to the legendary New Haven pizza!

What movie or television show (e.g., The Big Short, The Founder, Mad Men, House of Lies) best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? The Emmy-winning series The Bear offers a raw and unfiltered look at the realities of running a small business in the high-pressure, cutthroat restaurant industry. It captures the chaos of leadership, financial struggles, and the challenge of turning around a failing operation. The Bear highlights the importance of trust, teamwork, adaptability, and emotional resilience in business. It underscores that success requires both technical expertise and strong leadership in the face of overwhelming obstacles. The show also delves into burnout, the complexities of personal dynamics in entrepreneurship, and the tension between a powerful creative vision and the need for operational efficiency.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? My professors have been incredibly supportive of integrating AI into our learning experience alongside our coursework. Throughout my time at SOM, I have been introduced to a variety of AI tools that enhance how we engage with the class material—from synthesizing readings, lectures, and case studies to providing tailored explanations for follow-up questions.

Beyond improving comprehension, using AI has also helped me refine my critical thinking skills by offering alternative perspectives and uncovering insights I might have missed. It has broadened the way I approach problem-solving, serving as a soundboard for my thinking and enhancing my brainstorming capabilities. As a result, I have gained a deeper appreciation for AI’s potential to drive smarter decision-making and create new opportunities in the business world.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Eliza Chory-Noyes is the classmate I most admire at SOM. She is deeply resilient and consistently goes above-and-beyond for the people in her life. With a background in impact investing, Eliza generously shares her knowledge and network to support classmates looking to break into the field. Throughout her time at SOM, she has been involved in the community, serving as an organizer for the Yale Philanthropy Conference and as a Nonprofit Board Fellow at the New Haven Pride Center. Beyond her professional and extracurricular commitments, she brings joy to those around her and always takes the time to check in on others. This ensures that in the whirlwind of business school, everyone remembers to take care of themselves. She is a builder of community anywhere she goes. Professionally and personally, Eliza is the type of person everyone wants to have in their life.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? I would love the opportunity to work abroad at some point in my career, either in my home country of Argentina or elsewhere in Latin America. Gaining international experience would allow me to deepen my understanding of regional markets, build cross-cultural leadership skills, and contribute to meaningful economic growth in the region, which I am passionate about.

Beyond that, I also have a long-term dream of launching my own startup in the food industry. I’m passionate about the intersection of food, culture, and business, and I hope to create a venture that not only delivers great products but also introduces American consumers to Latin American food products, while fostering community, sustainability, and innovation in the industry.

What made Nico such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“I am delighted to provide a whole-hearted and unreservedly enthusiastic commendation for Nico Pedreira, a second-year MBA student at Yale School of Management. I first came to know Nico in an MBA course (called Modeling Managerial Decisions) taught jointly by Professor Nathan Novemsky and me and required of all entering MBA students in their first term. The course combines normative approaches to decision making using mathematical optimization models with behavioral insights about the frailty and flaws of human decision making. Nico excelled in both facets of the course and stood out for his insightful observations in class.

Though I had come to know Nico reasonably well in the class, it was only after he was elected as president of SOM’s Student Government that I came to appreciate the full measure of his talents as a thoughtful and inspirational leader in the community. He is naturally gifted as an empathetic listener and a persuasive communicator. He has an uncommonly nuanced understanding of the issues that affect the students’ educational experience on campus. His intellectual curiosity is complemented by open-mindedness and a remarkable ability to understand multiple, sometimes diametrically divergent, perspectives that underpin the expectations and demands classmates place on student leaders.  His candor, unwavering intellectual honesty, and steadfast personal integrity have earned him great trust and respect among students and administrators alike. It has been a pleasure for me to work closely with Nico during his tenure as president. I have no doubt that the qualities that make him a wonderful student leader will continue to serve him throughout his professional life.”

Anjani Jain
Deputy Dean, Academic Programs
Professor in the Practice of Management
Yale School of Management

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