April Rowland

The University of Florida, Warrington College of Business

“An enthusiastic, creative problem-solver with a competitive streak and a passion for mentoring others.”

Hometown: Melbourne, Florida

Fun fact about yourself: I got into endurance sports during my MBA, ran my first marathon in March of 2025, and took swim lessons for the first time in February as I had never learned to swim. I’m now in the final stages of preparation to complete my first sprint triathlon in April!

Undergraduate School and Degree:

Ringling College of Art and Design; B.F.A. in Illustration

Florida Institute of Technology; M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? ABA Technologies as an Instructional Support Manager

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? Bain & Company in Atlanta, Georgia

Where will you be working after graduation? Bain & Company as a Consultant

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

Full Merit Scholarship Recipient

MBA Association Chair of Product Development for Gator MBA Gear

Graduate Career and Peer (GCAP) Mentor: Led efforts to prepare students interested in consulting for interviews through organizing peer-to-peer case interview prep and conducting 1:1 coaching.

UF MBA Ambassador: Participated in admissions recruiting events, met with prospective students to answer questions, and represented the UF MBA program on student panels.

Case Competitions:

2023-2024 UF Internal Case Competition — 1st Place; Individually won best presenter (division) and best Q&A (division and final round)

2024 TCU NAPE Case Competition — 1st Place

2024 TCU Supply Chain Case Competition — Final round

2024 SEC Case Competition — 2nd Place; Individually won best presenter

2024-2025 UF Internal Case Competition — Final round; Individually won best presenter (division)

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I’ve had several highlights during my time in UF’s MBA program. I worked with an amazing team at the SEC Case Competition, delivering a comprehensive marketing and acquisition recommendation; won an oil and gas case competition when I had no prior experience in that industry; and challenged myself to take on a finance-heavy courseload because it was an area of weakness.

However, the achievement that is most important to me has been the mentorship I have provided to others — specifically, two of the incoming first year MBAs interested in strategy and consulting roles. They are both talented, driven, and incredibly qualified women who have experienced difficulty having their voices heard in prior roles. Through their first year they have been selected for competitive internships in areas of interest, their teams’ have won first and second in UF’s internal case competition, and they are now working together on a campaign for MBA Association president. I am proud of them and their grit this year and of myself for being someone they would seek out to prep them for interviews, advise them on case competition strategy, and provide mentorship.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Prior to starting my MBA I worked for a small instructional design firm which I had been recruited into by the founder and CEO, a man who would become my long-term mentor. He passed in 2020, and the entire company had to adapt to changing leadership. Through those years, I developed a strong consultative relationship with the newer leadership team and worked cross-functionally to identify revenue opportunities and use data to inform strategies for other teams. While I’m very proud of the thought partnership I developed through those years, I’m specifically pleased with the work I did with our marketing team. Combining sales and course registration data, I identified a missed opportunity for additional sales. When brought to the marketing team’s attention, we worked together to develop a bundling strategy that increased overall sales, and I left that team with a tool to continue tracking relevant project metrics. This project increased the use of data in the marketing team’s decision-making process and provided better line-of-sight for leadership into product-by-product performance.

Why did you choose this business school? The career services team at the University of Florida was a huge factor in my decision. The team uses a structured and peer-supported system for preparing students for recruiting and exposes students early to networking opportunities through on-campus and conference-based career fairs. The preparation model was explained as “train like you fight and fight like you train,” meaning we dedicated time to mock interviews and mock career fairs. Additionally, the career services team communicated clearly that recruiting was a team sport. We all win when we help our classmates prepare for an interview, even if we are interviewing with the same company. That’s because we are a small program and build the reputation of our program together.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Mergers & Acquisitions. I took this course because several of my interests commingle in this topic (e.g., culture change, talent acquisition and retention, realizing operational efficiency opportunities, private equity). The course ended up covering these topics and more. It was taught with a more global focus on M&A strategy, and the professor (Dr. Parrino) ran the class through case exercises with a heavy focus on discussion and student engagement. Highly enjoyable, engaging, and informative class.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? The UF MBA program organizes an annual internal case competition that encourages friendly competition and facilitates student engagement with a variety of both small and large-scale businesses. All full-time MBA students participate, and teams are generated by the MBA staff to mix skills and abilities. This serves the dual purpose of exposing all students to the structure of case competitions and allows for students who intend to compete in external competitions to begin forming teams. This event supports UF’s strong presence in external case competitions and encourages friendly and collaborative competition within the MBA program.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I’m overall incredibly pleased with my MBA experience and what I was able to accomplish during my time in the program! That said, I would tell a past me to push past the early nerves and begin networking earlier, both within the program and in the places that I was considering applying. I was initially self-conscious in taking others’ time but ended up making fantastic professional connections and friends through the process.

What is the biggest myth about your school? The biggest misconception I hear about UF is that its network and reach are limited to the Southeast US. During my networking and recruiting, I found that plenty of offices outside of the region were familiar with and excited about UF alumni. I ultimately received offers from firms in the Northeast and West. Additionally, many of the alumni that I was able to network with work across the United States.

I believe this misconception stems from the preferences of those who choose to attend UF to stay in the Southeast. This kicks off a cycle wherein the network is strongest in the Southeast but is not confined to it.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? Gainesville has a small but fantastic food scene! It’s a small, college town, so there aren’t 50 options for each type of cuisine, but the options we have are stellar. We have a pizza place run by a found object artist (Satchel’s), a number of fantastic bakers and bakeries (Uppercrust, Baker Baker, Bushel & Peck…), and a brunch place next to an adorable plant shop (afternoon and Serpentine respectively).

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? Perhaps unconventionally: Moneyball. I’m not a huge baseball fan, but the premise of identifying metrics that allow you to pick undervalued assets in a field of options is critical to corporate strategy and M&A.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? I’m currently taking a course that discusses AI as it relates to increasing efficiency of data analysis in business settings. The primary focus has been on the areas in which AI is especially useful (i.e., ones in which the decisions are solely quantitative and there exists sufficient relevant data), those in which human analysis is still critical, and those in which human analysis pairs well with AI tools. This course, along with my personal experience using AI tools and my internship, have helped me to understand and communicate the limits and advantages to using AI tools to stakeholders. Even more, it has helped me to consult on positions and performances that can be enhanced by incorporating AI tools.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? There are several members of my cohort that I admire and strive to emulate in my personal and professional life. However, I am always impressed by the energy, drive, and collaborative spirit of Dante Feliciano.

Dante is an amazing team leader, speaker, and empathetic friend. In both the first and second year of the MBA, he has been instrumental in the organization of most MBA student-run events. He also co-leads the graduate peer mentor team, organizing the group, bringing us together for updates, and serving as our voice to the career services team.

I have teamed with Dante on several occasions, and he has always been proactive in organizing work, the first to lend an additional hand when someone has a conflict on a project, and quick to suggest a creative solution. I especially admire his positivity and ability to navigate social conflict. On multiple occasions, I have seen him facilitate collaboration between parties that were at odds or bring down the temperature on an escalated disagreement. I’m grateful that Dante is not only a fantastic colleague but a good friend.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1. Since my background is in academia and education, I’d like to build a well-rounded, strategic skillset for managing teams across a variety of industries and functions.

2. Obtain a leadership role where I can mentor others, facilitate organization-wide equity initiatives, and increase access to leadership for those who come from a lower socio-economic background like mine.

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

“Every so often, a student comes through an MBA program who seems to uplift everyone around them with their inspiring dedication to success and their unquenchable desire to bring others along in their journey. At Warrington, that person is April Rowland. Her remarkable leadership, intellect, and unwavering commitment to personal and professional growth have not only shaped her own path but have also significantly impacted her peers and the faculty/staff at the Warrington College of Business.

During her two years in the program, April made significant contributions to the business school community, including serving as a Graduate Career and Peer Mentor (GCAP), where she has been instrumental in assisting specialized masters and new MBA students with career support such as resume writing, mock interviews, internship and career search strategies, and case interview help. Her leadership in case interview training was particularly impressive, as she not only dedicated countless hours to mock case interviews but also revamped training materials to ensure future students could benefit from an improved learning experience.

In addition to her mentorship, April served as the first-ever Data Analyst for Business Career Services, where she played a crucial role in shaping the role from its inception. Her ability to develop dashboards and provide valuable data-driven insights for department and college decision-making has been invaluable. Her contributions included special weekly projects and reporting for both undergraduate and graduate programs. April’s creativity and initiative in establishing the role set a new standard, and she further showed her commitment by hiring and training her replacement.

April’s career transformation is one of the most impressive aspects of her journey. She entered the MBA program with a determination to completely reinvent her career, and she did so with relentless resolve and an unwavering commitment to overcoming challenges. Whether tackling tough academic concepts or navigating complex professional obstacles, April demonstrated a unique ability to face adversity with grace and a growth mindset. Her transformation culminated in securing a promising career at Bain & Company in Atlanta, which speaks to her remarkable ability to evolve and excel in any environment.

April has also excelled in case competitions, earning 2nd place at the 11th annual SEC MBA Case Competition at Mississippi State and winning Best Presenter in her division. Her competitive spirit and teamwork were further showcased in the TCU Nape Energy Innovation Case Competition and the TCU Supply Chain Case Competition. In the 2024 MBA Case Challenge with Owens Corning, she once again earned the distinction of Best Presenter.

Beyond her academic and professional accomplishments, April embodies humility, empathy, and inclusivity. She approaches every task with a collaborative mindset, always eager to help others and contribute to the success of her peers. April’s empathy, combined with her intellect, has made her an invaluable mentor and leader. Her genuine care for others’ success and her willingness to listen and provide thoughtful guidance has left a lasting impact on the Warrington community.

As a Cohort Representative, April exemplified the qualities of an outstanding leader: she was approachable, thoughtful, and committed to advocating for her peers. She took her responsibilities seriously and made sure that every student in her cohort had a voice and felt supported.

In summary, April is the definition of a “Best and Brightest” candidate. Her outstanding achievements, leadership, humility, and empathetic nature make her a standout individual. I wholeheartedly recommend her for this prestigious award and have no doubt that she will continue to excel in her future endeavors.”

Kim Beach
Director, Graduate Business Career Services
Warrington College of Business

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