Ruben Antonio Quesada

Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business

“Enthusiastic and stubborn optimist who is passionate about climate solutions and positive impact.”

Hometown: San Jose, Costa Rica

Fun fact about yourself:  The architecture profession is in my blood; my father, brother and I all worked in architecture.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Auburn University – Bachelor of Architecture

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Associate / Project Architect at ZGF Architects

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? Sabana, Pittsburgh PA (launched my own startup!)

Where will you be working after graduation?  Sabana, CEO and Co-Founder

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

Honors:

James R. Swartz Entrepreneurial Fellow
ClimateCap Fellow
MLT PD Fellow
Consortium Fellow
Project Olympus, Fall 23 Cohort

Leadership Roles:

Energy Clean Tech Club – President 2024/2025
Graduate Entrepreneurship Club – Board Member
Latin American Business Club – Board Member
Tepper Brewmeisters – Board Member
Entrepreneurship Liaison at CMU’s Sustainability Initiative

Competitions/Awards:

Tepper Foundation MBA Fellowship Scholarship Recipient
Hack A Startup 2024 – Finalist
Rice Business Plan Competition – Finalist (in progress)
Microsoft’s Imagine Cup 2025 – Semi Finalist (in progress)
McGinnis Venture Competition – Finalist (in progress)

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am most proud of becoming a James R. Swartz Fellow at Carnegie Mellon. When I left the professional world to pursue my MBA, I had no idea what entrepreneurship and the startup ecosystem would truly be like. I distinctly remember arriving on campus and meeting the faculty at the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship. Dave Mawhinney and the rest of the team welcomed me with open arms, encouraging me to explore and refine the entrepreneurial ideas I had. Their support was instrumental in helping me build Sabana, recruit a co-founder, and secure funding through Techstars. This experience not only shaped my startup but also allowed me to contribute to Tepper’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by helping other students explore their own ventures. Without being awarded this fellowship and the support by the Swartz Center, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve so much in such a short time.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? In 2020, I received the John Wiebenson Award from the American Institute of Architects, recognizing my dedication to mentorship and community impact in Washington, D.C. This honor was especially meaningful as it highlighted my efforts beyond architecture; specifically for supporting organizations like DC Central Kitchen and So Others Might Eat (SOME) in my own time. For me, the most important aspect of our work is the impact we have on others, and this award affirmed the power that architects can have to drive positive change in their communities.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Carnegie Mellon because I knew that building a startup tackling complex real-world challenges requires world-class talent. Carnegie Mellon is the #1 Computer Science school in the nation and a pioneer in Artificial Intelligence, making it the ideal place to launch a business like Sabana. The Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship stood out to me not only because of the amount of support and guidance that it offers, but rather the talent pool it attracts. It’s a top tier hub, where ambitious founders and experienced mentors come together to push bold ideas forward. If I was going to build something transformative, I needed to be in an environment where I could surround myself with the best minds to make it happen. To me, it was the perfect combination for the journey I wanted to pursue.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Dave Mawhinney has been an advocate and believer from day one. He listens, mentors, and pushes you to do your best work. I feel very grateful to work with empathetic leaders like Dave that have real world experience in the world of startups and venture capital. I’ve taken his courses, Marketing for Entrepreneurs and Commercialization and Innovation Workshop, where I gained invaluable insights into high-growth startups, completely reshaping my perspective on businesses like these. Additionally, he is my Capstone advisor and we have dedicated time each week to talk about my startup’s wins and losses and how to push forward.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite MBA course was AI Venture Studio in Spring 2024 with Prof. Paulisick and Prof. Amiratti. This fast-paced, interdisciplinary class brought together graduate and PhD students across AI, ML, robotics, and business to collaborate on entrepreneurial ideas. I pitched my concept, built a team, and laid the foundation for Sabana alongside my co-founder, Saket Kulkarni. Our idea evolved throughout the course, culminating in a Demo Day where investors encouraged us to keep going. Just weeks later, we began pitching accelerators, and by June, we committed to Techstars AI in Chicago to take Sabana to the next level.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? One of my favorite MBA traditions was attending the annual ClimateCAP Conference with the Tepper School’s Energy and Clean Tech Club. I look back fondly on those weekends at Ross (2024) and Haas (2025), where I connected with MBAs from top business schools who share a passion for sustainability. It’s a rare opportunity to build lasting friendships and collaborate on climate-focused initiatives. As a ClimateCAP Fellow, I’m very proud to have helped establish this as a new tradition for Tepper students!

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Even though I’ve learned that starting a business requires ruthless prioritization, I wish I had spent more time with classmates through extracurriculars. Specifically, I would have joined an affinity club earlier. I only joined the Golf Club in my final semester, and I wish I had done it sooner to better balance work with fun hobbies. Unplugging once a week and spending time with classmates in a more relaxed setting has been a great way to recharge and build deeper connections with some of the classmates I haven’t had much of a chance of meeting.

What is the biggest myth about your school? A common misconception about the Tepper School is that it’s solely tech-focused. While many of us do explore AI, data science, and product management, the MBA curriculum is well-balanced, offering strong interdisciplinary courses and concentrations in operations, strategy, and general management. The Tepper School encourages cross-campus learning, and I’ve seen many classmates take courses at the Heinz College of Public Policy to deepen their expertise in policy and leadership. Personally, I took a Life Cycle Analysis course at the College of Engineering, which expanded my understanding of sustainability and carbon emissions calculations. This flexibility allows students to tailor their MBA experience to their unique interests and career goals.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? Pittsburgh is slept on! Coming from Washington, D.C., my fiancée and I explored MBA options on the East Coast, looking for an affordable city with great activities, festivals, and food options. While most Tepper School students stay near campus (Oakland), we chose to live downtown in the Cultural District, and it’s been an amazing experience. I love walking my dog around the city, enjoying the diverse restaurant scene, and catching theater performances or comedy shows in one of Pittsburgh’s many great venues. The city offers so much more than people expect. Also, having a fiancée who’s a proud Yinzer made the choice even easier!

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? For the work I’ve been doing, I have to go with Silicon Valley on HBO. While it’s largely satirical and a completely ridiculous depiction of the industry, the show does capture several underlying truths about startup culture. For instance, investor Russ Hanneman says, “It’s not about how much you earn. It’s about what you’re worth. And who’s worth the most? Companies that lose money.” This statement highlights how high-growth startups often prioritize valuation over immediate profitability in order to expand quickly. Unlike traditional businesses that focus on sustainable revenue, many startups operate at a loss to attract investors and expand market share. If you decide to raise through venture capital, this is a reality you’ll likely have to navigate.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? Carnegie Mellon is one of the best universities in the world to learn about AI, and its curriculum is evolving rapidly to keep pace with advancements. New AI-focused courses open every minimester, including AI Venture Studio, which was first offered when I started. Additionally, I’ve taken courses like Design Thinking with AI, Commercialization and Innovation, and my Entrepreneurship Capstone, where I’ve had to use different AI products.

For students interested in the latest technologies, I can’t emphasize this enough: come to CMU and explore its interdisciplinary curriculum. Coming from a traditional architecture background, working alongside Computer Science students, AI Masters, and PhD researchers has opened up an entirely new world for me. These experiences extended beyond the classroom, ultimately leading me to co-found a startup with fellow students and later join the Techstars AI Accelerator last fall.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? There are so many classmates I admire, but I have to pick my great friend Tatiana Imler. She is an absolute rockstar. She’s a mother of two, incredibly ambitious and curious, and always willing to help others. We both joined Consortium prior to coming to Carnegie Mellon, and from the day we met, I knew she was destined for great things. Her time management skills are unmatched! Somehow, she balances the Business and Tech Club, Consortium, Forté, and countless other extracurriculars while raising amazing kids. McKinsey is incredibly lucky to have her!

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? First, I want to continue growing my startup and see how far we can take it. Startups come with a lot of uncertainty, and I’ve learned to embrace that. My ultimate goal is to build a self-sustaining business that truly improves the lives of our customers and team.

Second, once the dust settles, I’d love to give back to Carnegie Mellon. The school has given me so much, and I hope to return one day as an Entrepreneur in Residence or in some faculty capacity. Probably not as a full-time professor, but in a flexible role where I can continue working on startups while mentoring the next generation of students. I’ve always loved mentoring and working with people, and I can’t think of a better way to pay it forward than helping others who, like me, needed guidance to embark on this crazy adventure.

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

“Ruben has been an invaluable addition to the Tepper School MBA Class of 2025, embodying the entrepreneurial spirit and leadership that define the very best of our community. His vision and drive have not only propelled his own startup forward—while simultaneously managing the demands of a full-time MBA and a competitive accelerator program—but have also significantly contributed to building a stronger entrepreneurship ecosystem at Carnegie Mellon. Most notably, he took the initiative to launch and lead a climate-focused hackathon, bringing together students from across the university to tackle pressing sustainability challenges. His ability to inspire action and create opportunities for others speaks to his deep commitment to both innovation and impact.

What truly sets Ruben apart, however, is his humility, humor, and collaborative spirit. Despite juggling immense responsibilities, he remains a generous and supportive peer, always willing to lend his time, insight, and encouragement to those around him. His resilience and discipline are matched by his care for his community, making him not just a standout entrepreneur, but also a deeply valued classmate and friend. Ruben represents the best of the Tepper School — determined, forward-thinking, and committed to leaving things better than he found them.”

Meredith Meyer Grelli
Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship, Tepper School of Business

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