Theodore Loles

“Doughy-faced entrepreneur with a passion for turning ideas into reality”

Hometown: Athens, Greece

Fun Fact About Yourself: I was interviewed by Spike Lee for a Knicks documentary.

Undergraduate School and Major: George Washington University, Dramatic Literature

Most Recent Employer and Job Title:

General Manager at White Sail Linen, an Atlanta-based commercial laundry. Before that, I worked on several productions in the NYC Film & Television industry.

What has been your favorite part of Atlanta so far? What has made it such a great place to earn an MBA?

Coming from New York, I thought I would have a tough time adapting to a smaller city, but Atlanta is an international foodie’s paradise. If you’re willing to travel a little outside your neighborhood, you can find delicious cuisine from every corner of the globe!

From an MBA perspective, Atlanta’s dynamic business environment makes it an exceptional place to grow and thrive. No matter the industry – whether consulting, tech, finance, or beyond – nearly every major company has a presence here, and the Scheller name carries significant weight. As an entrepreneur, I am particularly inspired by our proximity to exciting start-up accelerators like ATDC (Advanced Technology Development Center), located just down the block from Scheller. The variety of opportunities for MBAs at Scheller, from corporate connections to entrepreneurial resources, ensures that every student can find a pathway to achieve their goals.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was one key part of the Scheller MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?

As an experiential learner, I was particularly drawn to Scheller’s practicum-based curriculum and smaller class sizes. The chance to engage deeply with my peers and professors while gaining hands-on, real-world experience to complement classroom learning perfectly aligned with what I was seeking in my MBA journey.

In particular, the TI:GER (Technology Innovation: Generating Economic Results) program stood out as a perfect fit for my entrepreneurial aspirations, offering a unique opportunity to collaborate on transforming innovative technologies into viable business ventures and gaining invaluable experience in commercialization.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Georgia Tech?

My favorite course so far has, shockingly enough, been Financial and Managerial Accounting. Professor Blunck is a phenomenal educator with a talent for turning complex accounting concepts into engaging, practical lessons that feel relevant and applicable. I blame him for inspiring me to sign up for more accounting electives next semester!

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:

My biggest accomplishment would be helping to launch and scale a laundry start-up, transforming it from a humble laundromat into a key player in Atlanta’s competitive commercial laundry market.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far?

Returning to school after over a decade of working required me to step outside my comfort zone, embrace radical change, and fully commit to growing both personally and professionally in this new chapter of my journey. The result has been incredibly rewarding, and I feel fortunate to be part of such a supportive and inspiring community that fosters continuous learning and growth.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far?

My favorite memories thus far as an MBA have been attending some of the incredible showcases and conferences at Georgia Tech, such as Create-X and the TechForward Conference. These events bring together students, entrepreneurs, and business leaders from all corners of industry, offering an inspiring glimpse into the groundbreaking ideas and innovations being explored firsthand here. These events have solidified my appreciation for Scheller as a world-class business institution and a hub for transformative learning and collaboration.