Angela Zúñiga-Taylor

Texas Christian University, Neeley School of Business

“Passionate service leader, dedicated to growth, leadership, and lifelong learning in all I do.”

Hometown: Katy, Texas

Fun fact about yourself: I danced throughout college and even earned a minor in it—partly out of passion and partly because I knew my parents wouldn’t let me major in it.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Baylor University – bachelor’s in business administration concentration in marketing

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains – Product Program and Customer Experience Lead

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? AT&T

Where will you be working after graduation? AT&T – Senior Sourcing Manager

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

Graduate Women in Business President

Neeley & Associates Principal

Professional Development Coach

Graduate Assistant Communications Department of Neeley School of Business

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? During my first year, I had the opportunity to serve as a consultant for Neeley & Associates Consulting, an experiential learning program where full-time MBA and Master of Business Analytics students are selected to solve real-world business challenges. Alongside three team members, I worked with Alcon Surgical to address their need for providing physicians with greater insights into the sustainability of their surgical packs, the collection of items used during surgery. Our deliverable was a sustainability scorecard that would quantify and communicate the environmental impact of these materials.

Over the course of 16 intensive weeks, our team conducted in-depth research, delivered a mid-point presentation, and ultimately developed the first iteration of Alcon Surgical’s sustainability scorecard. The project was both challenging and rewarding, and the sense of accomplishment we felt upon completing it was unparalleled. I was so inspired by my experience as a Neeley & Associates Consultant that I now serve as a Neeley & Associates Principal, leading a team of consultants working with Alcon Pharma. It has been incredibly fulfilling to take on a leadership role and guide a new team through the same impactful experience.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? At 27 years old, I became the youngest manager for Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains, an opportunity that filled me with excitement. I was honored to uphold long-standing Girl Scout traditions, while also driving innovation to streamline processes and enhance efficiency for my team. Advocating for those I managed and empowering them to grow, excel, and reach their full potential was incredibly fulfilling. At the same time, I learned invaluable lessons from them, ones that shaped me as a leader. This experience ultimately inspired me to pursue my MBA, equipping me with the management and strategic skills needed to become an even more effective leader. I’m deeply grateful for that pivotal experience in my career.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose the TCU Neeley School of Business MBA program because of its intentionally small cohort size. From my first conversation with my recruiter, David Stein, I learned that they aim to keep cohorts around 30-35 students, which immediately stood out to me. I didn’t want to feel like just another number in a large program. I wanted a personalized experience where I could build meaningful connections and receive individualized support. The smaller cohort size has allowed me to benefit from tailored career guidance, resume development, and a more hands-on learning environment, all of which have been invaluable to my growth.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? My favorite MBA professor was Patrick Crocker, who taught Business Ethics. He was not only an engaging and passionate instructor, but also served as our subject matter expert for my Neeley & Associates project, providing invaluable guidance. His ability to explain complex ethical concepts clearly and thoughtfully made the course deeply impactful. He transformed business ethics into a class about navigating the “gray areas”, situations where decisions aren’t simply black or white, which is a skill I will carry with me for the rest of my career.

Beyond the classroom, his insights played a crucial role in shaping our sustainability scorecard for Alcon Surgical, and I truly believe our project wouldn’t have been as strong without his mentorship. His influence has not only shaped my academic growth but also prepared me to be a more thoughtful and ethical leader in the workforce.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite course so far has been Demand Forecasting with Professor Travis Tokar. I gained valuable knowledge and techniques on how to effectively order, plan, and forecast inventory, skills that are essential for any supply chain role.

In my previous position as a Product Program Lead for Girl Scouts, I was responsible for placing cookie orders for our entire council. Learning these forecasting methods has given me incredible insight into how I could have optimized ordering and improved efficiency in that role. While I won’t be returning to Girl Scouts after graduation, I hope to one day return to the nonprofit sector, or even Girl Scouts again, and apply these skills to enhance inventory planning and operations, ultimately making a greater impact.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favorite event was our two-week START Workshop orientation. We kicked off our MBA program two weeks early with an intensive introduction to what the next two years would entail. The experience included guest speakers, presentation practice, and culminated in an exciting case competition with Dell in Austin, where we had the opportunity to present our solutions to Dell executives.

While it was definitely overwhelming at first, it was also an incredible way to begin our journey. The structure and planning behind the workshop showed just how much Neeley was invested in our success, not just academically, but also in our confidence and preparedness. They understood that many of us were returning to the classroom after years in the workforce and went the extra mile to ensure we had the tools and support to transition smoothly. It was clear from day one that they truly cared about our growth and future success.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Looking back on my MBA experience, it might still feel a bit early to say what I’d do differently, but one thing I wish I had done more was attending the social events organized by our social chairs. While I built strong bonds throughout the program, I know that participating in more of these events would have given me even more opportunities to connect, create lasting memories, and fully embrace this unique experience. The MBA journey isn’t just about academic and career growth, it’s also about the relationships you build along the way, and I would have loved to make even more of those moments count.

What is the biggest myth about your school? A common myth about TCU is that being a smaller school might limit opportunities. However, I’ve found that TCU is small but mighty—what it lacks in size, it makes up for in a strong, deeply connected community. People who attend, support, or love TCU are incredibly dedicated to giving back, whether through mentorship, networking, or creating opportunities for students, faculty, and staff. The tight-knit environment fosters meaningful relationships and access to resources that sometimes feel even more impactful than what you might find at a larger school.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? I absolutely love Fort Worth for its blend of big-city energy and small-town charm. In many college towns, the university can sometimes overshadow the city, but TCU and Fort Worth coexist seamlessly, each with its own distinct personality yet working together in perfect synergy to create a welcoming community.

What movie or television show best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? I’ve been watching Severance, and it has really made me reflect on modern corporate culture, particularly the themes of work-life balance and the psychological toll of demanding workplaces. It also highlights how corporate environments can sometimes feel superficial or disingenuous, reinforcing the importance of human connection in the workplace. Watching Severance has pushed me to reevaluate my own leadership approach. I ask myself, am I fostering a culture where employees feel valued as whole individuals, or one that prioritizes productivity at the expense of well-being? It’s a reminder that great leadership requires balancing efficiency with empathy.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? One of the best ways TCU has integrated AI into its programming is by embracing its potential rather than resisting it. The school encourages us to use AI as a tool for initial research and idea generation, helping us refine our thinking rather than replace it.

I also had the opportunity to attend TCU’s Global Supply Chain Summit, where AI’s current and future applications were a key focus. Sitting in on a panel of industry experts, I gained firsthand insights into how companies are leveraging AI for innovation and efficiency.

Through these experiences, I’ve learned how to use AI to enhance productivity and problem-solving, rather than viewing it as a shortcut. TCU’s approach has empowered me to explore AI as a valuable tool for strategic decision-making in my career.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? The women in my cohort have been incredibly inspiring, but one classmate I especially admire is Thinh Lam. She was part of my mini-group, which was formed by our graduate office during our START Workshop and remained together throughout our first semester.

Originally from Vietnam, Thinh worked for Unilever before coming to TCU for her MBA. I deeply admire her courage to move to a completely different country, adapt to a new culture, and not just succeed but thrive. She brings a uniquely analytical mindset and an exceptional ability to problem solve in ways that challenge my own thinking. Learning alongside her has been an incredibly valuable experience, and I’m grateful for the perspective and insight she has brought to our cohort

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

Advance to an executive-level position, where I can lead meaningful organizational growth.

Serve on a nonprofit board, contributing my expertise to help shape strategic initiatives and create a lasting impact in the nonprofit sector.

What made Angela Zúñiga-Taylor such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“I have had the opportunity to observe Angela in action for nearly all her time at Neeley, first as a new MBA working with her cohort on a project with Dell, followed by her serving as a 1st-year MBA consultant on a Neeley & Associates Consulting (N&A) project with the surgical business unit of Alcon. That demonstrated performance and leadership led her to be one of seven students selected to serve in their second year as a principal in that program. As a principal, she is leading a team assisting the pharmaceutical business unit at Alcon, where she interacts directly with the Global GM for Alcon Pharma. Angela is at the top of her class with a 3.958 GPA. While garnering this top academic performance and contributing in the ways outlined below to her class, Angela’s summer 2024 internship with AT&T was rewarded with her joining AT&T upon her May 2025 graduation as a Senior Sourcing Manager.

Angela was elected by her class to lead Neeley’s Graduate Women in Business organization. Here, she fostered a strong sense of community and professional development, including organizing numerous C-level Confidential Evenings with C-level women from GM Financial, Amazon Studios, and later this semester Hain Celestial. Working as a first-year MBA consultant with the surgical business unit at Alcon, her teammates rated her first in leadership, competence, and teamwork three different times in confidential 360s. In the teamwork category, one of Angela’s senior classmates even stated, “Best teammate ever.” This year as a Principal in Neeley & Associates Consulting, Angela’s leadership and organizational skills were obvious among all Principal peers as she took the lead in initiating a formal interview and selection process from among interested graduated students. Those same individuals gave her a 10 on a 1 to 10 scale in the 5 commitment categories of students, other Principals, the Neeley & Associates Consulting program, the Neeley school, and to his or herself.

Angela’s warmth, smile, and authenticity make every interaction with her, whether individually or in a group, a positive for all involved. She lives Neeley’s core values in her upholding honesty and ethical behavior while respecting individual autonomy, valuing each person’s worth and treating everyone with respect, and promoting a culture that embraces diversity, practices tolerance, and commits to serving others. Always there to help, her day-to-day actions made her class better. Angela Zuniga-Taylor is one of those “standard-bearers – who will be the same wherever they land.”

Ed Riefenstahl
Director of Graduate Experiential Learning

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2025

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