Adrianna Tomasello

New York University, Stern School of Business

“Extreme extrovert passionate about sharing culture through travel, food, and dance with family and friends!”

Hometown: East Haven, CT

Fun fact about yourself: I love themed celebrations so much that I celebrated my 30th birthday twice! Once with a “13 Going on 30” themed party and again with a double quinceañera celebration with my sister.

Undergraduate School and Degree: College of the Holy Cross, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Spanish

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Solv Health, People Operations Partner

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? Prudential, Newark, NJ

Where will you be working after graduation? Prudential, HR Lead Rotation Associate

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

Graduate Ambassador

Teaching Fellow, Difficult Conversations & Storytelling for Impact

Co-President, Stern Women in Business

Vice President of Diversity Committee, Stern Government

Vice President of Events, Association of Hispanic and Black Business Students

Graduate Assistant, IDBEA

Fellow & Consortium Liaison, Consortium for Graduate Study in Management

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? My most fulfilling achievement during business school was serving as co-president of Stern Women in Business (SWIB) alongside Riley Kilgariff. Through our leadership, we expanded SWIB’s impact by developing intentional programming focused on professional development, allyship, and community building. Our team successfully cultivated corporate partnerships that broadened career opportunities for our members, while our annual conference brought together industry executives, faculty, and students for meaningful discussions on breaking barriers in business. The most rewarding aspect was witnessing SWIB’s tangible impact as members secured roles, built confidence, and formed lasting connections. My co-presidential experience with Riley provided invaluable lessons in collaborative leadership, strategic decision-making, and driving organizational change. These are skills I’ll carry forward throughout my professional career.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Early in my career, I was most proud of co-creating a sponsorship program at my organization. The sponsorship program was an inclusive leadership development initiative designed to address the lack of diverse representation in senior leadership. I volunteered to co-develop this program, which paired promising employees with senior leaders while providing comprehensive learning tools to foster inclusive leadership skills. The program proved successful, with 86% of participants receiving promotions by the end of the 12-month program.

Working with an exceptional team to transform our vision into reality was incredibly fulfilling. The most meaningful aspect came when filming a promotional video, as I interviewed past participants and heard firsthand accounts of the program’s profound impact on their professional development and careers.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Stern because of the strong sense of community I experienced during Accepted Students Day. The Club Fair showcased various spaces where I could both find my own community and support others through allyship. As a Consortium Fellow, that day’s panel discussions illustrated how I could navigate my student experience with an extended peer support network. Stern’s smaller class size promised exactly the tight-knit community environment I was craving for my MBA journey.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Professor Jennifer Wynn, my favorite MBA professor, completely transformed my professional and personal life through her Difficult Conversations class during my first year. Her teaching approach creates a safe space for interactive learning rather than relying on traditional lectures. With strong academic credentials, senior leadership experience, cross-sector expertise, and an entrepreneurial background, Professor Wynn brings exceptional insights, practical wisdom, and valuable network connections to the Stern community. As a Stern MBA alumna, she approaches her work with genuine empathy and openness to feedback, whether teaching a class or moderating a panel. Working as her Teaching Fellow for Difficult Conversations this spring has deepened my appreciation for her authentic leadership style, making her guidance a true privilege in my MBA experience.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Power and Professional Influence with Professor Dolly Chugh was my favorite MBA course. In her engaging and inclusive learning environment, Professor Chugh provides evidence-based insights that move beyond naive assumptions about how influence actually works in organizations, helping students develop genuine “political intelligence.”

Through this course, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of my relationship to power, learned how to build professional power sources, and mastered effective influence techniques for conflict resolution and change leadership. These valuable skills will be instrumental as I seek to make an impact both in my career and beyond the workplace.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? Passport Day stands as my favorite tradition at Stern. It is truly the most joyful event on campus! During this celebration, my peers enthusiastically share their heritage as they serve traditional foods from their home countries, wear cultural attire, and perform traditional dances.

Last year, I had the pleasure of joining fellow Puerto Rican students to share our beloved cuisine, and this year, I’m excited to organize a salsa dance performance. This vibrant tradition beautifully reflects the Stern community’s commitment to unity and cultural celebration, allowing us to honor what matters most to our fellow students through food, dance, and festivities. By experiencing these diverse cultural expressions, we become more inclusive leaders who appreciate and understand different perspectives.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Reflecting on my MBA journey, I regret not participating in one of the many experiential learning opportunities available to strengthen my consulting skills. Stern offers numerous classes that pair students with real-life clients, providing valuable hands-on experience working in teams to solve actual business challenges. Had I enrolled in one of these practical courses, I could have further enriched my MBA experience.

What is the biggest myth about your school? As a Graduate Ambassador, I’m frequently asked how often I see my classmates outside the classroom, given the perception that many Sternies already have established lives in NYC when they enroll. This is my favorite myth to bust about Stern. We are definitely not a commuter school! Despite having moved to NYC specifically for Stern and already having good friends in the city from my pre-MBA life, I found myself spending significantly more time with my classmates than with my existing social circle. While everyone naturally maintains their own schedule and priorities, Sternies genuinely make time to connect and foster meaningful friendships within our community. This creates a truly immersive MBA experience regardless of prior NYC ties.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? Living in NYC has always been my dream. Experiencing it as a Stern student is particularly thrilling due to the abundance of activities beyond the classroom. With our campus nestled in lower Manhattan, most attractions are just a short walk away, allowing me to easily enjoy my favorite activities like exploring new restaurants, attending Broadway shows, and participating in talk show tapings. I especially value that the majority of my classmates plan to remain in NYC after graduation, which will strengthen our alumni network and create opportunities for in-person connections for years to come!

What movie or television show best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? Ted Lasso best reflects business realities by demonstrating that compassionate leadership isn’t merely morally superior but can actually outperform traditional approaches. By integrating personal care with professional expectations, Ted creates an environment where people are intrinsically motivated to excel rather than simply fearing failure’s consequences. In today’s business landscape, where burnout and disengagement impact many organizations, the show serves as a refreshing reminder that effectiveness and empathy can powerfully coexist. The series ultimately suggests that perhaps the most impactful business strategy is the simplest one: treating people well.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? Professor Dolly Chugh’s approach to integrating AI into our Power and Professional Influence assignments has transformed my perspective. By encouraging us to view AI tools as a “thoughtful and thought-provoking roommate” that “challenges you so that you emerge wiser from the assignment,” Professor Chugh has helped me overcome my first-year hesitation about using AI technologies. This framing has fundamentally shifted my mindset, allowing me to see how AI can serve not as a replacement for original thinking, but as a collaborative tool that strengthens and refines my own ideas.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I most admire my fellow Sternie Danielle Hoang. Her warm and welcoming nature immediately stood out when we met during the pre-orientation Hamptons trip. Danielle brings authenticity to everything she does at Stern, from her academic pursuits to her legendary social media presence for Stern Adventures, drawing peers to her genuine leadership style. As Stern Government Co-President, she demonstrates strong dedication to enhancing the student experience. Danielle has brought so much joy to our community, making these past two years at Stern unimaginable without her presence and contributions.

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

1. Be a keynote speaker during a professional conference in my field of work.
2. Become an “executive sponsor” for an Employee Resource Group (ERG) in my organization to champion the ERG and its community members at the highest levels of leadership.

What made Adrianna an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“What makes Adrianna a wonderful addition to the Class of 2025 is her deep commitment to everything she is involved in and her desire to make a long-lasting impact at Stern and beyond.

When Adrianna joined Stern, she immediately became involved in mission-driven roles and organizations. As a Graduate Fellow for the Inclusion, Diversity, Belonging, Equity, and Accessibility group and Vice President of the Diversity Committee with Stern Student Government, Adrianna quickly became involved in leading strategies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In her first year as a Graduate Fellow, she helped to create structured programming around Cultural Intelligence (CQ) – building upon Stern’s IQ + EQ value. In this role, Adrianna partnered with Stern administrators to moderate an alumni panel on Elevating Global Leadership: Models of Cultural Intelligence. It was nice to see Adrianna use EQ and CQ in action by facilitating a discussion with Stern alumni on the importance of cultural intelligence from a global perspective. Her ability to use her own experience studying and living abroad to relate to both the alumni and audience members made the conversation poignant and relatable to attendees.

As a second-year MBA student, Adrianna took on a leadership role, serving as Co-President of the Stern Women in Business Association (SWIB), where she aims to create an inclusive environment and welcoming space for all members. For Women’s History Month, she helped organize the SWIB conference with this year’s theme, focusing on Empowering Women and Advancing Change. This conference brings current students, alumni, and community members together to discuss important topics like women-led entrepreneurship and the future of women at work.

No matter how involved she is on campus, Adrianna always remembers to lend a helping hand to those aspiring to join Stern. Adrianna assists prospective students in making important decisions about their graduate education. As a Graduate Ambassador for NYU Stern Admissions, she meets with countless prospective students and shares her Stern experience. Even while studying abroad in London, Adrianna took time to host a London Coffee Chat for any London-based prospective students to engage in a casual conversation about her student experience. Whether near or far, we know that Adrianna will be an engaged member of the community.

Outside of her formal leadership roles, Adrianna is always willing to go above and beyond to help make an impact on another Sternie’s experience. As a career coach, I meet with hundreds of students to help them make important career decisions. Oftentimes, students will ask, “Is there anyone in the program you recommend I speak to about this field or experience?” Without hesitation, I often find myself recommending that students speak with Adrianna. This is because she has fully immersed herself in the Stern experience, taking on new and exciting roles, and has built a reputation as a trusted resource on campus.”

Fatim Lelenta
Senior Associate Director, Coaching; Careers | Full-time MBA; NYU Stern

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