Brianna Roque

Boston College, Carroll School of Management

“Filipina-American, Bay Area native, former pre-med turned MBA passionate about healthcare equity and meaningful connection.”

Hometown: Redwood City, California & Tracy, California

Fun fact about yourself: My side hustle during the pandemic was making and selling charcuterie boards in my local neighborhood. My nickname “Bri” made for great marketing.

Undergraduate School and Degree: University of California, Berkeley | B.A. in Integrative Biology

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? UC San Francisco | Sr. Clinical Research Coordinator (Breast Oncology)

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? Sanofi, Cambridge, MA | Commercial Leadership Development Program Summer Associate

Where will you be working after graduation? Sanofi, Cambridge, MA | Manager, Commercial Leadership Development Program

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• Admissions Fellow | Graduate MBA Admissions
• Vice President of Community Service | Graduate Management Association
• Teaching Assistant | Course: Managing People & Organizations
• Alumni Mentor | UC Berkeley Pilipino Association for Health Careers

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Mentoring an undergraduate student through UC Berkeley’s Pilipino Association for Health Careers was a full-circle moment for me. Guiding her through LinkedIn creation, networking, resume editing, and interview prep reminded me of my own struggles in college—navigating career uncertainty, internship pressure, and academic demands. Over two years, I’ve witnessed her growth firsthand as she’s refined her ambitions, secured interviews, landed internships, and overall gained confidence in networking. What I didn’t expect was how much I would learn in return.

Initially, I approached our meetings with a structured, business-like tone, focusing solely on professional development. But after asking for feedback, my mentee shared that she wanted to start our sessions with personal conversations. I realized that in my drive to prepare her for the working world, I had overlooked the importance of building a genuine connection. Shifting my approach—from “What do you want to work on?” to “How was your week?”—transformed our relationship. We discovered shared interests—from healthcare equity to traveling to Japan and even experimenting with hair color—bringing vibrancy to our conversations and deepening our friendship. This experience not only helped my mentee develop her personal brand but also helped me refine my own leadership style, teaching me the power of balancing professionalism with authenticity.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? One of my greatest professional achievements was stepping up to bring structure and stability to my clinical research team at UC San Francisco during the pandemic. As part of a 10-person team responsible for both clinical and administrative operations, we faced the immense challenge of losing 40% of our staff while still managing our daily portfolio of patients. With patient care as the top priority, the situation quickly became chaotic as we scrambled to take on additional responsibilities. Recognizing the need for better organization, I proposed a rotating training system so we could learn each other’s roles and establish co-coordinators for each trial.

I also took on additional trials, quickly learning to navigate ambiguity, and communicated with pharma companies to set realistic expectations while maintaining trust. It was a demanding process, but ensuring that no patient or trial fell through the cracks was my primary goal. In the end, we not only sustained operations but also developed training tools for onboarding new staff, making the department more resilient. In a fast-paced, high-stakes environment, strategy and organization were essential, and I’m proud that my contributions left the team stronger and better prepared even after my departure.

Why did you choose this business school? Boston College’s MBA stood out to me with its strong data analytics sequence, which aligned with my goal of becoming a well-rounded leader who leveraged data to drive smart business decisions. I wanted a program that deeply integrated analytics into its business curriculum, providing hands-on experience with tools like R, SQL, and Python while also strengthening my expertise in finance, management, and marketing. This balance equipped me with both the technical and strategic skills needed to tackle complex business challenges. BC’s emphasis on data-driven decision-making ensured I would graduate as a cross-functional leader ready to navigate today’s business environment.

Additionally, having come from a larger undergraduate program, I knew I was looking for a much smaller class size in my decision to return to school. Joining a cohort of ~90 students has allowed me to form deep connections with my classmates and know my professors. Therefore, the intimate class size was another reason I chose BC, and it’s provided me with irreplaceable friendships inside and outside the classroom.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Professor Pilar Opazo, who taught Managing People & Organizations, was my favorite MBA professor. From day one, she set the tone for an engaging and deeply personal classroom experience, memorizing our names, industries, and fun facts—something I know firsthand because I later prepared those study cards for her as a TA. No two classes were ever the same—one day, we’d analyze a case study; the next, we’d watch a thought-provoking video. She made us not just students but active contributors to each other’s learning, once asking us to bring in workplace artifacts that symbolize strong cultures and share their impact. A true classroom innovator, she treated teaching as an evolving craft and always sought student feedback to refine the course.

Her research was just as fascinating—she studied Michelin-starred restaurants, interviewing top chefs to understand how culture is built and sustained in high-pressure environments. But what stood out most was how much she genuinely cared. She’d read our essays beforehand, pulled out specific quotes, and asked us to expand on them, showing how much she valued student input. She challenged me as a student, mentored me as a TA, and constantly looked for ways to improve the learning experience. Outside of class, she went above and beyond to support students, helping my peers connect with industry professionals and teaching me networking strategies that shaped how I built a new community in Boston. She pushed me to reflect on my leadership style, identify areas for growth, and take an active role in my own development. Her deep connections with students lasted well beyond graduation, often bringing back BC and MIT alumni as guest speakers, reinforcing the lasting impact she had.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? While it may seem simple, spending time in Fulton Hall’s graduate lounge was my favorite MBA tradition. It was the hub of our program—a place where students gathered before and after classes to work through problem sets, share meals, play board games, and even recap weekend shenanigans. The bulletin board there kept us in the loop on everything from community service opportunities to upcoming socials and tailgates. More than just a common space, the lounge became my second home, reflecting the intimacy and closeness of the MBA program at Boston College. It embodied the tight-knit community that made our experience so unique, where familiar faces were always around and friendships were strengthened daily. Even in the second year, as our cohort split into different electives, the lounge remained the go-to spot to reconnect with friends. No matter the day, if I wanted to see familiar faces, I knew exactly where to go.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why?Looking back, I would have engaged more intentionally with the broader Boston College community beyond the MBA program. BC offers a wealth of opportunities across disciplines, from the Makerspace, where students can take intro courses in 3D printing, to the Shea Center for Entrepreneurship, which regularly hosts insightful speaker events. The Thea Bowman AHANA & Intercultural Center also puts on incredible programming, including lunch-and-learns, cultural celebrations, and community discussions.

While I was deeply involved in the MBA experience, I see how valuable it would have been to collaborate more with other clubs, explore interdisciplinary initiatives, and build connections across programs. Attending a recent event with other graduate students through the Graduate Students of Color Club reinforced how rewarding it is to engage with a broader network. If I were to do it again, I’d take an even more proactive approach to exploring these opportunities and fostering cross-program collaborations.

What is the biggest myth about your school? One of the biggest misconceptions about Boston College’s MBA program is that it has a hyper-competitive culture—something I was admittedly nervous about after experiencing the cutthroat nature of pre-med in college. But to my surprise, BC was the complete opposite. Collaboration and camaraderie defined our class dynamics.

In such a small cohort, it was inevitable that we’d be applying for the same roles, but instead of competing, we shared knowledge freely. I’d get messages like, “Hey Bri, have you spoken to this alum at X company? You should connect—they had great advice.” If someone didn’t land a summer internship, we’d rally behind them, sharing upcoming conferences, networking events, and job opportunities.

That same spirit carried into the classroom. Group study guides, breaking down cases together before exams, and helping each other in our weaker subjects weren’t just occasional acts of kindness—they were the norm. Rather than tearing each other down, we had each other’s backs, wanting to see our classmates succeed. And when BC students landed top roles, especially in Boston, it felt like a collective win.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? What I loved most about Chestnut Hill was the perfect balance between tranquility and accessibility. The Chestnut Hill Reservoir, just off the corner of campus, became one of my favorite spots—I’d go for solo runs, weekend strolls with classmates, or just sit on a bench to read and watch the sunset. When friends visited, it was always one of the first places I’d take them. Even our Graduate Women in Business Club hosted Caffeine and Convos there, where they’d meet to walk a few laps, debrief, and share laughs on Wednesday mornings. The neighborhood itself was charming with red brick buildings (something I’d always dreamed of seeing having grown up in California) and quiet, tree-lined streets—mine even had Christmas trees planted out front, making for a stunning winter view. And whenever I craved more energy, downtown Boston and Cambridge were just a train or bus ride away, offering the best of both worlds.

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 ways Boston College’s MBA integrates AI into its curriculum is through required courses in R, SQL, and Python, which introduced me to the fundamentals of data modeling and machine learning. These classes taught me how to use mathematical models to make predictions—like assessing the likelihood of a customer defaulting on a loan, determining daily inventory needs, or forecasting demand. More importantly, I learned how to evaluate these models based on accuracy, transparency, efficiency, and ease of interpretation, tailoring my approach depending on the audience. For example, if clarity is key, a classification tree might be the best choice to help stakeholders easily visualize insights, whereas a time-sensitive decision might require a model that prioritizes speed over interpretability. Beyond just building models, I gained a deeper appreciation for understanding the source of data, recognizing where bias might exist, and learning how to make sense of complex outputs in a way that’s digestible for colleagues—especially senior leadership. The biggest takeaway? Exposure to machine learning techniques, even at a basic level, has better prepared me to work alongside data specialists in any industry with a shared language. And lastly, knowing how to bridge the gap between technical insights and strategic decision-making is a key tool in my arsenal as I step into leadership roles.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? My classmate and friend, Kristin Watson, is the kind of person you instantly gravitate toward. She calls herself the “grandma of the class,” but honestly, I’d say she’s more like the cool aunt everyone wants to hang out with. It’s not just her impressive track record—having founded and served as CEO of multiple fitness studios—or her killer fashion sense; it’s how she carries herself and has become the glue of our cohort. Her energy is contagious, both inside and outside the classroom, always finding a way to make even the shyest of peers crack a smile or share a laugh. Kristin has this unique ability to connect with people from all walks of life, approaching every conversation with genuine curiosity about what makes others tick. You can often hear her cheerful “What’s up, champ?!” echoing across campus, setting the tone for any group she’s in.

She leads by example, whether it’s as President of the Graduate Women in Business Group or VP of Communications for our Graduate Management Association. She’s always the first to step up or show up, whether it’s for a class presentation or a club meeting. What I admire most about her is how she tackles every situation with intention, always keeping the end goal in sight while never shying away from tough conversations. Kristin isn’t afraid to ask questions, challenge the status quo, or push herself outside her comfort zone, and she does it all while strengthening our community. She’s the one who lights up the room, makes everyone feel heard, and builds lasting connections with an authenticity and warmth that’s unmatched.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? First, I want to create real solutions for communities facing unique health disparities—whether that’s through expanding access to care, driving policy changes, or launching innovative therapeutics with a global reach. Further down the line, I’d love to start a women-owned holistic wellness business, blending my passion for community health, entrepreneurship, and well-being in a way that empowers people to take control of their own health and reduces barriers to access. At the end of the day, both goals come down to the same thing: creating impact where people feel seen, supported, and in control of their health.

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

“From the moment she arrived at BC, Bri radiated a palpable energy and joy. With an innate ability to forge connections, she quickly became a beacon of enthusiasm and dedication as she volunteered for many opportunities, whether to help out the Admissions team at recruitment events, connect with prospective students, or mentor her classmates and other rising professionals. She has a knack for fostering a culture of inclusion and collaboration, and as a result is someone her classmates have looked up to throughout their time at BC. Her genuine desire for everyone to thrive is evident in her actions. While she meticulously approached her studies, she always made time to extend a helping hand to others, highlighting how she found value in the collective success of her classmates.

Beyond her classmates, Bri’s presence resonated with professors and administrators alike. She has worked as a TA, represented the program as an MBA Ambassador, and as an Admissions Fellow, interviewed candidates applying to our full-time MBA program. Bri’s professional drive to leverage her clinical experience and biology background within the business realm, made the data analytics curriculum a perfect fit for her. I have no doubt that Bri will become an exceptional business leader. Her intelligence, strength, considerate nature, and deep empathy, combined with the infectious joy she brings to every endeavor, will undoubtedly propel her to doing great things professionally and for wider society.”

Marilyn Eckelman
Associate Dean, Graduate Programs
Boston College Carroll School of Management

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