Wilco Carey

New York University, Stern School of Business

“I’m an actor rather than reactor and believe the greatest adventure is what lies ahead.”

Hometown: West Simsbury, Connecticut

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve bungee jumped over Victoria Falls, skydived on Long Island, and am excited to paraglide in South America next.

Undergraduate School and Major: (Include Graduate School if Relevant) Boston College, Political Science

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: USSA International LLC, Senior Associate

What excites you the most about living in New York City and how do you see it enhancing your learning experience? There’s no better backdrop for an MBA than New York City, where every industry thrives side-by-side. It’s a place where you can grow into a greater version of yourself—professionally and personally—while exploring a career path that’s uniquely yours. The opportunities to learn from and engage with professionals across fields that interest you are as endless as the metropolis itself.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of NYU Stern’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?  Stern’s commitment to both IQ and EQ (emotional intelligence) was a key factor in my decision. I’d long known Stern for its academic rigor, but what stood out in my research was how deeply emotional intelligence is embedded in the program. This ranges from the EQ endorsement in the application to the curriculum that develops adaptable, human-centered leaders. At a time when leadership demands more than technical skill, Stern’s emphasis on EQ feels essential.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at NYU Stern? Beyond the Graduate Finance Association, which will prepare me for the next leg of my finance career, and OutClass, where I’ll connect with LGBTQ+ peers, I’m most excited about the Stern Policy Forum. Its open, non-partisan discussions on politics and current events remind me of those held in the Eagle Political Society I co-founded during undergrad.

What does EQ (Emotional Intelligence) mean to you and when have you seen its value in your career? EQ (emotional intelligence) goes beyond reading the room. It means seeing through the eyes of your peers, leadership, and clients. What’s important to them? What makes them tick? When you approach professional relationships with that mindset, you build trust faster, add value more effectively, and position yourself for long-term success.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Across roles spanning law, risk management, engineering, financial products, and geopolitics, my greatest accomplishment has been helping organizations grow by building and scaling new business lines and the systems behind them. Whether generating recurring revenue through expanded financial product offerings or designing a cross-functional process to measure and mitigate cyber risk, I’ve consistently left each firm stronger, more resilient, and better positioned for the future.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2027? I view myself as an ally to all my classmates. My diverse experiences across industries and cultures allow me to offer a learned perspective on career paths and life transitions. Still, I see these relationships as mutual, not one-way. I’m equally committed to learning from peers of all backgrounds, which will challenge my thinking and strengthen my leadership skills.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into NYU Stern’s MBA program? The aphorism “know thyself,” often attributed to Socrates, still holds true, especially when applying to business school. Before I applied to Stern, I took the time to reflect: What are my strengths? Where do I want to grow? What genuinely motivates me? That self-knowledge shaped essays that were clear, personal, and specific to my story. The applications that stand out, the ones the admissions committee remembers and advocates for, come from people who write with honesty, intention, and a strong sense of self.

DON’T MISS: MEET NYU STERN’S MBA CLASS OF 2027

© Copyright 2026 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.