Valeria Gavidia

Duke University, Fuqua School of Business

“Dynamic leader who is passionate about sports and entertainment and thrives on building authentic connections.”

Hometown: Lima, Peru

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have lived on 3 continents (South America, North America and Europe) and visited 37 countries.

Undergraduate School and Major: New York University, BS in Sports Management

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Seven Hills Global, Junior VP of Events & Operations

The MBA program is renowned for its “Team Fuqua” culture, which is predicated on six paired principles: Authentic Engagement, Supportive Ambition, Collective Diversity, Impactful Stewardship, Loyal Community, and Uncompromising Integrity. Which of these resonates most with you – and what does that principle demand of you as a Fuqua MBA? Uncompromising Integrity resonates most with me because it is increasingly rare to find in today’s world. Here, the boom of technology, shifting political landscapes and relentless pursuit of the bottom line offer endless motivation for individuals and organizations to prioritize self-interest over what’s right. Uncompromising Integrity means standing firm in my values—even when no one is watching—and making decisions that prioritize fairness, transparency, and accountability.

As a Fuqua MBA, this principle demands that I bring honesty and trustworthiness into every interaction, uphold the community’s standards, and hold myself accountable to my peers and the broader impact of my choices. It challenges me to lead with both courage and humility, knowing that true leadership stems from earning trust through consistent, principled actions.

Aside from your classmates and school culture, what was the key part of Duke Fuqua’s MBA curriculum programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? As someone who has worked across various cultures, Fuqua’s Global Academic Travel Experience (GATE) is tremendously appealing. It is a unique opportunity to become an expert on a different country’s corporate culture, political climate, and social customs, and hear and see some of the challenges that we may otherwise never realize exist in the world. I believe global awareness unlocks the bigger picture and catalyzes the urge to do right by others and the world.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Duke Fuqua? I am most excited about Fuqua Fridays because it is an opportunity to bridge the gap across all Fuqua students and faculty; it offers a friendly and lively environment to create connections that may not otherwise be available in one’s day-to-day MBA curriculum.

What do you like most about North Carolina so far? The beautiful nature. Since landing at the Raleigh-Durham airport, the vibrantly green landscape has been captivating. I look forward to exploring the different lakes and mountains around as well!

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career? Delivering a successful 6-week, 2,000+ guest Rugby World Cup hospitality activation in Japan next to a world-class event execution team on behalf of our client, Mastercard.

Looking ahead two years, what would make your MBA experience successful? My MBA experience will have been successful when I walk away with meaningful life-long connections, memorable global experiences and a career path that excites and challenges me.

DON’T MISS: MEET DUKE FUQUA’S MBA CLASS OF 2027

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