Tristan Carico

Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of Management

“Tenacious educator, entrepreneur, and renaissance man passionate about helping students overcome self-imposed limitations.”

Hometown: Chattanooga, TN

Fun Fact About Yourself: I play four musical instruments and own one of the last custom basses ever made by M.V. Pedulla Guitars.

Undergraduate School and Major: Sewanee: The University of the South, Psychology

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Tarkwork, Founder & CEO

What has been your favorite part of Nashville so far? Why? My favorite part of Nashville has been exploring the city’s live music scene. There are so many small venues and bars with talented musicians performing throughout the week, and I’ve loved discovering them one-by-one.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Vanderbilt Owen’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?
The Center for Entrepreneurship was a major factor in my decision. I wanted a business school that would support and guide me down the non-traditional path of running and scaling my own business, and Owen’s initiative to create real opportunities for student entrepreneurs made it the best fit.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Vanderbilt Owen? The startup workshops run through the Center for Entrepreneurship have been my favorite. Each one focuses on a practical topic like developing an MVP or acquiring your first customers. After every session, I’ve taken at least one idea from the workshop and immediately applied it to my business.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment has been launching and scaling my test prep tutoring company, Tarkwork. I founded it as a senior in high school after friends and family asked how I had improved my ACT score by 10 points. What began as a side hustle grew into a business that has helped more than 200 students earn millions of dollars in scholarships and gain admission to their dream schools. I’m especially proud that I was able to grow the company into a profitable business employing more than a dozen tutors while continuing to serve students through major challenges like test-optional policies and testing center shutdowns during the pandemic.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? My biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far has been receiving the Padawer Scholarship for entrepreneurship. The scholarship is awarded to students who are fully committed to launching and building their startups. I’m honored to have received it and excited about what it represents for the future of my business.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? My first Vandy tailgate and football game. It was a ton of fun hanging out with my classmates before the game, and Vanderbilt’s team had a great season this year, which made the whole experience even more high-energy.

DON’T MISS: MEET VANDERBILT OWEN’S MBA CLASS OF 2027

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