Eric Frey

Georgia Tech, Scheller College of Business

Class: 2021

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL

Fun Fact About Yourself: I spent my early childhood growing up on a sailboat touring the Caribbean islands.

Undergraduate School and Major: Georgia Tech – Industrial and Systems Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Manhattan Associates – Senior Consultant

What did your parents do for a living? My dad is an automotive part supplier and my mom is a stay-at-home mother.

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your father? My father had formal schooling until seventh grade but then became an apprentice and my mother has a handful of college credits.

Which family member or mentor is your biggest inspiration or role model? Why? Both of my parents are my biggest role models. They immigrated from their respective countries with little to nothing and made themselves successful here.

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? I didn’t have a choice, my parents told me I was going to college.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? My biggest worry was choosing the right institution.

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? It was Georgia Tech engineering; the whole thing was challenging.

What didn’t your family understand about the higher experience that you wish they would understand better? I believe my parents thought this was something that was “run of the mill” and it was actually a much bigger deal than they thought.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? This is something I always wanted to pursue. For me, the time had come to just simply follow through with it. Additionally, I am a “learner” and I knew the curriculum would play to my interests.

How did you choose your MBA program? Convenience and cost. I was looking for the best bang for my buck.

What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA? Losing out on two years of salary from a job that was paying me very well.

How were you able to finance your MBA as a first-generation student? I financed my MBA through personal savings and a private loan.

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students? Don’t let the little “details” stop you from pursuing what you want. Go after the over-arching goal and figure out the “details” later. You’ll find that stuff has an uncanny way of working itself out.

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? I am pursuing a full time position within a technology firm, I’d name who but I don’t want to jinx it.

DON’T MISS: 2020 FIRST GENERATION MBAS: THE BOLD, BRILLIANT, AND BIG-HEARTED