Cody Smith

Fordham University, Gabelli School of Business

“I am a dependable, flexible, and hardworking student who loves adventure and learning new things.”

Hometown: San Diego, CA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I became a private pilot at age 19 and could rent an airplane before I could rent a car.

Undergraduate School and Major: U.S. Naval Academy, B.S. in Oceanography

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: U.S. Navy, Surface Warfare Officer

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the school’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? There were several factors that led me to choose Fordham Gabelli School of Business as my business school. Aside from the prime location and quality curriculum, the small class size made the most sense for me. Each one of my classmates brings something unique to the table; having a small class size really enables us to get to know each other and learn from each other’s experiences. Not only does it lead to a more inclusive learning experience, as the professors are highly invested in the learning of each student, but there is also a sense of belonging and camaraderie where students put a priority on helping one another.

What has surprised you the most about the Gabelli MBA program? For me, the most surprising aspect of the Gabelli MBA program so far was the summer Gabelli Launch program and business consulting projects that students work on before school even starts. It really helps students get a head start on their studies and reinforces key ideas in the classroom.

What quality best describes your MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? My classmates have so many great qualities. They are all highly ambitious and intelligent, but I think the quality that is most unique is their inclusiveness and collaboration in helping everyone succeed. Every student wants to help one another in any way that they can.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment in my career thus far has leading a division of Sailors deployed overseas. The leadership lessons and problem-solving skills that I learned not only helped our team succeed but also improved the lives of the Sailors that I had the privilege of leading.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? My biggest accomplishment as an MBA student thus far has to be learning a new skillset. As a career changer, I came into the program without any prior industry experience and have since gained the understanding and skillset needed to successfully change careers.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Pursuing my MBA was a no brainer for me. I was in the Navy for seven years and I knew that I was going to be a career changer when I got out. I knew what I wanted my next career to be, but I always make the best decisions after I am fully informed. I decided to pursue my MBA to learn specific skills and also to learn more about different career paths. Looking back, it was the perfect move for me and I am so glad that I made it.

What was your defining moment and how did it prepare you for business school? I can’t say that I have a specific defining moment in my life. Rather, I think that all of my successes and all of my failures are what define me. There is always something to learn and improve upon in life and I think that this learning mentality is what prepared me for business school.

DON’T MISS: Meet Fordham Gabelli’s MBA Class of 2022