Brittany Fidalgo

New York University, Stern School of Business

“A Cape Verdean- Colombian- American woman taking a triple bottom line approach to her career.”

Hometown: Lake Mary, Florida

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve completed the Brooklyn Half Marathon

Undergraduate School and Major: Brown University BA in Economics and in International Relations

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Morris Adjmi Architects; Human Resources Manager

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? Aside from my classmates, NYU Stern’s experiential learning was a major factor in choosing the MBA program. The “Doing Business In” program offers students a chance to gain a deeper understanding of issues, challenges and opportunities of conducting business in other countries. As someone interested in broadening my understanding of conducting business across borders, this was a very appealing part of the program.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at NYU Stern? I am most excited to take part in Management Consulting Association (MCA), Association of Hispanic and Black Business Students (AHBBS), Stern Women in Business (SWIB) and Stern Adventurers.The MCA is known to be a great club for those interested in pursuing consulting and provides resources and programing to prepare for recruiting. AHBBS is an affinity group for black and Hispanic students. I identify as both black and Latina and look forward to joining the community. SWIB is an affinity group for women that I also look forward to connecting with further. Lastly, I am excited to meet fellow Sternies with a passion for exploring, hiking and trying new things!

What excites you the most about living in New York City and how do you see it enhancing your learning experience?

Having lived in New York City for the past eight years, I am looking forward to continuing to be a part of this lively city while pursuing my MBA.  The vibrant culture along with the various industries headquartered in New York City means there will be endless opportunities to connect with peers and industry leaders. Being able to grow my professional networks with businesses a walk or subway ride away is a huge plus, allowing me to optimize my time at Stern.

What does EQ (Emotional Intelligence) mean to you and when have you seen its value in your career? EQ means not only being aware of one’s emotions, but also being able to express them in a meaningful way. This allows one to handle interpersonal relationships in a mature manner. As a human resources professional, I have found that many employee relations issues stem from miscommunication. Being able to clearly communicate thoughts and feelings to others and to understand another person’s perspective greatly enhances collaboration and the overall experience in the workplace.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I would say my biggest accomplishment in my career so far has been managing human resources through COVID-19. Working on and implementing interim policy and a return to work policy when the world was full of uncertainty was a true challenge, and I can look back and be proud of my actions.

How did COVID-19 change your perspective on your career and your life in general? I have always valued health and wellness in the workplace and in my personal lifestyle. Seeing the devastating effects of COVID-19 reaffirmed my commitment to maintaining and promoting a healthy lifestyle. The pandemic was also a reminder of the uncertainty of life and that making a positive impact on the communities I am a part of throughout my career and in life in general is a priority to me.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? While I have enjoyed working in small and mid-size businesses I decided to pursue an MBA now because I want to make a professional impact on a larger scale across multiple industries through consulting.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into NYU Stern’s MBA program? Take your time thinking about what has led you to this point. Being able to tell your story consistently via essay, photos and your interview is important. It can be easy to stress, but have fun and be yourself throughout the process!

DON’T MISS: Meet NYU Stern’s MBA Class Of 2023