Andre Koo Technology and Entrepreneurship MBA | Alvaro Perez Casinelli

• Pronouns
  He/Him/His
• Hometown
  Caracas, Venezuela
• Undergraduate
  University of Michigan
• Pre-MBA Employer
  PwC - Tech Consulting
• Specializations
  Tech Product Management, Strategy, and Business Analytics
• Clubs/Involvement
  Stern Technology Association; Latin American Business Association; Entertainment, Media & Sports Association; Private Equity & Venture Capital Club

It was a combination of the incredible opportunity of graduating with an MBA from NYU without having to be out of the workforce for an extended period of time (maximizing my ROI) plus the focus on technology offered at the Tech MBA, which given my background, and future interests could not have been a better fit.

There are many resources available at Stern to make you feel at home, but the first place where I found an immediate sense of belonging was with my Tech MBA cohort. Having the same 50 people in all your Summer semester classes really allows for the sense of belonging to be built in a matter of days, and within a few months you start realizing how much we all care about each other and you truly start feeling that support in the good times and the bad times.

One of the key factors that I think makes our class culture so strong is the diversity of backgrounds. We all come from different parts of the world, and have fairly different academic and professional backgrounds, but (not to brag) we all have really high EQ which was confirmed during the admissions process. This resulted in a very fast bonding period where now, a few months after starting the program, it feels like we have been working and studying together for multiple years.

My favorite class at Stern has been Leadership with Professor Nate Pettit. The class is taught in a very unconventional style, with many group exercises and simulations. The class doesn’t necessarily teach everyone to be a fierce leader, it rather teaches you about yourself, what leadership traits you have, which you can work on, and what are some areas in your life where you can shine as a leader, whether that’s a team, a club, a family, or a future company.

Being able to work with companies creating emerging tech products through the Endless Frontier Labs and Tech Solutions experiential classes. Working on real-life problems with real companies is very easy to do at Stern, there are many experiential classes that will get you out there pretty much feeling you are an employee at the companies you are working at. I came to Stern with an interest in fitness tech and climate tech, and in less than 6 months I have been able to immerse myself in both of these sub-industries of tech.

I chose NYU Stern for two reasons. First, the MBA programs really take a proactive approach to innovation and technology. During my time as a Tech MBA Candidate, we have learned about new technologies and leveraged them in our work, acknowledging that their impact is imminent and embracing change is the key to a successful future. Second, its unparalleled location makes it a professional advantage to anyone who is here. Living in NYC allows you to engage and interact with many companies in person; from coffee chats, to interviews, to in-semester internships (in-office), many in-person options will now be accessible to you.

Use the Pick 6 essay as a way to introduce yourself from a personal perspective. A lot of MBA applications only give you the chance to display your professional and academic achievements, but Stern really does care about the EQ of each candidate. This is your time to be personal and highlight experiences or stories that make you unique.

NYC gives you the opportunity to connect with people from all walks of life. I personally have been able to reconnect with friends from my childhood in Venezuela, college days in Michigan, and work-life at PwC. With friends and family visiting all the time, I always feel like I am at home.