Fidel Gomez Torres

Fidel Gomez Torres is on a mission—to leverage the operational expertise he developed in the military, his passion for design, and his knowledge of business into a career in merchandise strategy and product development. He’s counting on Questrom’s full-time MBA to help him get there.

“I can't think of a better time to be pursuing an MBA than now,” Fidel says. “Although Covid-19 disrupted our every sense of normalcy, it presented MBA candidates like me with the unique opportunity to think through complex global challenges and navigate through uncharted waters in real time.”

Fidel quickly realized that this real-life approach extended to his classes as well. One of his favorites is Professor Fred Foulke's course on Leading Organizations and People. “He brings world-class speakers to class directly out of the cases we’re studying.”

Fidel started his career in the U.S. Navy. Working on a Naval Mobile Construction Battalion in Kandahar, Afghanistan, he developed strong skills in logistics, leadership, and team management. A few years later—and worlds away from Afghanistan—Fidel earned a bachelor’s in business management from New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology, where he focused on merchandising management and product development. After several years as an executive assistant to industry CEOs, he realized it was his turn to move up the ladder. Location and community were key factors in his choice of MBA program.

“Questrom is located in one of the most beautiful cities in America, and boasts a vibrant academic community,” Fidel says. “One of the things that attracted me most is the palpable sense of collectivism shared by the students here.”

Fidel has embraced the collaborative Questrom community whole-heartedly. He was elected president of the Questrom Veterans' Club, served as the vice president of student engagement for the Latin American MBA (LAMBA) club, and participated in Questrom's Student Advisory Board.

In class and out, Fidel never misses a chance to connect with someone with a different background or perspective. “Classroom discussions, while dynamic, don't always find immediate consensus,” he admits. “This has encouraged me to embrace the space outside my comfort zone.”