In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Bianca Valladares, a second-year MBA student at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, to explore her journey of identity, resilience, and belonging. As Co-President of the American Latinx Management Association (ALMA) and Development Lead for the Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics (COLE), Bianca has played a vital role in advancing belonging and equity at Fuqua. She discusses her professional journey from international development recruitment to change management consulting at Deloitte, and most recently, product strategy at JPMorgan Chase, where she focused on supporting first-generation affluent customers building generational wealth.

Described as a healing journey, Bianca reflects on what it meant to move more than fifteen times growing up as the American-Panamanian daughter of a U.S. Army Colonel and a Spanish teacher- and how she ultimately found her safe space within the military’s diverse and supportive community. She shares how her upbringing and lived experiences have shaped her perspective on creating spaces where others feel seen and valued, both at Fuqua and beyond.

Host: Aaliyah Brown

Bianca's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancavall/

ALMA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Falma_dukefuqua%2F%3Fhl%3Den&is_from_rle

More information about applying to Duke's Fuqua School of Business can be found at https://www.fuqua.duke.edu/admissions

Note: This is a student-run production. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not reflect the view of Duke University, the Fuqua School of Business, or any organizations mentioned.