SMA Meets MBA: Leadership Beyond the Classroom

Where lived experience fuels leadership and learning never stops at the classroom door.

Studying, homework, and exams often define the college grind. Trust me, I powered through more than my fair share of all three. While my undergraduate and graduate experiences included long nights and missing out on weekend fun, one of the most meaningful and rewarding parts of my academic journey was developing my leadership ability. The classroom gave me knowledge, but it was the experiences beyond it that shaped my perspective, strengthened my values, and deepened my commitment to making a difference through leadership.

My passion for leadership comes from my love for sports. As a power wheelchair user living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), I cannot throw a game-winning touchdown or help my team win NBA championships. Instead, I chose a career path in business, where I could meaningfully contribute in ways more accessible to me. Along the way, I discovered many similarities between sports and the business world, such as working with teammates, striving toward shared goals, and leading others to drive positive outcomes.

I have a deep desire to one day serve in a corporate leadership role. I want to make a positive impact on individuals and communities through strong decision-making, thoughtful problem-solving, and by empowering others to embrace their own leadership potential. I believe leadership is more about actions than titles, but I also recognize that those in leadership roles are often entrusted to make critical decisions that affect many people. I hope to earn that level of responsibility when the time is right.

My disability is very visible. While my wheelchair tends to be an incredibly strong eye magnet, I am deeply grateful for the independence and freedom it gives me. Life as a wheelchair user is unique in ways that only other wheelchair users and caregivers truly understand. In business, leaders are expected to make decisions that affect employees and customers. I believe the quality of those decisions is shaped by the lived experiences brought to the table. That is why representation matters. When people with disabilities are included in leadership, decisions that impact our community are more likely to be relevant and inclusive.

According to the World Economic Forum, only 3% of C-suite leaders have disclosed having a disability or caregiving responsibility, even though the World Health Organization estimates that 16% of the global population has a disability. This gap reveals a clear need for more disabled leaders. I rarely see individuals with apparent disabilities in leadership roles, but rather than feel discouraged, I see an opportunity to change the narrative and serve as an example for others with disabilities who also want to grow into leaders.

As an undergraduate business student at Florida Atlantic University, I balanced graduating as Valedictorian of the University Honors Program with actively developing my leadership skills. I took part in leadership programs, workshops, and mentorship opportunities, then applied what I learned as an Elite Owl Leadership and Service Ambassador by creating and facilitating leadership workshops that supported hundreds of students. I also served as Executive Vice President of The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, where I supported a board of ten students and helped our honor society earn national recognition as one of the top ten chapters in the country, a first for our school.

Later, as an MBA student at the University of Florida, I founded a student organization to promote disability inclusion in business during my first week on campus. The organization received strong participation and positive feedback from classmates. The following year, I was appointed Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion, where I led a team of seven and launched the program’s first Diversity and Inclusion Conference. These experiences gave me the opportunity to deliver creative solutions, collaborate with and learn from my peers, and support others in growing as inclusive leaders.

After completing my studies, I began supporting employee engagement initiatives for large global companies in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. My academic coursework gave me the foundational knowledge to enter the workforce, but it was my extracurricular leadership experiences that gave me the skills and confidence to deliver real impact. I still have a long journey ahead before reaching my goal of serving in a corporate leadership role, but the opportunities I embraced as a student prepared me to step into leadership with confidence.

Although I have a condition that limits my physical movement to only a few fingers, I will always view my educational journey as empowering. My college experience showed me that my goals and aspirations are limited not by my physical abilities, but by my ambition and drive to grow. As a student, I challenged myself, embraced new opportunities, and began my journey toward becoming a leader.