By Arial Starks
Vanderbilt Business is known across the globe for its high caliber of students, faculty, and staff. In this edition of People of Vanderbilt, we spotlight MBA student Emma Dodi, who shares a little about herself.
Emma Dodi
What’s your secret talent?
I play 7 musical instruments!
What are 1 or 2 experiences that have really shaped your time here at Vanderbilt?
Music has always been a large part of my life and I wanted to make sure it continued to be so during my time at business school. My classmates at Owen have always been in the front row for all of my saxophone performances on campus. From my first concert with the Vanderbilt University Concert band, where I had a cheering section of at least 10 classmates, to a jazz gig at a local bar that I booked with the help of a fellow first-year, I have only felt support and encouragement from my peers.
What’s your favorite way to connect with the Vanderbilt community?
This February, I had the opportunity to speak at Humans of Owen in partnership with the OBSA. I loved being able to share more about my personal background with the Owen Community in a safe and welcoming space. It was wonderful to connect with my classmates, faculty, and staff after the event and learn about our similarities and also talk about ways we can learn from our differences.
What’s something you’ve learned about yourself during your time at Owen?
I’ve learned to lean into what makes me unique! Prior to Owen, I was a product manager at a large musical instrument manufacturer and I thought my non-traditional industry/background would be difficult to translate in a business school context. But, I found that my peers love the insights I can provide in class about my time before business school. The great thing about Owen is that I have so many classmates who had fascinating careers before coming to business school; from professional actors and teachers, to accomplished active duty military members. We all have something unique to share!
Are you in a leadership role associated with Vanderbilt?
I serve as the Owen Student Government Association Vice President of Communications, Owen Marketing Association Vice President of Professional Events, and Owen Out & Allied Vice President of Partnerships.
