Alex Gregorio

Alex Gregorio (MBA '21) could probably be described as a super-Hoo. His unique take on the combination of legal and business practices spurred him to get not one, not two, but four degrees from UVA. Gregorio feels at home at UVA, but each experience has been different - an opportunity to learn with a different perspective. His advice for undergrads is especially poignant: 

"You may not think you need an MBA at this moment, but when you need to be a leader, you will equally need both the technical and people skills that an MBA offers."

Q: What did you do after graduation?

A: I originally was determined to be a career government bureaucrat, but ultimately changed my mind and decided to go to law school when I realized 3 things: (1) most of my friends were going to law school and peer pressure got to me, (2) the work I wanted to do and the questions I was most interested in were better suited for a lawyer, and (3) being a lawyer offered way more flexibility in terms of compensation and job outcomes in the long run. I spent a year working for the Department of Justice after graduation in the Antitrust Division and was involved in some investigations and cases, including some work blocking the Aetna/Humana merger.

Q: What made you decide to return to school again?

A: I thoroughly enjoyed the interaction between law and business, and I knew I was going to pursue a law degree, so I thought I would look into the dual degree program. I was still on the fence of whether I wanted to get an MBA until I attended an event for admitted students at Darden, and decided that I wanted to really develop my skillset by getting more training and education in the business world.

Q: Why an MBA, too?

A: I’ve learned so much about business that the law side doesn’t provide. I’ve developed a business vocabulary, and I can translate between law and business – which is a critical skill to have when you are talking with clients about how certain laws or regulations are going to impact their business. It gives you a window into their perspective. It’s fair to say that there’s this perception that business is just the numbers and finance side, but that’s not the totality. Business goes much deeper than that. It’s about understanding how people and organizations work together. No matter what scale, managing those relationships is critical – whether you’re starting your own business or working in an organization – learning how to talk with people and how to frame the conversations is key.

Q: What's different about being a UVA student this time around?

A: I think one thing that I liked a lot being back was being able to maintain a relationship with my undergraduate professors and even some of my friends who were undergrads when I came back. This helped me have a built-in group of friends that I knew I could see or visit when I returned to the University. I know being here for 8 years gives you the chance to really build a strong lasting relationship and I’ve had a lot of fun meeting people who I may not have had a chance to before.  

I also think that being here a second time lets me do more things that I didn’t get a chance to do while an undergraduate as much. There are so many things to do in Charlottesville! I spent a lot more time this go-around on the Downtown Mall, at wineries, and exploring different parts of the city. Being back here gives you so much flexibility—if you don’t want to interact with Main Grounds, you can absolutely do that. And if you do want to stay engaged in clubs or other activities, you can do that as well. North Grounds is its own world which is different enough I’ve never felt like I was repeating my U.Va experience, but similar enough I never felt uncomfortable in my surroundings.  

Q: Advice to UVA undergrads?

A: You may not think you need an MBA at this moment, but when you need to be a leader, you will equally need both the technical and people skills that an MBA offers. The Future Year Scholars Program is extremely low-risk, high-reward. Students facing graduation might have an outline of a plan, but that question, “What am I going to do with my life?” is still there. Here’s an easy way to have a plan – and to return to school at one of the best business schools in the world - in a place that you already love.  

If you’re considering an MBA (or any graduate program!), go visit! Especially Darden, where it’s only 15 minutes away. You’ll get a world of insight on the business school experience and only spend a few hours of your life.