It was around 2016 that Gina Bobadilla, BBA ’20, Innovation Management & Entrepreneurship graduate student, discovered her interest in innovation. As a project management consultant at RSM International, a world-class audit, tax and consultancy firm focusing on middle-market businesses, Gina balanced her time between her full-time job while also earning a non-credit Specialization in Entrepreneurship: Launching an Innovative Business online from the University of Maryland, College Park. She knew her next step was to receive formal education and training in order to reach her full potential and decided to apply to the Fulbright Scholarship program. She says her main focus was to learn about innovation management and leadership.

“Because of disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence and the cloud,  much of the focus in the innovation field is placed on computer science,” Gina says. “I didn’t want to study that—I wanted to learn how to manage innovation in a company.”

It was a moment of fate; while searching online for ways to further her education, she discovered the Fulbright Scholars program was offering a business innovation focused scholarship. After going through a grueling and intense application process, Gina was accepted. What drew her to Temple’s Innovation Management & Entrepreneurship masters degree, she explained, came down to three crucial things.

First, she said, [Temple’s] “degree program is really focused on innovation strategy. Another aspect in choosing Philadelphia was the engagement process.”  In addition to offering a program that resonated with her passions, the engagement process felt more personal. “I had two Skype calls with the Fox School admissions team, and they made me feel welcome.” The third reason Gina chose Philadelphia was the ability to live in a culturally diverse city that is affordable.

Since coming to Philadelphia, Gina has discovered her love for authentic Philly cheesesteaks and finding a cozy spot at Penn’s Landing to watch the sunsets. Once Gina completes her degree program this summer, she plans on returning to Colombia where she will continue to work with RSM. One thing Gina said she will be bringing back with her is the ability to be open to new ideas, cultures and people. Before coming to the U.S., she did not know many people living outside of Colombia. By coming to the U.S. and enrolling in the IME MS program, Gina gained experiences that wouldn’t have been otherwise possible and made friends and connections with classmates and colleagues from around the world.

To learn more about the Fox specialized masters degree in Innovation Management & Entrepreneurship, contact Academic Director Robert McNamee at [click-for-email] or visit the IME MS webpage.