Black Legacy Month (BLM) is a time in which the entire Dartmouth community comes together to celebrate and recognize the triumphs, struggles, and excellence of Blackness at Dartmouth.
Throughout the month of February, the Tuck and Dartmouth communities offer a number of events and programs to celebrate BLM. The purpose is to recognize the Black experience, explore topical issues in the Black community while giving context to a vision of what the Black future could be, and engage the Dartmouth community in an appreciation for all that Black people have contributed to the campus and the world at large.
What keeps you busy? How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
I am a competitive athlete in the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I started training in my second year of medical school and have since become obsessed. I have competed in local and national tournaments and intend on remaining very active this year. The benefits of Jiu-Jitsu are many. For me, the sport has improved my focus, discipline, and confidence. However, it’s the strong sense of community and camaraderie that keeps me coming back!
Who do you most admire and look up to? Who inspires you and why?
My mother. My mother is a Cardiologist and an Electrophysiologist and by far the hardest-working person that I know. I aspire to develop even just a fraction of her work ethic.
What’s something about you that only a few people know?
I am a huge science fiction nerd. For me, reading science fiction is therapy. It is a form of escapism. I often seek respite from daily stress by immersing myself in an entirely different universe, by way of a good book.
Chris is an MD/MBA candidate at Dartmouth, with significant clinical and management experience in health care. His demonstrated passion for roles that lie at the intersection of health care and business, combined with his desire to constantly push himself, leads him to pursue a leadership role in the field of emergency medicine.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am proud of having the opportunity to build cross-cultural understanding and lasting friendships by studying and working in four countries and on three continents. Most recently I had the privilege of participating in a competitive MBA term exchange at London Business School, which provided an expanded perspective on diversity and international business. Additionally, as an undergraduate, I was fortunate enough to spend half a year studying German in Berlin and interning at the U.S. Consulate in Sydney, Australia.
What keeps you busy? How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
I have many interests outside of class—ranging from snowboarding to skiing to mentoring. However, I get the most satisfaction by volunteering my time to share with people of all faiths, ethnicities, and socioeconomic statuses the resources to find satisfying answers to life’s big questions relating to peace, happiness, suffering, and the future. I personally find the Bible to be historically accurate and to be a relevant source of practical wisdom and guidance for all people in the unpredictable world we live in.
What does diversity, equity, and inclusion mean for you today, and in your words, why is it so critical?
I define DEI as an opportunity to include and learn from various voices, cultures, and experiences while ensuring that everyone has the resources and opportunities to succeed. One perspective should not be deemed superior, and everyone should feel welcome to share their perspectives and points of difference. DEI is critical as it’s a basic human right and in business, it’s needed for continued inspiration and innovation. Having diverse points of view on a team allows for problems to be approached from multiple perspectives, resulting in inclusive and dynamic solutions.
What have you recently, read, watched, or listened to that you enjoyed and would highly recommend to others?
I believe that The Culture Map by Erin Meyer and The Unspoken Rules by Gorick Ng are two must-reads for any aspiring leader, especially those planning to work in a global context. The Culture Map, first introduced in the Tuck Core, offers insight into how leaders can decode when culture influences collaboration and provides strategies on how to lead and work effectively with cross-cultural teams. I found this advice extremely helpful during my summer internship, where I needed to effectively facilitate dialogue and collaboration among interns representing five different nationalities
The Unspoken Rules offers a great perspective on how to navigate the school-to-work transition and position yourself for leadership visibility and promotions. This book is written from the perspective of a first-generation, underrepresented minority who provides guidance that is increasingly valuable to women and other people of color who may get overlooked in the workplace.
Isabella is from Chicago, Illinois and attended Dartmouth College as an undergrad where she majored in history modified in geography with a German minor. Prior to Tuck, Isabella was at IBM where she specialized in sales and marketing. At Tuck, she is a member of the Consortium, Management Leadership for Tomorrow, BSAT, and is a Tuck Mentor. This fall, Isabella completed a term exchange at London Business School. Isabella enjoys traveling, skiing, small group dinners, cycling, meeting new people, and dancing.
Many Voices, One Tuck celebrates the stories of our vibrant and diverse community. What’s your story? Email DEI at Tuck if you’d like to contribute to the MVOT project.
Note: MVOT is open to members of the Tuck community, including students, alumni, faculty, staff, TEE and Tuck Bridge participants, and MHCDS graduates.
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