Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business students come to learn, explore, and build community. As they move forward in their careers, they take everything they've learned and use it to power innovation in industries and businesses across the globe.
In celebration of Spring 2025 Commencement, we sat down with a few students to learn about their experiences and the wisdom they've gained in the process.
Meet Iris Medina-Elston, who is graduating from the Evening MBA program with a concentration from the TI:GER program.
Hometown:
Bay Area, California
Describe yourself in 15 words or less:
Mexican-born entrepreneur and fashion innovator driven by purpose, resilience, and a passion for impact.
Which MBA concentration did you pursue?
My concentration is TI:GER (Technology Innovation: Generating Economic Results) and General Management. However, I am just one course short of also fulfilling the requirements for a Strategy & Innovation concentration.
Tell me about the person who most influenced your decision to pursue an MBA?
While no one person directly influenced my decision to pursue an MBA, my family — and especially my late mother — were always in my heart as I made the choice. She passed away just a few months before I started the program, and on my drive to orientation, all I could think about was her.
As a proud Mexican-born, first-generation college graduate, I’ve always carried a deep sense of responsibility to honor the sacrifices my parents made. They uprooted their lives in Mexico to give my sisters and me a better life. Pursuing an MBA was one way I felt I could begin to repay them — not just by advancing my own life, but by opening doors that were never open to them.
With the state of the world and ongoing attitudes toward immigrants, especially Latin Americans, I feel a duty to represent my community in spaces where we are still underrepresented. An MBA feels like more than a degree — it is a declaration that I belong in leadership, and that others like me do, too.
What was your favorite business course and why?
This one is hard, but my favorite business course at Scheller is the Sustainable Business Practicum, which I’m currently taking. It’s given me the opportunity to work hands-on with a real company focused on sustainable impact, helping them scale their business and solidify their strategic direction.
As the founder of Carter Wade, a designer handbag brand using innovative vegan leathers like cactus, grape, and apple, I’ve been deeply immersed in sustainability from an entrepreneurial angle. This class has helped me understand how to approach sustainability from a consulting and business strategy perspective. I've learned how to connect values like ethical production and environmental responsibility to broader business goals. It's been incredibly rewarding and eye-opening.
What advice would you give to an incoming MBA student?
Get involved. That’s the one piece of advice I would share with every incoming MBA student. As a working parent, entrepreneur, and full-time professional, I had a lot on my plate during the program – from building our family home to grieving the loss of my mother just before the program began. I was in survival mode, going straight to class and straight back home.
While I’ve gained so much from my academic experience, I know I missed out on building deeper relationships and taking part in campus traditions. So, my advice is this: even if you're juggling a lot, make space for the experience. Attend events, go to a football game, say yes to coffee chats. The connections are just as valuable as the coursework.
What activities were you involved with on or off campus, and did your business education impact those activities in any way?
The most meaningful activity I participated in was Georgia Tech’s Create-X program, a 12-week startup accelerator I joined during the summer. It ultimately led to the official launch of Carter Wade, my sustainable fashion startup, and helped me secure funding from Georgia Tech and other investors. While participating meant delaying my graduation slightly, it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. The experience gave me the structure, mentorship, and confidence to bring my vision to life, and I use what I learned from my MBA classes every day while running the
business.
What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at Scheller, and why?
I didn’t have the opportunity to fully immerse myself in campus traditions during my time at Scheller. Between raising a young child, working, running my startup, and navigating personal challenges – including the passing of my mom — my schedule was incredibly full. That said, my family and I did attend a Georgia Tech football game, and the energy was unforgettable. I had goosebumps just taking it all in. Now that I’m graduating, I’m committed to getting more involved as an alumna by attending games, showing school spirit, and joining local events. I may not have started traditions while in school, but I fully intend to build them moving forward.
What was your career journey in the MBA program?
During the MBA program, I officially launched my startup, Carter Wade — a sustainable fashion brand that produces designer handbags made from cactus, grape, and apple leathers. I’ve poured my heart into building the company, and I’m excited to take it full-time following graduation.
That said, I’m also open to pivoting in my professional career. Entrepreneurship is a long game, and while I continue scaling Carter Wade on evenings and weekends, I’m exploring opportunities at innovative companies that align with my values and vision. As a parent and homeowner, I understand the importance of financial stability, so I’m actively seeking a role where I can contribute meaningfully while continuing to build my dream.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
The first item on my professional bucket list is to successfully scale Carter Wade into a thriving, purpose-driven fashion brand, one that not only creates beautiful, cruelty-free products but also builds an amazing team culture and leaves a meaningful impact.
The second is to land a leadership role at a mission-driven company I deeply respect where I can help shape strategy, lead with purpose, and continue learning from the best minds in tech and business.
What was a moment when you had to practice persistence and/or resilience while in the MBA program?
There were many moments that required persistence and resilience throughout my MBA journey. As a working mom raising a young child, running a startup, and navigating personal grief after the loss of my mother, balancing everything was incredibly challenging. There were nights I was up until 2 a.m. finishing assignments after a full day of work and parenting.
Being an older student with greater responsibilities meant I had to commit every single day. What kept me going was my mom’s memory, my son’s face, and the quiet hope I carry for others who may never step foot in a classroom but wonder if they still could.
I often think about immigrants who came to this country not for education, but for work — who labor every day in jobs that don’t reflect their full potential, and who wonder if their imperfect past, age, or language barrier means it’s too late. I want to be a reminder that it’s not. That we, too, can be leaders. That we can build, create, and think with our minds, not just work with our hands. I went from laboring in fields, picking crops, cleaning houses to where I am today. I understand that “hustle under-the-blazing-sun” mindset because it was once mine too.
I didn’t just pursue this degree for myself. I did it for my family, my community, and for those who are still questioning whether there’s space for them in rooms like this or even in this beautiful country they now call home.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from your Scheller MBA?
The biggest lesson I’ve gained from my Scheller MBA is that there’s a kind of achievement no dollar amount can quantify. Yes, this journey was expensive and time-consuming, but the sense of growth, confidence, and personal evolution it gave me is priceless.
What will you be doing to celebrate your graduation?
In God’s will, I’ll be celebrating with the people who matter most, my family. It will be the first time my sisters and nephews will visit our new home, which we built from the ground up during my MBA journey.
I’m the first in my family to graduate from college and the only one with two graduate degrees, so this moment isn’t just about me. It’s about all of us. It’s about showing the next generation what’s possible. We haven’t planned the celebration yet, but just being together will be more than enough.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
People assume I’m serious because I’m a Capricorn and left-handed, but I promise I’m fun and surprisingly funny!