Nicola Rivetti, Cornell Johnson MBA Class of 2028
Age: 28
Hometown: Guarene, Italy
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Vehicle Engineering
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Forecasting Manager, Supply Chain and previously Area Manager, Operations at Amazon (3.5 years total)
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Three factors drove my decision to pursue an MBA at this stage of my career. First and foremost, moving to the U.S. has long been both a personal and professional goal. The U.S. offers an incredible ecosystem of opportunity, and earning an MBA is the most effective way to transition to this market while building a lifelong network. Second, during my engineering studies in Italy, I realized I was far more drawn to business strategy and commercial dynamics than pure technical concepts. While it is common in Europe to pursue a master’s degree immediately after a bachelor’s, I chose to enter the job market first to build a solid professional experience before deep diving into business popics. Finally, after establishing a technical and operational grounding, returning to business school now provides the rigorous finance and strategic foundation I need to advance into leadership roles at the intersection of technology and corporate finance.
Why did you choose Cornell? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
My decision to attend Cornell Johnson came down to three main factors. To start, I wanted a business school with a solid curriculum and strong career outcomes in both technology and finance. Johnson’s Immersion in the second semester stood out immediately, as it allows students to dive deep into their target industry before starting the summer internship, a critical structure for maximizing performance and return offer rates. Second, Ithaca offered the ideal environment for my lifestyle; as an avid runner who loves the outdoors, having immediate access to local trail networks and state parks in an affordable setting was a major draw. Finally, Johnson’s reputation for a tight-knit community proved entirely true during my research. Every student ambassador I reached out to responded quickly, scheduled calls, and provided honest, actionable advice on student life, confirming that this was the collaborative environment I wanted to join.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2028?
A combination of operational execution, leadership experience, and energy. At Amazon, I managed large teams, launched new sites, and handled interviewing and onboarding, which gave me an execution and people-focused approach to problems. Building on this background, I plan to give back to the School as an Admissions Ambassador to assist with applicant interviews and smooth the onboarding process for incoming students, just as second years and ambassadors did for me.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I used to compete in middle distance track and cross-country events in high school. Recently, I transitioned to calisthenics, though I’m still working on the basics.
Post-MBA career interests:
Roles at the intersection of tech product management and corporate finance, leveraging my engineering background, product planning, and supply chain experience alongside the training experience I’m building at Johnson.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Reaching out directly to current Johnson MBA students. The Student Ambassadors listed on the school website were accessible and open to discussing everything: admissions strategy, housing, curriculum structure, recruiting, and daily life in Ithaca. For international applicants, I strongly recommend speaking with current international MBA students to understand the visa timeline, and leveraging resources like Clear Admit’s articles, extremely useful to understand the common bottlenecks faced by applicants in previous years.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would apply in Round 1 rather than Round 2. I relocated to Luxembourg in 2025 and waited until mid-December to complete my application process so I could settle into my new role and city first. Looking back, applying in Round 1 would have provided a much wider window to handle international paperwork, specifically submitting proof of financial support, obtaining university degree certifications, and securing all the documents needed for the move.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The visa and immigration paperwork. While not complex if you plan ahead, gathering all the documentation, from submitting financial proof, to requesting your I-20 form and scheduling the embassy interview can feel tedious. Fortunately, Johnson’s Admissions and International Student Services teams provided clear step-by-step guides and maintained clear timelines and checks-ins with me, allowing me to secure my student visa well ahead of schedule.
What is your initial impression of the Cornell students/culture/community?
Genuinely outstanding with three key elements standing out during my first few weeks. First, the Core Team: being placed into a 5-person group right from the beginning accelerated making new friends. Second, International Orientation: Johnson hosted a dedicated two-day orientation for international students, providing a smooth runway to handle administrative tasks and settle into Ithaca before classes began. Finally, the academic ramp-up was not aggressive, balancing introductory coursework with events, with second-year students and career advisors active from the beginning to help us prepare for fall recruiting season.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
Regarding recruiting and professional development, I plan to join the High Tech Club and the Old Ezra Finance Club. Outside the classroom, I’m eager to connect my personal background to student life by joining the Formula1 and the Wine Club, while exploring projects and initiatives with Cornell’s Formula SAE team and with the College of Agriculture. Finally, looking ahead to my second year, I want to give back by serving as a coach in Career Work Groups to mentor first-year students targeting tech, operations, and supply chain roles.
What is one thing you have learned about Cornell that has surprised you?
How beautiful and big the campus is. Coming from Europe, seeing the blend of historic and modern architecture, green spaces, state-of-the-art athletics facilities, and specialized libraries across campus was an incredible surprise.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Experiencing how business, finance and marketing are taught at the MBA level in the US. Because I’ve always thrived in interactive, team projects rather than passive lectures and activities, I’m really looking forward to bringing my energy into the classroom as we tackle real-world business cases and practical projects together.
