Claudio Quintana: 2016 Best and Brightest

Claudio Quintana

Claudio Quintana

Boston College, Carroll School of Management

Hometown: Lake Oswego, Oregon

High School: Lakeridge High School

Major: Information Systems and Marketing

Favorite Business Courses: Portico (Introduction to Business and Business Ethics), Strategic Management, Tech Trek (Immersive Technology and Entrepreneurship course)

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College: I’m a student in the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program at Boston College. I’ve volunteered at both Haley House and Project Bread in Boston. I run the executive team of the New England Chapter of the the Kairos Society (Global Organization for young entrepreneurs). I’ve also been involved in the local entrepreneurship initiatives on campus (Boston College Venture Competition and the Shea Center for Entrepreneurship)

Where have you interned during your college career? SalesLayer.com, .406 Ventures, WePay, Inc and I’ve worked with the founding teams of three startup ventures over my time at BC.

Who is your favorite professor? Although many of my professors have been instrumental in my formation experience, James Keenan S.J., Richard McGowan S.J., John Gallaugher, and George Wyner in particular, are professors that I’ve worked with almost every semester at BC.

Describe your dream job: I would love to lead a product team at an innovative company. I want to be at a company where the collective efforts are focused on solving some of the most challenging and important issues of our time.

What did you enjoy most about majoring in a business-related field? I’ve enjoyed studying in this field because I’ve been able to see some of the strategies and theories that run some of the biggest and influential operations. I’ve also gained tremendous insight into understanding failure, and particularly failure in business, systems designs, or even marketing. I’ve also enjoyed the opportunity to debate and challenge the status quo in many of these scenarios, something that has been a valuable learning experience.

Where would you like to work after graduation? I hope to join a product team at a technology company, perhaps something focused on e-commerce or consumer digital.

What are your long-term professional goals? To continuously learn, grow, and challenge myself in all of my interests. I hope to apply that to the projects, teams, and companies that I work with or perhaps even hope to co-found.

“I knew I wanted to major in business when…I started my first startup project at 13 without any understanding of what it meant to be a businessperson or to be an entrepreneur. I wanted to explore this passion in an academic setting, which is why I chose to study business.”

“If I didn’t major in business, I would be…studying computer science or some form of design. I’m very appreciative of the course of studies that I took and am confident that I will still continue to learn more about technology and design in the years after graduation.”

What was the happiest moment of your life?  I was extremely excited to move to the United States as a child. Gaining citizenship halfway through college really solidified what that meant for my future and ability to fulfill my dreams.

Which academic or personal achievement are you most proud of? I’m most proud of the opportunities that I’ve been given to foster and contribute to the same entrepreneurial ecosystems that I’ve directly benefitted from. Whether it is in the local entrepreneurship community or in the broader one, I’ve tried to make it a personal mission to do as much as I can. I think that I’ve learned more through this process than I could have imagined.

What animal would you choose to represent your professional brand? The Cheetah. They are focused yet agile, and intense yet empathetic.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I truly believe that we are the sum of all the people we meet. Keeping that in mind I’m very appreciative of my family’s love and support in everything I do.

Fun fact about yourself: I’ve never spent the 4th of July in the same city twice since immigrating to the US at the age of 7.

Favorite book: Ken Segall’s Insanely Simple is a book that I reflect on almost every time I embark upon a new creative or business project.

Favorite movie: The Imitation Game

Favorite musical performer: Coldplay

Favorite vacation spot: I’ve been fortunate to visit my family in different places, but I’m always excited to return to my home in Portland, Oregon.

What are your hobbies? I enjoy photography, exploring the outdoors, building art installations, and creating mobile apps.

What made Claudio such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2016?

“I remember meeting Claudio at his freshmen orientation. It was the June prior to his official matriculation and we were discussing Portland, OR. It is his home, as it was mine some twenty years ago. After his three days on campus, Claudio returned home for the summer. In July, I received an email from him with a thank you note and four photos of the house I lived in, back in the late 1990’s, in Northwest Portland. To me, this is an example of what makes Claudio special, specifically, three traits. He is attentive to others, he is precise with details, and he is passionately enthusiastic. Claudio has always exemplified Boston College’s Jesuit motto of “Men and Women for Others.” While business people and students are often criticized for being ethical egoists, Claudio’s compass points towards others. This is demonstrated in the companies he has founded, and the generous gift of his time. Claudio has been very involved in the start-up scene at Boston College, and has been a key student figure in its rapid ascension. Claudio has been particularly involved in social ventures, and has been an on-campus mentor to countless other students. He is incredibly generous with his time and expertise, and is always humble and gracious. Never does he look for credit or to self-promote, rather he is happy to spread his infectious joy to others. The following quote from Claudio summarizes his entrepreneurial spirit: “At the end of the day, if the things I’m creating can inspire the people around me as much as I was inspired by the people I look up to, then I’m happy.”

Ethan Sullivan
Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Curriculum and Director of the Honors Program
Boston College, Carroll School of Management