Valeria Serenil
University of Houston, C.T. Bauer College of Business
“Leading a generation of women who fearlessly lead and turn ambition into action.”
Fun fact about yourself: I’ve ran 3 marathons!
Hometown: Houston, Texas
High School: Bellaire High School
Major: Finance and Entrepreneurship
Minor: Construction Management
Favorite Business Course: Behavioral Finance
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship – Program Student
Bauer Ambassadors – Member (23-24), Vice President (24-25)
Empowering Women Out of Prision – Student Representative (25-26)
Houston Business Journal (Women Who Mean Business) 2025
Negocios Now (Latinos 40 Under 40) 2025
Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship – 2nd place Small Business Pitch Winner 2024
Where have you interned during your college career?
Mccoy Rockford, Houston, TX, Accounting Intern
Social Behavior, Houston, TX, Creative Curator
Backyard Oasis, Houston, TX, Marketing Intern
Aztec Contractors Houston, Houston, TX, Founder
Where will you be working after graduation? Aztec Contractors Houston, CEO
Who is your favorite business professor? Dave Cook, Director of the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship, has been instrumental in my journey. He helped me see the difference between running a small business and leading a scalable enterprise. His mentorship pushed me to think bigger, implement KPIs, and build Aztec’s financial foundation with confidence.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? Execution beats ideas.
Everyone has ideas but very few people have the discipline to act on them. Business school taight me that strategy means nothing without action. It is showing up when no one is watching; showing up even when you’re rejected; and showing up even when it would be easier not to.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Don’t wait for permission to start building school. College is the place were ideas are created and there’s low risk to just start.
Start the company.
Host the event.
Raise the sponsorship.
Pitch the brand.
The classroom becomes infinitely more valuable when you take what you learn into the real world.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? I would have gotten involved sooner. Although I had a perfect GPA my freshman year, I had no sense of community. However, that all changed my sophomore year when I joined organizations like Bauer Ambassadors. That organization gave me the platform to find my voice, find my people, and find the spark that was always inside of me.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? I have seen AI integrated in case studies, market research, sales practice, and content strategy. One insight I have gained from using AI is that it is not a replacement for thinking. The quality of output is dependent on the quality of the prompt.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? One of the awards that I am most proud of is being named one of the Houston Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business winners. I was the youngest to win the award and it reminded me that discipline compounds faster than doubt.
Which classmate do you most admire? The classmate that I admire most is Isabella Mixon.
She built a startup matcha and coffee shop here in Houston. I have seen her build the business from the very beginning and have even turned into a matchrista (barista but for matcha) a few times.
Her business is her life. Her life Is her business.
What I admire most is her excellence and discipline. She treats quality as a standard, not an option. Every detail reflects intention. Watching her build her business reinforced my own belief that excellence is earned through disciplined execution.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I would would like to thank my partner, Parsa Tork.
Since the day he met me, he knew I would be someone great. Through all the ups-and-downs, he has supported beyond being a partner but one of my greatest friends. Even when the world and business are moving fast, he keep me grounded and joyful in the now.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
- Build Aztec Contractors into a nationally recognized construction firm.
- Run all seven World Major Marathons.
What made Valeria such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?
“Valeria has exceled in each endeavor she has been a part of and fearlessly tackles any obstacle or opportunity. Watching her grow as a student has been remarkable, and certainly very special to see. She will continue to break barriers and shatter glass ceilings!”
Whitney Johnson
Director of Student Success
DON’T MISS: 100 BEST & BRIGHTEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS MAJORS OF 2026
© Copyright 2026 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.
