People

The Go-Getters 2022

Located in one of the most diverse and dynamic business centers in the world, Miami Herbert Business School offers unparalleled opportunities to learn, engage and grow. The graduates are thought-leaders who transform business, scholarship and lives. To honor them, Brickell Magazine and the school have partnered to showcase the annual “Go-Getters,” an honor spotlighting current students and recent grads, their successes, hopes and dreams.
Words by Jorge Arauz | Photos by Josue Acosta | February 23, 2022 | People

Christina Gladfelter

Masters of Leadership ‘22
Working with the All of Us Research Program under the National Institutes of Health, Christina Gladfelter is committed to helping improve health equity by including people from all backgrounds in health research by getting the word out about the fascinating field of genetics. “Did you know some people can drink a lot of coffee and not feel any different? Other people get jittery after only a little bit of caffeine,” she says. “Caffeine sensitivity is a DNA trait.” She credits much of her enthusiasm for her career path to her courses at Miami Herbert. “It’s 100% the professors,” she says. “All of them come from an extensive background that motivates you as a student to succeed.”

Antonio Rojas

MS in Finance ‘17 | MS in Leadership ‘19
As the CEO & Creative Director for men’s luxury swimwear brand Capelle Miami, Antonio Rojas has created an empire that brings a signature “Miami” look and feel into every design of his limited collections featuring unique motifs. A huge part of his success can be attributed to his time at Miami Herbert Business School. “It was during a GLOBE trip as part of one of my courses that I met a variety of manufacturers that eventually turned my dream of launching my fashion company into a reality.” Sage words of advice? “I encourage everyone to keep it up, keep scaling, keep growing, and keep meeting people,” he says. “Success takes a village!” 

Jessica Taylor Storey

MBA ‘19
Jessica Taylor Storey’s relationship with the University of Miami began way before she was born, when her grandmother Ollie McQueen graduated in 1962. “She was one of the first African Americans to graduate from UM — she not only was an older student, but had an entire family she was taking care of at that time,” she says. “She truly was the one who instilled the importance and power of education in our family.” Today, Jessica is a in-demand Real Estate Broker-Associate with Keller Williams as part of the firm’s new Sports + Entertainment Division. “I’m excited to share that there are many exciting milestones on the horizon,” she says, “but my new motto is less talk and more action, so you’ll just have to stay tuned!”

Brian Galea

MBA ‘21
The revolutionary Snoot App is an all-inclusive “Dog Owner’s Guide To Everything” designed to support people from the moment they adopt a dog through all aspects of their new life with their “fur-baby.” The man behind the brand, Brian Galea, is proud that his experiences at Miami Herbert allowed him to thrive in the business/startup/tech ecosystem of Miami, through his work at the Cane Angel Network and Graduate Student Association, as well as insights from professors. “Sincerity, transparency and empathy are my secrets to success,” he says. “No matter what your goals are, you can’t go wrong if you communicate honestly, do good by those around you, and treat people with dignity and respect.”

Sophia Garcia

MBA ‘22
In the business of social media strategy and management through her company, SG Media, Sophia Garcia is at the forefront of how people and brands communicate with one another in the new age. “Social media is constantly changing — there’s always a new feature, update or new trend,” she says. “It can seem daunting and impersonal to so many people — my goal is to put the social back in social media!” Best advice she can offer other entrepreneurs and future leaders? “Be intentional in your actions,” she says. “If you lead with good intentions, success will always follow.”