Student: Fabiana De La Rosa

• Alondra Martinez

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"Do something worth writing about." That mantra guides Fabiana De La Rosa as she balances academics, entrepreneurship and leadership while inspiring others at East Carolina University.

As president of ECU's chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), De La Rosa manages chapter operations, leads executive team meetings and organizes workshops.

"As chapter president, I manage and oversee our chapter's operations, lead our executive team meetings and club workshops," she said. "This role has helped me build strong relationships with other chapter leaders and has taught me the purpose and role of a leader."

Her commitment to connection and inclusion extends beyond NABA. She is active in organizations such as the Association of Latino Professionals for America, Let's Connect and Winning in Business.

"When I think about the impact I want to have at ECU, it would be to inspire other students to be authentic leaders and aim to reach their fullest potential," she said.

Academics are equally important to De La Rosa. One of her favorite classes, the Honors College seminar Introduction to Logic sharpened her approach to problem-solving.

"The seminar launched me outside of my comfort zone, which is why I loved it so much. It changed the way I think, how I craft my arguments and has helped me adopt a more logical approach to solving problems," she said.

Beyond leadership and studies, De La Rosa is an entrepreneur with two businesses and a disciplined approach to time management.

"The key for me is setting a time for everything. I like to designate focus times where I can knock out my work, but also set time aside for myself and my hobbies. Doing this helps me stay focused without feeling like I'm overworking myself," she said.

Her journey to business leadership began far from Greenville, in Queens, New York. A math and science enthusiast, De La Rosa taught herself to day trade at 17, sparking an early interest in finance. Initially drawn to medicine, she discovered her true passion after exploring ECU's College of Business.

"I initially started as a pre-med student and was captivated by the Brody School of Medicine since I've always been a math and science person. When I was 17, I taught myself how to day trade and would follow the stock market every day. Since then, it has become a niche interest of mine," she said.

De La Rosa's path has been shaped by resilience and mentorship. Navigating the SAT and college application process largely on her own, she was fortunate to have a mentor to guide her. That support helped her gain admission to all 11 universities she applied to and earn one of the highest scholarships in the ECU Honors College.

"I started my college journey as a pre-med student with no idea that I would end up finding a different path," she said. "Throughout my time at ECU, as a student, intern and entrepreneur, I've made so many mistakes but I couldn't be more grateful because this is exactly how I've been able to find my passions and discover who I want to be in life."