Mike Villarreal T’25 reflects on his First-Year Project (FYP) with the educational nonprofit Abaarso Network and shares how he applied insights to his summer internship at Bain&Co.
Can you tell us a little more about your First-Year Project? What interests you about this topic/client?
Before coming to Tuck, I worked at Tecnológico de Monterrey, the largest private university in Mexico. There, I was able to channel my passion for education—an industry I hope to one day re-enter—into meaningful work in corporate venture capital. Continuing with this passion, my group and I selected Abaarso Network as our client for our first-year project. Abaarso is an organization dedicated to building the largest Montessori K-12 school system in Somaliland. Our work focused on developing their financial model for fundraising. This project was deeply fulfilling, allowing me to reconnect with my passion for education while applying the finance and strategy tools I learned during my first year at Tuck. I was thrilled to contribute to Abaarso’s mission of transforming education in a region that truly needs it.
What’s your biggest takeaway from your FYP?
A key lesson from my FYP is that effort directly correlates with outcomes. Working with an exceptional team and a responsive client made a significant difference. By keeping the client engaged, setting high standards within our team, and establishing clear goals from the beginning, we positioned ourselves for success. The richness of the learning process was a bonus. I also discovered the power of collaboration as diverse perspectives and skill sets often lead to innovative solutions.
Students often say their FYP helped them feel prepared heading into their summer internship. How about you? Did anything specific from your FYP help you in your current internship?
My FYP experience directly influenced my summer internship at Bain & Company in Boston. While at Bain, I managed specific sections of my workstream, which required creating storyboards and supporting them with thorough analysis. Interestingly, this mirrored the process we followed during our project with Abaarso. Having that preparation, I hit the ground running when I started my internship. The ability to communicate complex ideas effectively, both visually and analytically, was a skill I honed during my FYP and applied during my internship.
Mike is a second-year student from Mexico, who resides in Hanover with his wife and dog. Before coming to Tuck, he worked at the largest private university in Mexico running its corporate venture capital. This summer, he interned at Bain & Company in Boston, and he plans to return to the city next year. Mike enjoys playing Tripod Hockey, exploring outdoor activities, and cooking for his friends.