Alyssa Torkelsen

Alyssa knew that after her positive undergraduate experience at Cal Poly, returning for her MBA was the natural choice. Originally from Castro Valley, CA, Alyssa earned her B.S. in Business Administration with a focus on entrepreneurship in 2022 before diving into Cal Poly’s MBA program to further develop her business acumen.

“I chose to pursue my graduate degree at Cal Poly because of the supportive faculty and the ‘Learn by Doing’ philosophy,” Torkelsen said. “My undergraduate focus on entrepreneurship was enhanced by professors with startup experience and the opportunity to work with real companies.”

During her time in the MBA program, Alyssa gained valuable hands-on experience through various internships and roles. She worked as a Senior Credit Analyst at Bridge Bank in San Francisco, having first joined the company as a Credit Analyst. Prior to that, she interned with Armanino in Technology Consulting and worked in business development and marketing for Fluid Sports Nutrition, a business that originated at Cal Poly.

Reflecting on her time at Cal Poly, Alyssa highlighted the Summer Intensive Program as her favorite experience. “We developed a startup from the ground up, managing everything from product offerings to distribution and pricing. I got to pitch my own startup idea to founders and business executives, which was incredible for building my public speaking and business pitching skills.”

Beyond the classroom, Alyssa was deeply involved in campus organizations, serving on the executive board of Women in Business and engaging with the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “The program equipped me with essential accounting and finance skills, but it also gave me a strong professional network and the confidence to excel in my field,” she added.

Her advice to incoming students? “The program moves quickly, so make the most of your time and absorb as much as you can. The effort you invest will definitely pay off.”

Looking ahead, Alyssa aspires to start her own company, the very startup she developed during her time at Cal Poly—a dream she’s eager to bring to life.

This profile was published in the Winter of 2024.