From the Senate to the classroom: How an Evening MBA student applies academics to lawmaking

State Senator Flavio Bravo (MBA '25) leverages his W. P. Carey education to make a difference in the lives of Arizonans.

As an Arizona senator, full-time professional, and W. P. Carey Evening MBA student, Flavio Bravo (MBA '25) has a lot on his plate.

"While considering going back to school, program flexibility was crucial so I could balance it all," says Bravo, who represents Arizona's 26th legislative district, including Phoenix and Glendale within Maricopa County. "I knew from my experiences during the pandemic that there's value in in-person relationships and getting to know your professors and peers. That's why I opted for the Evening MBA program."

As a fifth-generation Arizonan and first-generation college student, Bravo recognized that an MBA would enhance his role as a program manager for Cavco Industries' "Homes For Our Own" program, where he guides first-time homebuyers nationwide through the complexities of the home-buying process. His MBA also proves invaluable in the legislature, where he engages with senators on issues of commerce, funding, and the passage of the annual state budget.

When Bravo isn't working or attending class, he serves on the board of directors for Open Hearts Family Wellness in Central Phoenix and the Kino Border Initiative in Southern Arizona. He also attends local school board meetings within District 26 and says his finance and accounting courses have given him a more in-depth understanding of K-12 school and state budgets. As a legislator, Bravo needs to understand how to responsibly allocate state funds and advocate for his constituents' priorities. Other MBA courses such as Organizational Behavior taught by Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship Michael Baer have helped Bravo better understand how others think, communicate, and make decisions. It showed him that, ultimately, people just want to be included and engaged.

"We discussed how to include everyone in a conversation while being clear and communicative. Nobody wants to go in on that alone," says Bravo. "It's the same when it comes to voting and decision-making. It overlaps with politics."

Bravo says his classmates and professors provide valuable insights he doesn't hear in political circles and he hopes sharing his experiences as a lawmaker expands others' viewpoints. During a recent supply chain management course, the class discussed Arizona's investments in chip manufacturing and the recently passed CHIPS Act. Bravo shared his experience supporting key legislation that supported chip manufacturing growth in the state.

"I've always shared with my classmates that we're all connected because government and business really do coincide," he says.

Bravo may be new to the Arizona State Senate, but he isn't new to politics or advocacy work. While pursuing his undergraduate and master's degrees, Bravo held roles in student government and interned for organizations supporting migration and human rights. Bravo was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2022, where he served on the House Government and Regulatory Affairs committees, before being appointed to the Arizona State Senate in 2023. He was recently named State Senator of the Year by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is a recipient of Partnerships for Economic Innovation's 2024 Champion for Innovation Award.

"It's an honor," says Bravo. "Winning the State House race on election night, being appointed to the Senate, and being named Senator of the Year has been an incredibly rewarding experience."

One of Bravo's proudest achievements as a senator has been working to support undocumented immigrant youth attending Arizona high schools to achieve their educational and professional goals. In 2022, the Arizona voters passed Proposition 308, allowing some of these youth to qualify for in-state college tuition rates. Bravo proposed a bill granting occupational work licenses to immigrants 18 years or older. Although the bill did not ultimately make it to the governor's desk, it did receive bipartisan support within the Senate.

Bravo, whose district has the highest concentration of refugees in the state, considers immigration issues a top priority. "I wanted to show my colleagues on both sides of the aisle that we are supporting these students from kindergarten to senior year, but if they can't apply what they've learned in the workforce, they'll leave Arizona and go to a different state."

Bravo encourages students interested in public policy to volunteer or apply for internships at the capitol to learn more about the state legislature's processes, regardless of their major. Bravo's colleagues in the Senate come from a wide range of professions — including educators, physicians, nurses, and small business owners — which he says is key to bringing different viewpoints to the Senate. He credits his employer and colleagues with giving him the opportunity, support, and flexibility to hold local office while pursuing his MBA.

"There are so many different perspectives, which are needed in policy, that overlap with the business community," says Bravo. "State legislation is better if it's made up of informed, diverse perspectives and backgrounds."