E90 — Gil Vazquez— Grit: Beyond the System's Walls

On this episode of The Fuqua Show, we sit down with Gil Vazquez (Class of '26) for a masterclass in resilience, gratitude, and the audacity to bet on yourself. Gil’s story isn't your typical polished resume; it is a raw look at what happens when the institutions you rely on say "no," and you refuse to accept it. From his early years moving from Puerto Rico to the U.S. with his professional horse-jockey father, to losing and fighting to regain a Division 1 track scholarship, Gil has always had to forge his own path. We trace his journey through an eight-year military career as an Army engineer deployed across Europe and Africa. He details a pivotal crucible: fighting a toxic military bureaucracy and reaching out directly to a general to secure his exit from the armed forces to care for his ailing mother. Now a full-ride scholar, an incoming leader in strategy and finance at PepsiCo, and the founder of Built Different Running Company (BDRC), Gil shares how almost losing his MBA opportunity fueled a profound dedication to servant leadership. In this episode, we cover:Navigating life and assimilation as a first-generation college student to immigrant parents. Bouncing back from lost scholarships, injuries, and being kicked off his team to achieving an undefeated Division 2 cross-country season. The sobering reality of military leadership, taking accountability for a team, and advocating for yourself against a broken system. Fostering community through the Fuqua Run Club and launching his new entrepreneurial venture, BDRC.