Published November 25, 2020
A Double Major Lets Mauro Pursue Two Passions
Mauro Schenone’s early life set the tone for his later years. Born in Venezuela, he and his parents immigrated to the United States when he was 6 years old. He says the shift from the tropics to the Midwest was quite the transition, but it ingrained in him a deep interest in cultures and languages. When he enrolled at NYU, Mauro chose to study business management at the Stern School of Business. But it wasn’t long before he decided to broaden his focus—and embrace his interest in cultures—with a double major in Art History at the College of Arts and Science (CAS). Here’s what the NYU senior had to say about his unusual academic trajectory.
What inspired you to double major in two seemingly disparate fields?
Before entering college, I hadn’t considered the fine arts as a career path. But I spent my first year in New York City frequenting museums, galleries, and theatres. That experience widened my lens. The Stern programʼs flexibility and compatibility with other tracks outside of business that would let me pursue a variety of interests and enrich the practical foundation of the business curriculum fascinated me.
Academically, what has been the highlight of your time studying at Stern and CAS?
Stern’s comprehensive curriculum exposed me to several different tracks. But the psychology of management and its focus on empowering people captivated me. With class experience in finance, marketing, and social impact, my concentration in management goes hand in hand with my career goals: to be a management consultant at an international art auction house. Crafting a track at the intersection of art and business provided me with the opportunity to interact with faculty at the forefront of both fields.
How did you combine your interests while studying abroad at NYU Florence?
I split my classes between my double majorʼs disciplines. I took Operations Management, Organizational Communication and Its Social Context, an art history course with a leading Florentine historian, and an intensive Italian language course. Each class was relevant to my track and allowed me to deeply immerse myself in Italy.
You studied at the National University of Singapore as well. Tell us about that.
I studied there through Stern’s International Business Exchange program. It was an opportunity for me to gain a better understanding of cultures that are quite different from any I’ve known. While there, I took two courses in business management that centered on Asian case studies and one art course that covered the influence of imperial art in South and Southeast Asia.
What advice would you give a student whose interests are varied like yours?
Entering college with varied interests can be intimidating, but it’s the perfect time to explore them! Now more than ever, employers look for people with varied backgrounds to be a part of their teams because it leads to more creative problem-solving. Someone with varied interests should explore them as much as they can through electives, clubs, and internships. Listen to your gut feelings, and don’t be afraid to take a class that’s outside your track.
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