Trailblazing grad now one degree stronger in leadership

Although she earned an MBA with a focus on Women in Leadership in May 2024, one could argue that Adriana Grosch for years has been blazing a trail for other Latinas to follow.

The MBA in Women in Leadership from Texas Woman’s is only one of a few programs in the country focused on providing women with the skills they need to be effective business leaders. And it suited Grosch perfectly, as she, herself, is a one-of-a-kind individual.

After graduating as valedictorian from Lake Worth High School in 2009, she came to Texas Woman’s as a first-generation student to study math. Initially, Grosch had designs on becoming a math teacher. But those plans changed after she learned about a dual-degree program between TWU and UNT that created a path for her to become an electrical engineer.

While at TWU, she became the university’s first Latina student regent, which was another sign that leadership was in her blood.

After graduating, she embarked on an impressive career, which included an internship with G.E. in Florida designing hardware for GPS systems; a stint as a civilian engineer Department of Defense contractor for the U.S. Navy in Rhode Island testing sonar in submarines; and most recently, as a senior quality assurance engineer with Wabtec Corporation in Pennsylvania, overseeing railroad signaling systems to prevent train accidents.

Often, she was one among very few women in her workplace. As a Latina, she represented an even smaller group. A Pew Research Center study in 2022 found Hispanics make up 8% of the workforce in fields related to science, technology, engineering or math, and Hispanic women account for only 3% of those jobs.

In her latest position, which she has had for five years, Grosch said her work is less about design and more about problem-solving and being the unifying voice among engineers, managers and customers. It is a role she relishes, and one which led her to think about the importance of those leadership skills she has developed over her 10-year career. 

Recognizing that some workplaces were better than others in the areas of leadership, mentoring and interpersonal skills, Grosch felt she could better serve colleagues and clients with a graduate degree that emphasized those traits, which led her back to TWU.

Now armed with an MBA designed to enhance those leadership skills, it’s a good bet Grosch will be a stronger, more visible example for others to emulate.