PRIDE in pop culture: MBA voices share their cultural touchstones
PRIDE is more than a celebration — it’s a reflection of identity, resilience and the stories that have shaped the community. At Kellogg, MBA students bring their full selves into the classroom and beyond.
In honor of PRIDE Month, we asked students to share media that has helped shape and define who they are. Their inspiration draws from films, books and music that uplifts queer voices, challenges norms and sparks joy.
Check out their list below and what these Two-Year MBA students have to say about their top picks.
Irina Ahmad ’25
Career focus: healthcare services
TV: “Hacks”
“The HBO Max comedy “Hacks” portrays the collaborative working relationship between Ava Daniels, an up-and-coming and self-absorbed bisexual comedian, and Deborah Vance, a legendary older comic in the twilight of her career.
“As a bisexual woman, who came out later in her life, I found it refreshing to watch a character like Ava embody her queerness and bisexuality with conviction. It was a sharp departure from the anxious ‘coming out’ LGBTQ+ media that I grew up with.
“From the writers to the cast, the show is thoroughly queer — and it reflects in the authentic and natural way that LGBTQ+ identity manifests in the show. The heart of the show is the challenging relationship between Ava and Deborah.
“Ava, as the ‘woke’ younger counterpart to Deborah, who is older and set in her ways, relentlessly annoys her boss with her tirades about LGBTQ+ issues, climate change and income inequality. I see myself and my family in both characters, and the show offers a fascinating (and hilarious) vignette into how discourse across generations can be challenging, impossible, gratifying and eye-opening all at the same time.”
Raquel Avino ’26
Career focus: consulting
TV: “One Day at a Time” (2017)
“The TV show ‘One Day at a Time’ portrays three generations of a Cuban American family living in the same house. Elena Alvarez, a queer Latina teen character, captures the complexities of coming out, navigating family acceptance and embracing identity —particularly within a cultural community where tradition and modern values often intersect.
“The show also touches on matters of racism, mental health, gender bias, multiculturalism and many other highly relevant topics in a fun and relatable format.”
Dylan Brown ’25
Career focus: pharma
Film: “Weekend” (2011
“‘Weekend’ is a romantic drama depicting the initial stages of two men meeting and starting a whirlwind relationship over the course of, you guessed it, a weekend. I was struck by how realistic the entire premise seemed to be. Not only was this one of the first times I had seen a homosexual relationship shown on-screen, but it also depicted two characters that did not fall into the traditional gay stereotypes of the time. I felt like I could see myself and my friends among these protagonists.
“Equally as powerful was the rush of an unlikely connection: Because queer people are a minority of the population, the ‘numbers game’ involved in finding someone that you match with can feel like an uphill battle. By extension, this pressure can make navigating such a relationship both excruciating and exciting.”
Al Liu ’26
Previous career focus: law
Book: “The Great Believers” (2018)
“Set partly in 1980s Chicago during the AIDS epidemic and partly during the 2010s in Paris, this novel centers around a group of friends ravaged by the AIDS epidemic and the open wound it left on the community.
“When I first finished it, I thought it was a nice book, but it didn’t exactly blow me away. Then it started to sneak up on me at the most random times.
“The most powerful moment comes near the end, when the protagonist, Yale, passes by a house he thought about buying at the beginning of the novel. He stops in front of the door, closes his eyes and allows himself to fantasize: if the disease had never existed, he would be living there, surrounded by people he loves and who love him.
“Then he opens his eyes. The house is still dark. And, I won’t give too much away so you can read to find out what happens.”
Bailey Skidmore ’26
Career focus: food manufacturing
Music: Brandi Carlile
“Brandi Carlile is a Grammy Award-winning musician who has been proudly out since very early in her career. She has consistently challenged stereotypes in country and folk music, inspiring many fans, such as myself, to embrace our identities.
“When I first came out, I was immediately drawn to Brandi’s music as a source of queer joy and queer power. Her ability to lean into raw emotion helped me to process the rollercoaster of emotions I was feeling at the time. Most importantly, the genuine love for her wife that is so evident in her music (especially “You” and “Me on the Rock”) helped me to envision what a happy lesbian life might look like for me.”
Read next: Pride Voices: Kellogg students share knowledge and insight