Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza earned his undergraduate degree from Cal in just three years while building an active presence in business and real estate.
The transfer quarterback who helped lead the Hoosiers to their first Big Ten title since 1967 maintains an active LinkedIn profile. He posts frequent updates about everything from attending baseball games to announcing NIL partnerships with major brands like Adidas.
Mendoza’s LinkedIn includes a detailed “About Me” section.
“Process-driven and detail-oriented leader studying Business Administration at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business after graduating from UC Berkeley in three years,” his page reads.
“As a quarterback for Indiana Football, I apply a strong foundation in leadership, time management, and communication to excel both on and off the field. I’m passionate about leveraging my background in business, real estate, and finance to build a career that combines strategic thinking, teamwork, and community impact. I take pride in fostering positive team culture, adapting to new environments, and driving success through preparation, accountability, and collaboration.”
College Degrees and Academic Background
According to Mendoza’s Indiana bio, he earned his undergraduate degree from Cal in business administration in three years. At Indiana, he’s pursuing a Master’s degree in Business Administration and Management. His listed completion date is December 2026.
Mendoza’s LinkedIn page shows impressive coursework from his Cal days. He took Analytical Geometry and Calculus, Introductory Probability and Statistics for Business, Introduction to Economics and Principles of Business.
At Indiana, Mendoza is enrolled in the Kelley School of Business.
According to Carolyn Goerner, faculty chair of Kelley Executive Education Programs and clinical professor of management at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, students in the MBA program can take various courses. The school partners with organizations like the NFLPA, Major League Baseball, and the WNBA to customize curriculum while requiring 10 core courses to earn an MBA.
“In terms of the electives, that’s where folks can get some more flexibility,” Goerner told The Sporting News via phone interview. “Our program tends to offer electives as they relate to what our partner organizations want, and so that’s really the flex coming in here. So we’ve actually sat down with our professional sports associations and done the surveys asking what do your folks need as they’re transitioning out of sport, and then kind of put the courses together accordingly.”
While Mendoza is expected to have a career in the NFL after his playing days at Indiana, Goerner says the program has helped former IU athletes in their next career stages.
“A couple of our NFL players have started foundations,” Goerner said. “So they’ve gone through the whole ‘how do I figure out a nonprofit and make that work?’ A lot of the folks come through, and what winds up happening is just a series of businesses. So there’s not just one thing, but a number of enterprises. Our goal is to set them up so that they can know what the financial statements say and how to make decisions around them. Know how to evaluate people who might be working with them, and really just have a good sense of how to partner smartly with folks as they move through a variety of different ventures.”
Real Estate Internship Experience
Mendoza has completed internships with two different companies during the summers of 2023 and 2024.
His first internship was with Acre Investment Company, which is described on LinkedIn as “a Northern California based investment firm pursuing value-add commercial and residential real estate opportunities.”
According to Mendoza’s LinkedIn page, he worked in commercial real estate with Acre. He researched available properties nationwide, compiled data for listings, and helped streamline the acquisition process for future business endeavors.
In summer 2024, Mendoza interned with Newmark, a commercial real estate advisor and service provider to large institutional investors and global corporations.
Per his LinkedIn page, Mendoza conducted property tours, researched commercial real estate in the Bay Area, and participated in various workshops and networking events.
