By Kristin Fouts, the Fraternity’s Director of Education and Chapter Development

For Adrian Marincas, Rho (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) 2027, the keys to life and leadership include committing to growth, staying curious and taking initiative.

Growing up, Brother Marincas spent 10 summers in Romania with his family, often making the trips alone. As a senior in high school, he lived with a family in Barcelona as part of an exchange program. Those experiences helped him appreciate different cultures and perspectives at a young age. They taught him how to adapt, stay open-minded, and communicate across differences, skills that have been incredibly valuable in college.

Adrian said he was drawn to ZBT at Illinois because of the genuine and welcoming nature of the fraternity. From the very beginning, he was impressed by the authenticity of the people he met, and how actively they pursued their professional goals.

“I noticed how many upperclassmen in ZBT were doing incredible things with their careers. Whether it was internships, research or leadership roles, they were ambitious and driven, and I’ve always believed you are who you surround yourself with. I wanted to be around people who push me to grow, and I found that in ZBT,” Brother Marincas said.

As a participant in the 2024 cohort of ZBT’s Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI), Brother Marincas learned a great deal about himself as a leader, as well as how to work with others.

“ELI taught me that at this stage in life, leadership is often about taking initiative — even if your goals feel ambitious or far-fetched. I realized that most people are actually very willing to help you if you’re genuine about your intentions and put in the effort. That mindset has stuck with me and continues to shape how I show up both within ZBT and in other areas of my life.”

Currently, Brother Marincas serves as the Chapter’s Finance Director and the Corporate Relations Chair for his business fraternity, Phi Gamma Nu. As he approaches the end of his term on the Rho Chapter Executive Board, he remains focused on making a lasting impact. He is working with brothers to create an alumni database, which will foster stronger engagement and create opportunities for undergraduates to connect with successful alumni and industry professionals.

Looking to the future, Brother Marincas aspires to pursue a career that combines his passion for problem-solving with working closely with people. After an internship at Deloitte, where he will return over summer 2025, Adrian is certain that he wants a career that challenges him intellectually while also allowing him to collaborate with others to make a meaningful difference. Ultimately, he hopes to work in an environment that encourages personal growth and enables him to help others do the same.

Brother Marincas’ journey is one of continuous learning, growth and giving back to those around him — qualities that will undoubtedly help him succeed in whatever he sets his mind to.