MBA

Profiles

Jacqueline Beato, MBA 2009

Jacqueline Beato's self-described "passion for small business" isn't merely a personal pursuit, but an important part of her heritage. "I'm Cuban-American," she says, "and ours is a very entrepreneurial culture."

As an undergraduate, her business ambitions percolated within what might seem to be a technically oriented degree. "Industrial engineering is the best major there is," Jacqueline says. "Yes, it does include the core skills of engineering. But the real focus is on systems – the people aspect of managing operations." She deepened her interest in operations through two internships with Deutsche Bank that were expressly intended, Jacqueline says, "to prepare me for an MBA."

Everything under the sun – including home

Between her junior and senior years, Jacqueline took a pivotal step toward the MBA by participating in HBS's Summer Venture in Management Program. The program immersed Jacqueline in a week of case studies. "After that," says Jacqueline, "I just knew that this is where you go to become a leader." In fact, the intensity of the case method experience encouraged her to apply immediately to HBS – and to no other MBA program.

"The case method is truly practical," Jacqueline says. "It's an education that goes far beyond just solving equations. Here, every issue is placed within a real world context." She also appreciates the way the case method is personally transforming. "I'm pretty opinionated," Jacqueline admits. "But my classes have taught me to really listen to others. My classes have especially helped me understand why people think a certain way – an absolutely critical preparation for leadership."

The size of the HBS program opens an extraordinary range of resources for Jacqueline, from trips to California's Bay Area (where she met eBay CEO Meg Whitman) and Costa Rica, to casual after-class socializing with peers. "The huge class size of 900 means you can find anything under the sun," Jacqueline notes. "But the small section of 90 is like home. Staying in one section the first year allows every course to build upon what's been said and done before in previous classes."

Entertaining options

For her summer internship, Jacqueline will participate in a general management program with Harrah's Entertainment in Joliet, Illinois. "It's in a service industry that's oriented around people," Jacqueline says, "rather than sitting of front of a computer screen all day."

After graduation, Jacqueline plans on building her management skills before returning to Miami "where I can be closer to my family and to my dreams of being an entrepreneur."

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