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MBA Voices
MBA Voices
To me, being Latino means taking immense pride in our Hispanic heritage and the traditions that come with it. I was raised in Lima, Peru, but my journey led me to the United States, where I attended college at the University of Kansas and later embarked on a career in Kansas City. I never imagined I would spend a decade in the Midwest. However, as I transitioned into adulthood, I began to realize that certain elements of Peru were conspicuously absent from my life. I yearned for the cuisine, the vibrant national holiday celebrations, the fervor for soccer, and so much more. Yet, I came to understand that what I missed were not mere physical artifacts, they were experiences—the warmth of the people from my homeland, which I still fondly call home. This realization fuels my fervor for encouraging others to visit Peru, to immerse themselves in its enchanting culture. It's why I consider myself an ambassador of my country, eager to introduce people to its rich traditions and to kindle the warmth within their souls. [...]
According to research, only a mere 3% of individuals holding an MBA identify as Latinas, and we have among the lowest representation in senior business positions and corporate boards. In part, the strong desire to challenge these statistics fueled my path to apply to HBS. With its long-standing mission of educating leaders who make a difference in the world, Harvard provides the platform to develop the critical skills and connections to challenge the status quo. For me, that means championing investment in the educational and financial empowerment of underserved communities, especially the Latine community. [...]
The challenge posed to students in HBS’s FIELD Global Immersion (FGI) course sounds a bit like a premise for reality TV: Travel to unfamiliar markets where you might not speak the language, work in teams with students you might not know, and develop critical solutions to a business’s pressing issues—in just eight days. That’s the concept behind FGI, a required course for first-year MBA students. Since 2011, it has become an important learning-in-the-field complement to the case method used in the classroom. This past May, more than 1,000 students in the Class of 2024, divided into faculty-led cohorts of some 70 students each, worked in 15 locations (see box) with 171 global business partners to get a firsthand look at how business is conducted around the world. [...]
The Social Enterprise Accelerator is offered to students in the summer between their first and second year, supporting student founders in the development of their social impact startup. During the summer of 2023, eleven student founders benefitted from social entrepreneurship workshops, as well as the insights and feedback from their cohort. We talked to a few participants in the Accelerator to hear more about their experience: Teresa Danso-Danquah, Rea Savla, Benjamin Schedl, and Sophy Wang, (all MBA 2024). [...]
My first semester teaching Entrepreneurship to first year MBAs at Harvard Business School has come to a close. “Just” 15 years ago, I sat in the exact same room as a member of the MBA class of 2010, and so this experience has been extra special, difficult, and inspiring. For those considering HBS and recently admitted students, I thought I’d share a few of my observations: [...]
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The views and opinions expressed in the MBA Voices blog are those of the authors.
Any political views shared by students are their own; HBS does not endorse a
particular party or candidate.