America Gonzalez, Berkeley Haas MBA Class of 2019
Age: 26
Hometown: Monterrey, Mexico
Undergraduate Institution and Major: ITESM Monterrey, International Financial Management
Pre-MBA Work Experience: 3.5 years in management consulting with Bain & Company
Why business school? Why now? I wanted to complement my quantitative undergraduate degree in Finance with a more strategic business perspective.
Why Haas? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? The Berkeley-Haas people and the community led me to choose this program. Haas exposed me to an unmatched academic, collaborative, and innovative community that provides an inclusive platform for conversations and new experiences. My peers have taught me new global perspectives and continue to challenge me to be a better person and business professional every day. For me, location played a great role in my decision process and I believe Berkeley Haas is the best located business school campus; we are 20 minutes away from one of the most innovative cities in the world, yet Berkeley has a small college town feel.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2019? I feel I bring in a unique perspective as a young Mexican female professional who deeply understands how to conduct business in both Latin American and American cultures.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I’m the first woman in my family to graduate from college.
Post-MBA career interests? I plan to continue my career in management consulting.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? Self-reflection in the very challenging questions. It was such a fun process, and I truly enjoyed learning more about myself.
–One thing you would change or do differently? I would’ve carved out more time to edit essays
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? The GMAT
Greatest highlight so far at Haas? Hosting eight of my classmates and their partners on an intimate “Deep Dish Dinner.” We represented seven different countries and got to talk about each other’s past experiences and our individual paths that took us all to Berkeley Haas.
One thing about Haas that you didn’t expect before arriving? How fast I was going to become friends with my classmates. Week Zero (orientation week) really fostered an environment of inclusiveness and authenticity that allowed me to have meaningful and deep conversations with my classmates and get to know them well really fast.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year? Hitting the books again and getting back in the “studying groove.”
Thing you are most excited about in your first year? Getting involved in some of the different clubs and organizations I am interested in.
