Mauro Colantonio, MIT Sloan MBA Class of 2022
Age: 27
Hometown: Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Universidad Catolica Andres Bello – Economics
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 4 years working in asset management.
Why business school? Why now?
After studying and working all my life in my home country, I wanted to become an international and well-rounded professional. In the MBA, I found a challenge and a learning opportunity. It was a moment to test myself while sharing with other diverse and successful colleagues an opportunity to develop a broad understanding of global issues.
Why MIT Sloan? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Initially, I wanted to apply to MIT Sloan because of its history in both engineering and Economics (my major). However, once I started to research the school and talk with people, I felt connected to its people and its collaborative culture. Lastly, I took my decision based on the city. I lived in Boston for 5 months after my high school and I wanted to live here one more time. For me, it was a no brainer.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2022?
Creativity and attention to detail. Being an MBA student amid COVID requires thinking beyond common sense. At the same time, it is very easy to get distracted while taking classes remotely or during coffee chats and group meetings. However, this fact creates a challenge for all of us. We must develop strong concentration skills while we are thinking about how to connect and outstand with recruiters, professors, and fellow students.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
How much I enjoy googling things, but very much.
Post-MBA career interests?
I will continue my career in finance focus on the LATAM region. For that, I am planning to start a career in Investment Banking.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
Show your personality. If there is something that you want to do or write don’t overthink and do it. Don’t try to put yourself in the admission shoes to decide what will be best.
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Take some risks. It goes in line with showing personality. Sometimes you will think that I need to show X or Y to enter this business school, but I didn’t feel that way in Sloan. The admission staff values authenticity as the class main driver for richness is diversity.
–One thing you would change or do differently?
I will use my advice to myself. For sure, I will be less overthinker during my process. I lost too much time and energy thinking on this to realize that it was not important at all.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
GMAT. As someone who doesn’t speak English as a first language, the exam was an uphill battle. What helped me go through was planning carefully. I started to study for the exam a year before the applications opened, balancing my time between working and studying for the exam. Once I got the score, I started to focus on the application essays and fill the requirements.
What is your initial impression of MIT Sloan’s students/culture/community?
It is great and everything I heard through the application process is true. MIT students are ambitious yet humble and approachable. Very inclusive and collaborative.
One thing you have learned about MIT Sloan that has surprised you?
People diverse background. From the outside, you might think that people followed a single path, but it is not true. There are people with strong tech and finance background while others come from non-business related. It has been amazing what you can learn when surrounded by people that are very different from each other.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I will be lying if I don’t say how the Spring will look like with COVID. The school did a great effort to have hybrid instruction through the Fall.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year?
How much I am learning from people different than me. I said it again because sometimes it can go undercover but for me, it has been so far the greatest value of my MBA. Hearing real stories from different parts of the world and business segments makes me a better professional.
