Carolina Darraidou, London Business School’s MBA Class of 2023
Age: 30 years old
Hometown: Santiago, Chile
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Business Administration
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 6 years in CCU (a FMCG company)
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I was feeling stuck in my previous job and knew I wanted to switch career paths. Doing an MBA will help me make that transition smoother and faster.
I have reached a point in my career and personal life where I know it will be harder for me to make that switch if I continue this path. Plus, being in lockdown for so long gave me the time to reflect upon what I really wanted to do with my life and how to achieve that.
Why did you choose LBS? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
First, London Business School (LBS) has one of the best MBA programmes, academically speaking.
Second, knowing that a huge part of my learning experience will come from my classmates’ previous experience, diversity was crucial. Related to this is the global experience that I can get out of the programme.
Third, among the schools that I was interested in, LBS had the highest percentage of women in the class. This was important for me, as I want to be able to get to know other women’s experiences working in male-dominated industries, the challenges they have faced and how they have dealt with them.
Fourth, living in London will be a huge advantage when looking for internships and post MBA jobs. There are so many different companies and start-ups that have offices here, it is so exciting to know of all the options that we have.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2023?
My previous experience, working for a Chilean company developing different strategies that have allowed us to successfully compete against the worldwide leader.
Tell us a fun fact that didn’t get included on your application:
The last time I was in London, I got engaged and now we have returned with our 3-month-old daughter.
Post-MBA career interests:
Consulting/Tech. I am currently having so much fun looking into sectors and industries I had never considered before.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
– What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Reflecting on my life while writing the essays gave me a whole new perspective on how I view myself. Giving myself time to look back and think about my achievements and failures and how they have shaped me (both personally and professionally) was very eye opening. I’ll definitely be doing that more often.
– What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I wish I had talked to more alumni and current students for more information about the application process. They would have probably answered most of the questions I had and made it easier to understand the difference among universities.
– What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
GMAT, without a doubt – knowing that in 20 years from now when I look back, all the wonderful memories from these two years will have made it worth it.
What is your initial impression of LBS’ students/culture/community?
Everyone is so open minded and friendly, which has made meeting new people and making new friends so easy.
What is one thing you have learned about LBS that has surprised you?
How inclusive they are with partners. I hadn’t realized this until I started talking with friends who are attending other universities. My husband has been able to join and participate in clubs, use the gym, use the library, etc. This has made transitioning our life to London a lot easier.
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your personal application or admissions process in any way? If so, how?It made me want to apply ASAP! Being in lockdown for so long made me realize that I needed a change in my professional life. It gave me the time to reflect on my goals and what I needed to do to achieve them, which resulted in me applying. Also, it made me want to find a way to be surrounded by people again, and now I’m surrounded by over 500 of my classmates.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Balancing everything! There are so many things going on at LBS right now: academics, clubs, networking, trips and social life. Plus raising my 3-month-old daughter and continuing to enjoy life with my husband. And perhaps maybe get some sleep somewhere in between?
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Meeting new people from all over the world, especially after being in lockdown for what seems forever, is by far the most exciting thing!
