Martin Macias, Cornell Johnson MBA Class of 2024
Age: 28
Hometown: Chihuahua, Mexico
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores De Monterrey, México, finance
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): Four years in manufacturing
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I had always dreamed about the idea of attending an elite institution in the United States; since I had already done my undergrad in my home country, business school made the most sense to me. I decided to pursue my MBA this year since I felt my work experience was already appropriate to compete for a spot in a top program.
Why did you choose Cornell Johnson? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Many factors figured into my decision to apply to Cornell Johnson:
- Its recruiting numbers: Last year, Cornell Johnson hit it out of the park in its recruiting numbers, and I was eager to be a part of that.
- Its location: I wanted to be relatively close to New York City, but I also wanted a tight-knit program where I could get the opportunity to be fully involved with my cohort.
- Its alumni network: I was aware of Cornell Johnson’s presence across top companies, but even more important was its pay-it-forward culture.
Ultimately, I chose to attend Cornell Johnson based on my interactions with current MBA candidates; the Cornell Johnson community immediately makes you feel comfortable, and I wanted to feel at ease in what would be the most dramatic change in my life.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024?
This is a hard question to answer as there is an outstanding, diverse pool of talent in the Class of 2024. In terms of uniqueness, I feel pride in being one of the few Chihuahua, Mexico, residents to ever represent our city in an elite MBA program, and I am passionate about bringing my diversity of thought and experience to the table whenever the opportunity arises.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I got married two weeks before landing in Ithaca, so there have been plenty of things to be happy about in the past few weeks.
Post-MBA career interests:
I would love to work in consulting, preferably on projects related to finance.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Reaching out to current MBA candidates. Cultural fit is the most important thing when it comes to choosing the perfect school.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would have reached out to MBA candidates way before even submitting my applications; it would have been extremely helpful in narrowing down the most appropriate programs for me.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Honestly nothing, but asking for recommendation letters was painful at first. What helped me get through it was considering supervisors who had been extremely close to me; they felt proud of my decision to attend a top business school in the United States, and the conversations we had about it turned out to be quite memorable.
What is your initial impression of the Cornell Johnson students/culture/community?
I have two initial impressions:
- I am loving the fact that while our cohort size is small, I have been able to meet people from every corner of life.
- I have noticed that the collaboration aspect is real. I look forward to the day when I will be able to pay it forward to another Cornell Johnson student or alum.
What is one thing you have learned about Cornell Johnson that has surprised you?
Ithaca has been quite a surprise. While it is a college town, the number of fun things to do is impressive, and the upstate New York landscapes are dreamlike.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I feel anxious about my transition from working full-time to being a full-time student, but I will be sure to cherish it while it lasts.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I feel extremely excited about my 2023 summer internship. I cannot wait for it to begin and give it my all.
