Mariela Vazquez, Rochester Simon MBA Class of 2024
Age: 29
Hometown: Idaho Falls, Idaho
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Idaho (Location: Moscow, Idaho) B.A. International Studies with emphasis in Development in Latin America; B.A. Spanish
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): I have a little over 7 years of pre-MBA work experience in the social impact space—ranging from working with non-profits, to serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer, Project Management and Consulting for a Social Entrepreneurship firm doubling as a USIAD implementing agency, and most recently as a Crisis Management Consultant working Covid Surge and Recovery Operations.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school?
In my work abroad, I saw a recurring theme that shifted my understanding of empowerment and sustainable development and while evaluating the structures that produce and perpetuate lack of access– to education, health, safety, and general wellbeing of people in developing countries–I came to find that there is one undeniable factor at the core: lack of access to equitable economic development and sustainable income generation.
Working in the international development industry and having always had a soft spot for social impact, I began to challenge the way I observed these investments being used. I concluded that, to truly drive sustainable change, I had to insert myself into a space that understood both the high-level strategy required for planning and implementing as well as the intricacies and potential of leveraging private sector influence to ensure accountability for impact investment funding.
Why now?
Momentum–Covid-19 exacerbated the mechanisms keeping low-income and marginalized communities of color at a disadvantage, but it has also forced people all over the world to reconsider the ways in which they’re able to generate income. Increased engagement in the gig economy, often paid in US Dollars, will have a long-term impact on people’s ability to become financially mobile and influence economic growth within their respective countries.
Why did you choose Rochester Simon? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Simon was the first business school I engaged with where I was made to feel like I could actually do it—that there was space for me (and people like me) in business and that my non-traditional background would be an asset. As a first-generation student who grew up in a low-income family in rural Idaho, it was hard enough to get past those initial limitations and, quite frankly, I didn’t need anyone questioning my capacity as I tried to navigate attending a graduate program– I knew it was going to be difficult, I knew it was going to be expensive and that scholarships are only merit-based– that’s not what I needed to hear from school representatives.
The Simon difference was me being able to let my guard down, show up as myself, not feel intimidated or out of place, and have personalized support from the entire Admin Team throughout the process, all the while counting on their unconditional support in my personal transition back to school.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024?
Over the last several years I’ve worked on becoming an observer—listening intently, reading body language, vocal tone fluctuations, behaviors, and generally understanding the differences in communication that underlie entire cultures’ communication structures in order to respond and negotiate the best possible outcomes for myself and my teams. I think this skill often gets overshadowed by the emphasis and prestige placed on having or developing the quantitative skill set expected of those holding an MBA degree.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I’ve always been a little bit of an entrepreneur–I was eight years old when I saw the opportunity to break into the agriculture industry and start my own papaya farm. I never liked the fruit, but my math at the time made sense:
1 papaya = roughly 115 seeds and 115 seeds = a lot of trees.
I drew up a business plan and announced the venture to my family. Alas, I failed to conduct a proper land analysis and painfully discovered that papayas don’t grow in Idaho.
Post-MBA career interests:
- ESG
- Impact Investing
- Social Entrepreneurship
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
One thing I think I did right was my relentless search for mentors—I can’t tell you the amount of zoom calls and coffee chats I had with random people from LinkedIn or folks I met at virtual conferences. Lo and behold, these were some of the most real conversations about MBA, funding, the hustle, purpose, and life that I’ve ever had.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I researched graduate programs for two years–to a certain extent it positioned me as a well-informed candidate but on the other hand, I think I overwhelmed myself with so much information that it consequently delayed my application. If I could do that differently, I would identify which types of resources are intended for specific audiences and focus on the ones that would more directly meet my needs as an MBA applicant.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Skip the self-doubt– throw it away, there’s no room for it! The worst part is that when you doubt yourself you give others permission to doubt you too and that is the last thing you want to do when you’ve worked so hard to get to this point in your life. The thing that got me through episodes of self-doubt was the following quote by James Clear, author of Atomic Habits:
“It’s not your job to tell yourself no. It’s not your job to deny yourself opportunities. It’s not your job to prevent your own progress. There are enough people in the world who will do those things for you.”
What is your initial impression of the Rochester Simon students/culture/community?
After the amount of research I did on MBA programs, I came to the Simon Woman’s Conference in November of 2021 thinking I had to be “on” the whole time, an MBA in the making—look, speak, and sound the part. I mentally prepared myself to feel some sort of impostor syndrome because I figured if I was mentally prepared for it, I could navigate it better (go figure). Words cannot express how relieved I was when students, alumni, and staff were so down-to-earth and welcoming that I was able to just be myself and know that that was enough.
What is one thing you have learned about Rochester Simon that has surprised you?
The openness and willingness of alumni to take the time to speak to you, hear your thought process on the paths you’re considering, make suggestions, and just be a resource to you—alumni live this continuation of the #SimonStrong values and that, to me, is really inspiring given that one of our values here at Simon is humility.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
This might sound silly but I’m anxious about maintaining my existing friendships—I know I’ve been off the radar since April 2022 with the amount of work that goes into recruiting and conference preparations, and I’ve been absent or delayed in my communication. I’ve always counted on my friends’ support, and I know it goes without saying that they’re cheering me on every step of the way– I just hope that my focus at this stage in my life doesn’t ever translate to a lack of appreciation or love for the community that got me here in the first place.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’m excited to be in a learning environment again—there’s something about being surrounded by people who want to help each other grow and see each other win that just gives some much-needed grace to this entire journey and makes it all worth it.
