Maria Monica Manganti, IMD’s MBA Class of 2022
Age: 31
Hometown: Manila, Philippines
Undergraduate Institution and Major: De La Salle University- Bachelor of Arts, major in Psychology
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 9 years; Commodity Goods and Cosmetics Industry
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
After 9 years of experience in the commodity goods and cosmetics industry, I felt it was time to have formal business foundations. I wanted to strengthen my skills and abilities as an individual. I felt that having an MBA would complement my previous background and experience and allow more opportunities to come my way.
Why did you choose IMD? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose IMD Business School because first, it was aligned with the skills I wanted to develop at that time. I wanted to be in a program that has a focus on leadership and general management. Moreover, I wanted to be part of the program that bred leaders and heads of organizations. Secondly, I wanted to be around people who had about the same years of experience as I had. Also, being an occasional introvert, I wanted to be in a small cohort where I can focus on the quality of interactions I had with people than the quantity. IMD Business School admits only 100+ students at a time. It is also known for having more experienced individuals join its program. It was perfect for me. I wanted to learn from experienced leaders coming from diverse backgrounds while creating deep and meaningful relationships with them. Third, IMD offered me a scholarship during the time of my application. Apart from the quality of their program, the scholarship allowed me to have more flexibility with my finances. Lastly is the duration of the program. With only just a year of an intensive MBA, it will allow me to go back to work and not make me miss out on career opportunities outside the walls of a classroom.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2022?
I do not come from a fully corporate background. Instead, I worked with our family business where my past experiences have been helping build companies or building companies of my own across Europe and Asia. In my 9 years of work, I have had my own experiences of failures and this is something I did not hide from my classmates. I was happy to share with them my learnings around this.
I’m also known in the cohort for having a positive attitude and a seemingly bubbly personality. I would organize events for the class, be it a volleyball game or a hike around Switzerland. I love bringing people together and I see the value of making the most of our time as a cohort, especially since we only have a few months left in this unique chapter!
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
My first job was news reporting, reporting the nightly news in the Philippines.
Post-MBA career interests:
My post-MBA career interests include going back to the Philippines to continue working with our family business and continuing to manage my beauty trading company. I’m also looking into the possibility of expanding our operations in Europe. However, forging my own path outside our family business and the Philippines also appeals to me. In doing so, I’m open to trying my luck on strategy consulting and the FMCG industry in Europe. Which one to do? Only time will tell!
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would certainly do my intensive research about the program again. Doing an MBA program is an investment in both your money and your time. I would make sure to have clear objectives of what you want to get out of the program. Do you want to build better skills? Do you want to change industries? How would this program help you attain your objectives? For me, going to Business School was about building my business skills with a focus on leadership. I’m glad I had this clarity early on, which allowed me to choose the business school that was a fit for me.
Secondly, I only studied for the GRE for 3 months. Other aspiring B-students take 1-2 years just to master it. I did not have the highest score but my score was acceptable. I decided to just go with the applications knowing that business schools review applications in a holistic manner. With the clarity I had early on, I only applied to IMD Business School. It allowed me not to waste time on other applications and requirements. I believe it’s important to be decisive and focused in the beginning.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
If given the chance, I would have applied earlier. I realized I wanted to go to Business School late in the
year, which caused me to be in the last round of applications in October. I got the admission letter in November and the program started in January of the next year. I had less than two months to cram everything from leaving my previous company, finding an apartment in Switzerland, catching up on pre-MBA requirements, and just getting in the mindset of being a student abroad again. If I had applied earlier, I would have had much better preparation.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
To be very honest, if given the chance to skip, I would have skipped the GRE/GMAT requirement. For me, this was the hardest part of the application process. However, I do understand that this test allows the business schools asses each individual’s analytical ability and comprehension. It helps them add more value to the cohort so that individuals in the program are of the same caliber.
What is your initial impression of the IMD students/culture/community?
The IMD culture is very personal. With the small cohort, there is really a focus on you. The MBA office and even the Dean know you by name. It is easy to connect with past alums and professors. This small community, compared to other business schools, allows for more authentic connections with peers.
What is one thing you have learned about IMD that has surprised you?
During my year, it was the first time that IMD initiated its Venture Award, a competition to help aspiring entrepreneurs kick-start their ventures. I was surprised by the entrepreneurs and venture capitalists that IMD had access to. Not only did they provide the winner mentorship and financial support, but they gave wonderful insights to our class. Two of these VCs even welcomed us to their home in Silicon Valley. We were able to get a feel for their lives and got inspired by the success they’ve attained through their hard work and perseverance.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
With my undergraduate degree being in Psychology, when I encountered Accounting and Finance subjects, it brought a lot of anxiety to me. Good thing was, I was able to find a study group and we helped each other come out of the stressful situations with flying colors.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I have always been the adventurous type and so, the program was exciting for me in terms of new travels and experiences. First was just being able to live in Switzerland and having easy access to nature, be it in icy mountains, beautiful waterfalls or crystal clear lakes. Next was that one of our discovery expeditions was in Argentina. It was my first time to be in South America and figured it was the best time to fulfill my dream of climbing up to Machu Picchu. After our expedition trip to Argentina, I flew on my own to Peru to finally fulfill one of my bucket lists. I embarked on a 5-day journey of just hiking and camping towards Machu Picchu. Though strenuous, being on top of Machu Picchu was certainly fulfilling.
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your personal application or admissions process in any way? If so, how?
The pandemic only intensified my interest in business school. Had there been no pandemic, I wouldn’t have taken time to reflect and realize that I wanted to build more skills and better business foundations from a business school abroad. If there’s one thing the pandemic gave me, it was the realization that I wanted to take up my MBA at IMD Business School.
