Real Humans of the Duke Fuqua MBA Class of 2025

Juan Pablo Larrain, Duke Fuqua MBA Class of 2025

Age: 29
Hometown: Santiago, Chile
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Universidad de Los Andes, Bachelor of Laws
Pre-MBA Work Experience (role, company, years): 1 year in investment banking, 4 years in the capital markets group of a law firm

Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
While working at the law firm, I realized I wanted to be closer to the decision-making process that businesses entail. To do so, I embarked on a career pivot to investment banking, and as soon as started working as an analyst, I realized it was my calling. Attending business school now will allow me to learn the core subjects and continue developing my skills to ramp up my career in financial services.

Why did you choose Duke Fuqua? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
One of the things that attracted me more about Fuqua was its powerful brand and team-centric culture (Team Fuqua). I instantly felt that culture just by talking to the Alumni. This was a key factor in my decision because the teachers, the CMC, and Alumni are always eager to help you achieve your goals. Additionally, the fact that it is one of the MBAs with more international citizens in the US, allowing me to meet people of multiple countries and have the chance to work with them. 

What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2025?
I believe my mixed background in law and banking allows me to have a more comprehensive view of the challenges that businesses face. This and the recent experiences lived in my country because of political turmoil and the constitutional process allow me to contribute a very different perspective to the classroom.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I applied to the MBA in the Round 2 deadline, while in the hospital and within moments of having my first baby.

Post-MBA career interests:
Investment Banking

Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Just embarking in the application process is an enriching experience, making you think about your achievements, priorities, and future goals. I felt that preparing the key interview questions (why an MBA? why now? and why Fuqua?) helped me to build a path for what I want to pursue in the future.

What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Probably to apply in Early Action or Round 1. Given my background, I had to work a lot on the GRE to deliver solid scores, deciding to postpone my application many times. After I got to Fuqua, I realized the different backgrounds everybody came from and understood the holistic approach in the selection.

What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Probably taking the GRE. I had a very tough time studying for the test while transitioning to banking, and the key to that was the support from my family but also from my managers.

What is your initial impression of the Duke Fuqua students/culture/community?
Amazing!! I’ve gotten to know incredible people, from different backgrounds or countries. Key for that has been the sections, starting at orientation with section competition and continuing to form a close-knitted group that helps each other on any topic (e.g. places to go, restaurants to visit, and even where to buy suits).

What is one thing you have learned about Duke Fuqua that has surprised you?
For me, one of the things that has surprised me the most is the quality of the teachers. They´ve managed to make incredible and interactive classes on subjects that I felt were more dull or monotonous, completely changing my perspective about them. 

What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Probably about the recruiting season. There are a lot of alternatives for different employers coming to school to show us what they do and what opportunities you can have at them.

What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
One of the things I’m most excited about is that I feel like everything is a new and different experience. Most of the topics we´ve gone through in classes are new for me: the way they teach them, or we have teamwork and the interactions you have with people of different nationalities/backgrounds.