Victor Alejandro Sosa Treviño, Chicago Booth MBA Class of 2025
Victor Alejandro Sosa Treviño, Chicago Booth MBA Class of 2025Age: 29
Hometown: Monterrey, Mexico
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Tecnológico de Monterrey | Finance
Pre-MBA Work Experience (role, company, years): Last work experience, Product Manager, Kavak, 3 years (E-commerce – 1st start-up to reach unicorn valuation in Mexico); Previous work experience, DriveOp, Sr. Business Developer, 1 year (Seed investing); Associate, BCG, 2 years (Strategy consulting)
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
After 3 very rewarding and challenging years working in the startup world, I realized there were some key gaps that I needed to work on to progress my career and strive for senior leadership roles. I made the decision to get an MBA because I want to further develop my leadership skills and continue to learn about the topics that are shaping today’s business environment, such as business analytics and product management.
Why did you choose Chicago Booth? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
The two biggest factors that impacted my decision to attend Booth were: 1) its vast network and 2) its flexible curriculum.
1. My professional network has greatly impacted my career and posed unique opportunities, so a school with a strong alumni network was my top priority.
2. I have a very good understanding of my strengths and areas of opportunity, and (or so) with Booth’s flexible curriculum, I can be more deliberate with which courses to take to work on those weaknesses, and which courses can build on my strengths and interests.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the University of Chicago Booth School of Business Class of 2025?
What I bring to the Class of 2025 is a very holistic mix of professional experiences. During my three years at Kavak, I was lucky enough to serve as a Product Manager through very different phases, from an early-stage company of 200 employees to a more mature firm with thousands of employees and presence in several countries. Pairing this experience with my previous consulting and VC career helps me bring a unique and varied perspective to my class and teams.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
My first job ever was installing carpet at schools. I didn’t realize it at that moment, but it made me a ‘carpet critic.’ Since then, whenever I enter a room with carpet, I judge how well the job was done.
Post-MBA career interests:
Right after the MBA, I want to continue my role as a Product Manager but now in a big tech company, developing products that impact the daily lives of millions of people. In the long term, I want to go back to the start-up world in Mexico by either building my own company or leading a young company.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I started my MBA process very early and I believe that helped me create a strong application. If you are interested in pursuing an MBA, plan well ahead of time and embark on the journey early.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I should have researched a little bit more about the application process. I was not ready for the video application and they took me by surprise, which made the process more stressful.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
That would be the GMAT exam. It was very challenging to balance work and test prep. What helped me the most was structuring my study hours and having someone hold me accountable on my study progress, almost like school. That was a game-changer for me.
What is your initial impression of the Chicago Booth students/culture/community?
It has been fascinating to learn about my classmates’ backgrounds because they are all very accomplished and interesting, while being super laid-back and kind at the same time. I have also confirmed that most students in here are analytical and data-driven, eager to learn and put those learnings to practice.
Also, I was very happy to discover that Booth’s community is very diverse (much more than I originally anticipated), so far, I’ve met people from all around the world, with different cultures and perspectives. That certainly has been very enriching from a personal and professional perspective.
What is one thing you have learned about Chicago Booth that has surprised you?
When applying to Booth, I didn’t realize how structured the career services department was going to be. It has been a positive surprise to discover how much support students have to navigate and succeed in the recruiting process through experienced advisors, tools and workshops.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Prioritizing activities in the right way to enjoy my time here and make friends, but also make the most out of the resources Booth gives us to learn and recruit successfully. The FOMO is real!
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Starting the recruiting process and landing a summer internship is something that has me very excited. Funny, right? Just starting my MBA experience and already thinking on the next job.
