David G. Cascante Mora, OSU Fisher’s MBA Class of 2026
Age: 40
Hometown: Heredia, Costa Rica
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Universidad Latina de Costa Rica and Business Management with a major in Marketing
Pre-MBA Work Experience: around 22 years of work experience, the last being 2 years as a Customer Experience Consultant.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I was ready to make a leap to leadership roles and wanted to continue developing my strategic and problem-solving skills further as well as developing a rich network.
Why did you choose Ohio Fisher? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Ohio Fisher is excellent; it is not only one of the biggest colleges in the U.S., but a very involved business school. I love their team-minded leadership philosophy, and their Midwestern values resonate with my own.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2026?
I bring a rich working experience; I am a motivator and a connector, with a sustainable customer-centric mentality.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I was very close to choosing psychology instead of marketing for my undergrad. I have since tried to veer to customer behavior, a very nice crossing between business and science.
Post-MBA career interests:
Customer Relationship Management, Sales Support & Demand Planning
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Early preparation and early application were crucial for my application process. It allowed me to talk to current students and learn more about the reality of the MBA, which greatly contributed to my selection.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would have taken the English test and GRE at a center vs. online. Had a hard time getting that to work properly.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I didn’t love having to retake standardized tests after being out of school for over a decade and a half. Sounds cliché, but “eyes on the prize.” I couldn’t let a test be an obstacle to reaching this huge milestone. I like the essay writing portion, I felt it gave me a space to express myself, though concisely, and gave the admissions committee more reasons why they would want to choose me.
What is your initial impression of the OSU Fisher students/culture/community?
Ohio Fisher is a huge place, which for international students can be a bit daunting; however, it also has a strong and supportive community with lots of people willing to help. You get to experience the wholesomeness of the homely midwestern values and, at the same time, be in the middle of a multi-cultural campus. This makes this place a vibrant changing place to share and learn about others.
What is one thing you have learned about Ohio Fisher that has surprised you?
I have been surprised by constant improvement to the Full-Time MBA program, it is regularly being updated and the innovative initiatives are the ones we enjoy today, plus we get the chance assist with this change since the students’ opinions are highly valued.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Being able to find the right balance between schoolwork, networking, and the ever-present job search.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am excited about learning about the things you can do in Columbus and getting to meet great people both on campus and in partner companies through clubs and fairs.
