Alec S. Deneken, Chicago Booth MBA Class of 2026
Age: 25
Hometown: Mexico City
Undergraduate Institution and Major: UCLA, Aerospace Engineering Summa Cum Laude
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Business Analyst, McKinsey, 2 years (2022-24), and Product Development Engineer, Mattel, Inc., 2 years (2020-2022)
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
As a consultant, I felt very confident in engagements in the digital and operations space, but felt that I had a knowledge gap in finance. I am quite passionate about difficult math and decided to get an MBA with a focus in analytic finance. I decided to get it now because I believe that the academics and network an MBA provides will accelerate my career growth in consulting and beyond.
Why did you choose Chicago Booth? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I am a big quant guy and seek to learn about finance. The Chicago method is the way to do that, and the academics at Booth is what drew me to this school. Additionally, I really love Chicago and the Midwest kindness. You can see the bean from my apartment!
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2026?
The combination of my technical knowledge in engineering (designing airplanes, Hot Wheels and Barbies) with my business knowledge in revenue growth and digital transformation.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I have been to 46 countries, and have gone on four solo trips that have lasted over two months in Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific Northwest in the United States.
Post-MBA career interests:
Consulting and Investment Management
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Start early, get the GMAT done first and apply Round 1 to hopefully have a stress-free Christmas break.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Talked to more people in the MBA programs I applied for. Each school markets itself differently, but the best source of knowledge comes from the MBA candidates themselves. I would have skipped 1-2 applications because the programs were not as aligned to what I was looking for, but I learned that after applying.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The short answers. There were so many of them! What helped me the most was having a clear story from which the answers naturally came after some introspection.
What is your initial impression of the Booth students/culture/community?
Very smart, driven individuals that know how to dress well and have fun.
What is one thing you have learned about Booth that has surprised you?
Everyone is super kind and helpful!
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
The winter. I have never lived anywhere cold so that will be a new experience.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
The traveling. I was in Oman last week as part of Random Walk (the first trip at Booth), and plan to go to Whistler and France on ski trips and Colombia in the spring break, as well as some industry treks to LA and New York.
