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AUGUST 1999 MBA JOURNAL: INTRODUCTION Stephane Goldsand: Who I Am and Why B-School Is for Me...
From Publishing to Painting While pursuing my BA in international relations at the Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico (ITAM) in Mexico City, I specialized in international economics and wrote a thesis on economic reforms and foreign direct investment in Mexico and Brazil. At the same time, I cofounded and acted as editor-in-chief of an international relations student magazine and led several student organizations. My work experience has been varied, to say the least. Among other tasks, I have developed and implemented an anti-money-laundering system at Republic National Bank of New York's Mexico City branch, coordinated the advertising strategy of an electric railroad system running through Mexico City, and analyzed financial projections and marketing strategies at Assicurazioni Generali in Paris. Most recently, I have worked as communications manager at the Mexican Investment Board (MIB), the country's foreign direct investment promotion agency. At the MIB (not Men In Black as many friends like to call it), I have been able to deepen my media skills by putting out numerous publications, ranging from industry reports to CD-ROM's on Mexico's economy and the MIB Web site. This experience has increased my interest in media, particularly in Internet issues. As part of this job, I worked for the World Economic Forum at its 1998 annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Aside from these activities, I enjoy playing tennis, reading fiction, and analyzing Internet business developments. Painting and dancing to salsa, cumbia, and rock and roll are also some of my favorite pastimes. Likewise, my creative side leans toward cinema. Who knows? A screenwriting and business career might go well together. Why a U.S. MBA? The idea of doing an MBA crossed my mind for the first time at the end of my college education, when the obstacles that I had encountered in my extracurricular and work experiences brought home to me my need to improve my managerial, financial, and leadership abilities. Perhaps, it may have been more in line with my background to enter a different graduate program such as a Master's in communications or a Ph.D. in public policy. However, an MBA at a top school seems to fit the bill better. I firmly believe that the degree will help me eliminate the inefficiencies that exist in a country such as Mexico. My decision to study business administration in the U.S. is not coincidental. The top U.S. MBA programs offer very attractive features such as outstanding academic specializations, exceptionally diverse student bodies, and unique career development opportunities. I am particularly attracted by the increasing number of entrepreneurship course offerings. I believe that in today's world, there is an ever increasing need for entrepreneurs. In Mexico, this need is particularly acute: Economic reforms and shrinking state welfare over the past 15 years have left an economic void that can only be filled by a more dynamic private sector and greater entrepreneurial initiatives. My professional goals include being an entrepreneur in the financial or media industries to advance Mexico's social and economic development. I also hope that by doing my MBA in the U.S., I will be able to better understand the American business perspective. Indeed, the U.S. is by far Mexico's largest trade and investment partner. There are very good MBA programs in other countries such as England, France, Switzerland, and Mexico, but none possessed all the essential features that I was looking for. I am exhilarated to start my MBA at Columbia Business School (CBS) this fall. It has a solid quantitative background and allows its students to do some innovative things, like combine concentrations (of which there are a total of 13, ranging from management of information, communications and media, to public and nonprofit management). Meanwhile, the school's crossfunctional and multicultural business focus will definitely boost my learning experience. Oh, and let's not forget that I will be studying, or at least trying to, in New York City, the indisputable business and cultural capital of the world! Wow, I am still amazed... Undeniably, the MBA admissions process is lengthy and requires a huge effort on the part of the applicant. Do not let MBA students and alumni mislead you about how easy it is to get into a top-ten business program. It is not. Tune in soon to learn more about my experiences!  | | Learn about your online education options |
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