Meet The CEIBS MBA Class of 2017

Felipe Castro

Filipe Castro

CEIBS

Hometown: Porto, Portugal

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Porto / Master in IT and Computer Engineering

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Millicom Digital Ventures

Partner

January 2014 – June 2015

Portugal Telecom

Consultant

October 2009 – December 2014

Recalling your own experience, what advice do you have for applicants who are preparing for either the GMAT or the GRE? Based on my experience, I would say to prepare at least 2 months in advance of taking the GMAT. Use the available official study materials and apps to practice and, if possible, hire a tutor or study with someone else that can help you “push your limits.” The day before the GMAT exam take the day off, relax your mind, and don’t study. On the G-day, be well rested, mentally engaged, and just have confidence in yourself. You have studied hard and you can do it!

Based on your own selection process, what advice do you have for applicants who are trying to draw up a list of target schools to which to apply? I would advise applicants to do extensive research about the target schools and what unique strengths and weakness each one provides. After that initial stage, narrow down the list according to your individual profile strengths and what you would expect to obtain from going to that specific institution.

Also, depending on your specific profile and GMAT, be sure to apply to at least a “stretch choice” (one school that you might think you have little chance of getting accepted).

What advice do you have for applicants in actually applying to a school, writing essays, doing admission interviews, and getting recommenders to write letters on your behalf? Make sure to prepare the recommendations well in advance. Don’t wait until the last weeks and don’t be afraid to ask your superiors for advice regarding the specific topics to write.

As for the essays, take your time to write a customized essay for the school you wish to apply. Don’t write them all in one single session. Do start as soon as possible, and iterate over the weeks, continuously improving on the previous text. Ask for other to proofread and take every bit of criticism into account.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? I chose this MBA program because among the all programs that I surveyed, this provided the greatest amount of challenge and career opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region. This was the best fit for my specific objectives and the one that would best allowed me to switch industries and grow as person and a professional.

What would you ultimately like to achieve before you graduate? Before graduation, I would like to have amassed the necessary knowledge and domain expertise to successfully switch from IT to the PE/VC industry. I will have expanded my contact network in Shanghai and will be able to pass the HSK level 5 Chinese proficiency exam.

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