2016 Best MBAs: Pedro Filipe Tavares Ramos, INSEAD by: Jeff Schmitt on May 15, 2016 | 3,997 Views May 15, 2016 Copy Link Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email Share on LinkedIn Share on WhatsApp Share on Reddit Pedro Filipe Tavares Ramos INSEAD (With exchange at Wharton, through the Wharton–INSEAD alliance) “In school, I remember always smiling during International Political Analysis classes realizing that we were 75 people from 50-60 nationalities discussing the most prominent issues of our generation – that’s special!” Age: 29 Hometown: Lisbon, Portugal Education: Warwick Business School (UK), MSc Business Analytics and Consulting Nova School of Business and Economics (Portugal), BSc Economics (with exchange at University of Vienna (Austria)) Where did you work before enrolling in business school? I worked at Bain Capital Private Equity in London, as associate on the deal team, focusing on Iberia and Latin America transactions. Before that, I worked at The Boston Consulting Group in Lisbon, as an associate focusing on Private Equity and Public Sector assignments in Emerging Markets Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? INSEAD July promotion runs from September to June, so doesn’t have a summer internship. However, I took the MBA opportunity to co-founded and run network.mba, an online expert network that connects MBA candidates and alumni, facilitating the choice of business school and the application process Where will you be working after graduation? Bain Capital Private Equity in London, as associate on the deal team, focusing on Iberia, Latin America and Consumer Retail transactions Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: Elected president of INSEAD Student Government, representing the interest of 500 fellow 16 July graduates and the integration of the upcoming class (16 December graduates). Elected president of the INSEAD Private Equity Club, largest club on campus with 300 members. Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I’m proud of balancing my INSEAD degree and club leadership roles with my personal initiatives – co-founding a start-up (network.mba), an organization (Portugal MBA network), and continuing my pursuit of the world’s seven summits (3rd this year), and my advocacy of effective altruism and the Giving What we Can pledge. What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Being the first Portuguese investment professional at Bain Capital. My two-and-a-half years at BCG were an incredible foundation, both personal and professional, and gave me the training and experience to join Bain Capital, where I’ve had the opportunity to work across European and Latin America transactions, and be integral part of our sourcing efforts in Portugal and Spain Favorite MBA Courses? Practical Wisdom in Business with Prof. Petriglieiri (INSEAD), Applied Corporate Finance with Prof. Hietala (INSEAD), Corporate Restructuring with Prof. Thorburn (Wharton) Why did you choose this business school? For personal reasons I wanted to do a short program and stay in Europe. Then, having studied in three countries and worked in ten, I wanted to continue my learning journey in the most possible international setting, following a core belief that we learn through diversity and exposure to different cultures and points of view. With this in mind, INSEAD was the obvious choice. Moreover, the alliance with Wharton would give me the opportunity to explore the US business school environment for two months and to gain perspective on the teaching methods and student life in both schools. What did you enjoy most about business school? The people and the learning, in and outside class. The leadership of both the Student Government and the Private Equity club gave me significant exposure and broader access to most of my peers. The diversity in their backgrounds, industries, beliefs, professional and personal experiences, was a tremendous learning experience, not only about the world but about myself. In school, I remember always smiling during International Political Analysis classes realizing that we were 75 people from 50-60 nationalities discussing the most prominent issues of our generation – that’s special! Outside, the best memory is the INSEAD trek to Japan organized by all our Japanese colleagues. The level of detail and preparation made it one of the best trips in my life and their selflessness and generosity was an important lesson to carry. What was the most surprising thing about business school? It was the common ground and ease of relationships despite the diversity of the students in the class. On November 18th (during Period 2 of 5) I wrote to my peers saying “Today I understood INSEAD, not the business school, but the institution that is a real force for good.” I do believe that what George Doriot (founder of INSEAD) created 60 years ago has the power to change the world as a 1,000 students per year graduate and carry this shared vision of unity. As an anecdote I remember a class where two students from historically conflicting countries said: “I could never imagine having a friend from (country X). This was really unexpected” What was the hardest part of business school? The 6 hours commute to London to see my girlfriend (the journey, not the weekends). What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? Go beyond the information that is available online. Visit INSEAD in one of the open days or reach out to alumni. Only that way will you capture the full essence of the school and be able to write your application with transparency and an open heart “I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I first visited the Fontainebleau campus on a sunny afternoon and met people from 30 different nationalities in 2 hours.” “If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…doing a Masters in Philosophy to further explore the notion of effective altruism and how to push it to the mainstream agenda.” Which executive or entrepreneur do you most admire? Antonio Horta-Osorio, one of the most acclaimed financiers of his generation and currently CEO of Lloyds Banking Group, responsible for turning around the bank since taking the helm in 2011. Previously, Antonio held leadership roles at Santander UK, Brazil and Portugal and was nominated Non-Executive Director of the Bank of England. All of this and also being Portuguese and an INSEAD alum, where he graduated in 1991. What are your long-term professional goals? To create and lead Bain Capital’s Social Impact practice in EMEA, combining investing and management expertise to generate measurable social impact alongside financial returns Who would you most want to thank for your success? My parents, for the core values and principles that define me as a man, and for making possible throughout my upbringing that I would only be limited by my dreams. My mentors and friends for being a sounding board in all important moments and for challenging me all the times I am wrong. My partner, for showing me every day that is possible to be equally graceful, loving, ambitious, and generally brilliant Fun fact about yourself: One night in Ibiza I somehow got into the trunk of my rental car without my friends noticing. I was woken up by police 30 minutes later, when the car was inspected at a roadblock (yes, not my best moment…). Favorite book: Guns, Germs and Steel, by Prof. Jared Diamond Favorite movie: Selma, directed by Ava DuVernay Favorite musical performer: “Spotify Discover” Favorite television show: Suits!! Favorite vacation spot: Mozambique Hobbies? Mountaineering. I have climbed 2 of the world’s seven summits and I’m heading to Aconcagua this December to reach the third. Transcendental Meditation, which I’ve been practicing since 2013. Community service, primarily in youth empowerment, homelessness and learning disabilities. What made Pedro Tavares Ramos such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016? “Pedro is a well rounded student, has enormous drive and hunger, energy and enthusiasm. He has strong international outlook & understanding of where he wants to be in life. A very active member of the INSEAD community, Pedro has been a great asset to his promotion.” — Sven Biel<, Associate Director, MBA Programme Management, INSEAD DON’T MISS: CLASS OF 2016: THE BEST & BRIGHTEST GRADUATING MBAS