Meet Cornell Johnson’s MBA Class of 2018

Andrés E. Quintanilla

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I am an optimistic, sociable and adaptable person who is competitive and hardworking.

Hometown: Monterrey, Nuevo Leon

Fun Fact About Yourself: Ithaca is the sixth city in four countries where I have lived in the past nine years.

Undergraduate School and Major:

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Industrial and Operations Engineering

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Goldman Sachs Bank AG, Geneva, Switzerland, LatAm Financial Analyst (Latin America), Investment Management Division

Goldman Sachs International, London, United Kingdom, FICC Sales Trader (Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities), Investment Management Division

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I was offered a position as a FICC Sales Trader in the Investment Management Division of Goldman Sachs in London and was promoted to Associate two years later.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants?

• Begin studying for the GMAT as early as possible. Not only will it reflect in a higher score, but it will also allow you to concentrate more time on the rest of your application while keeping a healthy work-life balance.

• Prepare to make a good impression on the admissions interview by talking to current students and alumni and review the school’s website and create intelligent questions. Most importantly, be yourself. Your application already contains your information, so the admissions officer will primarily assess if you will be a good fit for the program.

• Think strategically about your references. Choose someone who really knows you well and can be a good sponsor for your application.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA?

1. The prestige and reputation that Johnson and its alumni have in the financial industry.
2. The Johnson unique immersion program will allow me to focus in my area of interest through real world experience.
3. The ability to take classes in other highly ranked academic programs at Cornell.
4. The medium-size and diverse class will allow me to get to know the faculty and be a part of a close-knit community on the beautiful Cornell campus.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? My dream job would be to work in a top-tier financial services institution where I can use the quantitative and management skills I acquired at Johnson.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program?  I hope I will be known as a great person and friend and someone who others can depend on.