2017 MBAs To Watch: Santiago Oyarzabal, Warwick Business School

Santiago Oyarzabal

Warwick Business School

Age: 42

Hometown: Azul, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Fun fact about yourself: I dream a lot – I now want to travel the world on a push bike with a camera and a guitar, interview and make music with people, film it all, sell it, and fund my trip on the go.

Undergraduate School and Degree: BA in Social Communication and Journalism, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina, and PhD in Film and Television Studies, Warwick University

Where did you work before enrolling in business school? Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Assistant Professor; Warwick University, Researcher and Hourly-Paid Teacher; Latinolife Magazine, Film & Music Editor

Where did you intern during the summer of 2016? I didn’t intern, I’m 42!

Where will you be working after graduation? Hopefully in my own film production company focused on sustainability and social issues.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: I play with a music band for charity and other causes. I’m also a student representative in the SLLC committee.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I work to bridge cultures through music and film. With Amapola Latin Band and with Latin American-inspired club night called Tropicalism we promote Latin music within the university and the Coventry area. We work closely with Warwick University and play for charity and to raise awareness of political issues, such as protecting education in Syria. I also run with friends the Latin American Film Nights at Warwick.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? My PhD in Argentine Cinema and Representations of Crisis, because it offered a new way of understanding Argentine society and local movies.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Jose Bento da Silva because he is not only incredibly knowledgeable, but he also has a unique character which enables him to teach a very abstract subject and make it enjoyable, challenging, and fun for people who tend to appreciate more practical stuff above all!

What was your favorite MBA Course and what was the biggest insight you gained about business from it? Sustainability and business Ethics, I gained the conviction that organisations of all kinds, governments, and each of us have to change urgently and radically the way we relate with natural resources or we won’t last much longer.

Why did you choose this business school? Reputation and location.

What did you enjoy most about business school in general? What I’m learning and the school’s wonderful staff, very committed to their work, and always ready to offer help and support.

What was the most surprising thing about business school for you? I found an amazing group of MBA colleagues with whom we’ve become friends. We all work very hard, enjoy each other’s company and experiences, and have a lot of fun.

What is your best piece advice to an applicant hoping to get into your school’s MBA program? To be prepared to work very hard, and to enjoy.

What was your biggest regret in business school? None!

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Sooraj Sitaram because of an amazing character and a career path which demonstrate vast knowledge, and enormous work capacity.                                      

“I knew I wanted to go to business school when… I realised I had a lot to learn if I wanted to be my own boss.”

“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…probably broke anyway, and still being exploited as an hourly-paid teacher.”

If you were a dean for a day, what one thing would you change about the MBA experience? I would add even more syndicate group discussion of case studies (although there is a lot of it already).

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? To work on sustainability and social issues, and innovation with a focus on communication (film and other products), and strategy, and teaching.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? Karen Barker, Head of Recruitment and Admissions because she relied on me, on my work capacity, ability and fit.

In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you? As a good friend, hard-worker, reliable and fun.

Favorite book: 100 Years of Solitude (Gabriel García Márquez)

Favorite movie or television show: Yasujiro Ozu’s Late Spring (1949)

Favorite musical performer: Los Fabulosos Cadillacs

Favorite vacation spot: Barcelona

Hobbies? Playing music, taking photos, watching and practicing football and sports, travelling, reading and watching movies.

What made Santiago Oyarzabal such an invaluable addition to the class of 2017?

“Outside of the MBA Santiago uses his musical talent to bridge cultures through Latin music. Playing in a number of bands, he like to promote Latin music for both fun and a good cause. For fun he runs a Latin inspired club night called Tropicalism to promote Latin music within the university. For charity he busks to promote raise awareness of political issues and raise money for causes such as protecting education in Syria during its crisis. He works closely with his band mates as well as Warwick University and its chaplaincy.”

Monica Garcia-Romero

Careers Manager

 

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