Meet Arizona State’s MBA Class Of 2019

Remund Labios

W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: That once-shy kid who learned to embrace uncertainty. Also, my favorite question is, “Why not?”

Hometown: Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines

Fun Fact About Yourself: I know how to cook tasty and soy-free Filipino chicken adobo for those who wish to try a gluten-free version of my favorite dish.

Undergraduate School and Major:

• University of the Philippines Los Baños, BS Electrical Engineering
• Seoul National University of Science and Technology, MS Electrical and Information Engineering

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

• Korea Electric Power Research Institute, Researcher
• Power Systems Control & Analysis Lab. at SeoulTech, Graduate Research Assistant
• Nidec Motors Philippines Corp., Sr. Applications Engineer
• Emerson Electric Asia ROHQ, Jr. Applications Engineer
• Toyota Tsusho Philippines Corp., CAD Engineer

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Perhaps my biggest accomplishment so far has been being able to contribute to knowledge about using energy storage in power grids—an idea still in its nascent phase.

As a researcher in South Korea at Korea Electric Power Research Institute, I worked alongside experts who were inspired to change how the world generated and consumed electricity. To be offered to join the company to explore possibilities and to leave as an advocate for advancing the energy industry was truly a life-changing experience.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Craft your essays early in the process. I highly recommend writing as many drafts as you may need and asking people who know you well to critique your work.

The best feedback I received were from close friends and family—they knew me for who I truly was and sensed if my writing did not reflect that. They were also from diverse non-business professions; I thought that if they enjoyed reading my essays, then my story would most likely be well-received by admission officers located halfway across the world.

And as you finalize your essays, be careful and deliberate about the words you choose while meeting the word-count limit. Choose simple yet impactful words that can vividly describe your thoughts.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The key factor that led me to choose W. P. Carey was the diversity of backgrounds of the 119 students that joined the W. P. Carey School’s Class of 2018. And what caught my attention was that about 15 percent of them had previous experience working across the world in nonprofits and education—the top pre-MBA industry of the class. I knew that if I wanted to gain meaningful insights about the global impact of business and what is needed to change the status quo, they were exactly the right people with whom I had to connect.

I feel strongly about the need to eradicate energy poverty through sustainable means, and I want to be surrounded by people who are passionate about the same.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? Finally gaining the ability to clearly and concisely articulate my ideas to inspire others to spring into action.