Meet the Michigan Ross MBA Class of 2020

Leslie Solis

University of Michigan, Stephen M. Ross School of Business

A free spirit with a passion for creating memorable experiences for others.”

Hometown: South Gate, CA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I coached a dance group in college. I love to dance so I can see myself doing something similar in business school.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of California, Los Angeles – Spanish Language and Literature

Most Recent Employer and Job Title:

Tesi Boutique, Los Angeles

Co-founder/Creative Director

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Co-founding an e-commerce company with my sister. I’m so proud to have built something from scratch, without having any real prior business knowledge. I’ve learned more about myself than ever before, and it’s helped me grow in ways I never would have imagined. Sometimes, I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing, but it has taught me how to lead in ambiguous situations and has pushed me to get comfortable with the unknown.

Furthermore, I am proud that I have been able to create something that includes my family. My sister and I run the majority of the day-to-day operations, but my entire family has helped us with small and large challenges we have encountered along the way. My mother worked as a housekeeper and nanny, and my father had to pick up a second job as a janitor to make ends meet while I was growing up––and even though they weren’t familiar with launching and running a business, they were always willing to help me and my sister with our venture.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Tough to just pick one, but I would say genuine. They are down-to-earth, good people. I’ve only met a fraction of my classmates, but I know that business school is going to be amazing because of them. To me, it’s important to surround yourself with people who support you and push you beyond your own limits. My classmates are already doing that and we haven’t even started school!

Aside from your classmates, 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 experiential learning opportunities at Ross were a key factor in my decision. I’m the type of person who learns best by doing, hence why I decided to start a business. I knew Ross could provide that type of environment because experiential learning is a part of its DNA. A few of the experiential learning offerings I’m most excited about include the Business + Impact Challenge, the Multidisciplinary Action Project (MAP), and the Leadership Crisis Challenge.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I can’t wait to join the Michigan Marketing Club! I’m a marketing junkie who has never had any formal marketing training, so I want to immerse myself in all things marketing. I would like to become an officer and support my fellow classmates by sharing my passion for marketing as well as learn from my peers!

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career?I had known for a long time that business school was in my future, but I decided to apply after gaining some work experience in the technology space. Working in tech opened my eyes to how fast the business landscape is changing and I felt that I needed to have a framework to be able to quickly adapt. I knew an MBA could provide that. Furthermore, launching Tesi made me realize that I had a large gap to fill in my business skills. I’m looking forward to learning about business from professors and classmates who bring different perspectives and implementing that insight into my future endeavors!

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I knew first-hand that I would not be able to make the career transition that I wanted for myself without an MBA, because I had already tried and failed. Also, many of my friends have an MBA and I have personally witnessed the way their professional careers and trajectories have transformed since getting their MBA.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Kellogg, Anderson, Fuqua and Marshall

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I read about different programs online and connected with students from each one, but what made the biggest difference for me was visiting the schools. I knew having a supportive environment was one of my top priorities, and the only way to experience that is by visiting the campus. When I stepped foot onto Ross, and had the opportunity to connect with other students, professors and the admissions team, I knew this was the place for me! People always say that it is important to visit schools because you will “just know” when you find the right fit. I don’t know if I believed it 100% before, but I can tell you after going through the process that it’s true. It’s the kind of experience you have to see and feel for yourself, especially because it is where you will be spending two years of your life.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? One of my defining moments was moving away from LA to pursue my professional aspirations in Silicon Valley. I had lived in LA my whole life and had a successful career in legal marketing, but I wanted to do something different. I moved away from everything I knew and took one of the biggest risks in my life by accepting a role in an entirely new city, industry, and function. Stepping out of my comfort zone gave me the confidence and courage to eventually launch my own company.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? After graduation, I am looking forward to working with other collaborative and creative individuals to innovate and impact the lives of consumers through marketing!

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I see myself either leading a marketing team at a cool startup or going back to entrepreneurship. Not sure exactly where, but I am certain I will be in a space that allows me to create and innovate. The opportunities are endless!

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