Rodrigo Acuna Cervantes

New York University, Stern School of Business

“Outgoing Mexican who has developed his whole career in an international context.”

Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico

Fun Fact About Yourself: In 2008 I was part of the team that won the Adidas Cup soccer competition.

Undergraduate School and Major: Universidad Iberoamericana, Major in Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Morgan Stanley, Private Wealth Management Analyst

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:  My biggest accomplishment in my career so far has been developing five asset allocation models for offshore clients. These models are now the base for my team’s advisory business. The project has captured more than $100MM in new investments.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Driven and adaptable. All of the classmates that I have already met have a very well-established set of goals for their MBA. Additionally, they all have very diverse backgrounds, including careers in multiple sectors and industries.

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 number one factor that led me to choose Stern was location. Stern’s location in NYC can help me take advantage of the biggest financial hub in the world. The program location is best exploited by attending the full-time program. One of the most important advantages that Stern offers is the access to the financial institutions in the city. Stern has an unparalleled network of alumni and its footprint is embedded in all the major banks in NYC. This bond between the city and Stern is absolute when it comes to experiential learning, networking and recruiting.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Graduate Finance Association, Latin American Business Association, Stern Soccer Club and Stern Cellar

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? My short-term career goal is to gain experience in investment banking, which I plan to do through Stern’s MBA program. I hope to build on my exciting private wealth management background and the wonderful experiences I have had advising demanding clients and learning a great deal of the finance world in practice.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Ever since I finished my undergrad, I had my mind set to earn an MBA. I knew that an MBA would give me the analytical, communication and leadership tools needed to succeed in the business world. As my career grew and I started setting my long-term goals, I knew that an MBA would be of paramount value for me to develop in the next stage of my career.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? UCLA Anderson, Chicago Booth, Columbia Business School

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I wanted to study in a big city with access to the biggest financial markets and with a wide array of financial institutions to choose from in terms of recruiting. The shortlist came to three cities: New York, Chicago and LA. Out of those three, I researched the programs, spoke to alumni and current students to figure out how each program would help me achieve my goals. I ended up deciding that being in New York would give me a competitive advantage when recruiting for the next phase of my career.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? For me, my defining moment was when I left my home country of Mexico and arrived to a new city (Miami) in a different country, away from my family, friends and the business network that I had developed.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? My short-term career goal is to gain more experience in investment banking.

Where do you see yourself in five years? My long-term career goal is to continue to grow as leader, gain international experience, and incorporate the disruptive forces of fintech that will radically transform the face of the finance sector forever.