Julio A. Cabral-Corrada

Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

“An ordinary man with an extraordinary dedication to positively transform communities and people around me.”

Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am extremely grateful to be part of the volunteer team of young professionals across the states, Puerto Rico Rising, that rolled up their sleeves and tirelessly delivered over 5 million pounds of relief supplies to over 200,000 fellow Puerto Ricans affected by Hurricane María—in partnership and with ground help of the local government, FEMA, private organizations and other non-profit groups. On the lighter side, I should admit that even though I definitely don’t have the best musical or movement skills, you could certainly catch me at a Latin concert shamelessly singing and dancing ‘Despacito’.

Undergraduate School and Major: Cornell University and London School of Economics, Business & Government.

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

 – Morgan Stanley – Institutional Analyst.

– Stone Lion Capital – Investment Associate, Investment Vice President.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:

In general, I would say my biggest accomplishment has been working hard (at times 90-100 hours a week) and always doing so with integrity and character, whether in small office tasks or while traveling across Latin America. More specifically, I was proud to be able to help my native Puerto Rico through my job at Stone Lion by investing significant capital, and also at times intermediating for a consensual positive resolution between our government and the largest investors in the world, in our historic $70 billion debt renegotiation.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants?  Through intellectual curiosity and perseverance, you can achieve good GPA and GMAT scores. However, not everyone can have your essay, because we are all diverse and unique in our own respective ways. I would encourage you to add some focus to your essay; craft your authentic story about who you are, how are you a different and why a partnership with Wharton now will help you have a positive impact as a leader in your organization, industry, or country.

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? At the end of the day, I chose Wharton based on same reason I make other decisions: the personal qualities of the people I meet. Wharton’s historical prestige and the fellowship I received were key consideration factors, but ultimately people are the essence of any institution. You have to choose the one team you feel is best aligned with your values.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? I aim to make genuine and lifelong friendships in which I can share positive energy and also grow and learn. Also, if I may, I want to develop concrete initiatives in which Wharton and Latino communities across the United States – including my native Puerto Rico – can mutually help each other. In addition, I want to to keep my faith as the base for everything I do.