Stephanie Landaverde

Georgia Institute of Technology’s Scheller College of Business

“Introvert with extrovert skills; wanna-be chef; Mexican-American, reader, and professional napper.”

Hometown: Ellijay, GA, and Queretaro, Mexico

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love to plan theme parties. If you found yourself in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on May 5, 2016, you probably saw my friends dance the Macarena in the town square. I talked 20 of my closest friends into a Cinco de Mayo-themed scavenger hunt. They serenated a stranger and shared the history of Cinco de Mayo across town. It was freezing, and they partnered up with people they had never met. At the end of the night, they visited new parts of town, learned more about Cinco de Mayo, embarrassed themselves, and bonded with new friends.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Georgia, Management Information Systems

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Liberty Mutual Insurance, Senior Data Management Analyst

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Moving to a brand new team would be my biggest accomplishment so far. After three years on the same team, I realized that I had a lot to learn if I wanted to run a company one day. So I proactively moved to teams where I had no experience. Although it was hard to get acclimated, I learned about enterprise technology, new product development, and finance.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? The quality that best describes my classmates is easy-going. Although we are all here to radically change our future, we have fun and look for ways to enjoy every step.

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? Location. Location. Location. After undergrad, I moved to New England, but I wanted to come back to be part of the growth Georgia is experiencing. This growth is primarily driven by technology, and there is no better place to be than Tech Square and Georgia Tech. I am a firm believer that all companies are technology companies that specialize in different services or products. Post-MBA, I want to help companies better utilize technology. At Scheller, I can learn about a variety of technologies and how they can be applied. Also, Atlanta has a huge Latino community, and it has always been my goal to help provide all Latinos with access to the resources needed to be successful. Being in Atlanta will help me understand the current needs of my community and give me the opportunity to help.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am most looking forward to joining the Consulting Club and establishing a Latino MBA Club. The Consulting Club will prepare me for my career in consulting and I am looking forward to competing in case competitions.

Second, as I researched the different MBA programs, I noticed that few Latinos are earning their MBAs, and I want to increase this number. Establishing a club at Scheller will help recruit Latinos and guarantee Scheller’s Latino MBA candidates succeed during and after business school. Latinos are the largest growing minority in the U.S. As a Latina, I want to make sure Latinos are ready to contribute in all areas of our communities.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I wanted to continue to gain depth and breadth across all functions of a large organization. My long-term goal is to run a Fortune 100 company. I believe that for me to do that well, I need to understand a variety of industries, methodologies, working styles, etc. I decided to pursue an MBA to complete my first-hand experience with academic best practices in my journey to grow as a business leader.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I fully believe in myself and that any investment in myself is worth it.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? The Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I realized Scheller was the right place for me when I visited and interacted with the staff and students. It just felt right to me. Never underestimate the power of visiting the programs.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Moving to New Hampshire after undergrad. When I tell people that moved to New Hampshire, they ask, ‘why?’. Did I have family there or had I lived there before? The answer is “no” to both questions. I was offered a great job opportunity and I had never lived north of Georgia so, why not? I drove from Ellijay, Georgia to Portsmouth, New Hampshire all by myself. Surprisingly, I was not scared. I wanted to see what it was like and I just knew I would be fine. I loved living in New Hampshire. I made myself meet people, planned a Christmas party, and explored the area. Today, I know no limits. If can move to a town where I knew no one and created lifelong friendships, I can do anything.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I want to continue to help organizations plan and utilize technology as a consultant. I also want to continue to help young Latinos get the knowledge, tools, and confidence to pursue any goal.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself continuing to help companies prepare for the future. I would like to eventually consult companies on how to prepare for a more diverse market.