Gaby Suriano 

Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus University

Hometown: El Salvador

Fun Fact About Yourself: I wish I could have all the Legos in the world 

Undergraduate School and Major: Columbia University / Industrial and Mechanical Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: UGE International, Project Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Managed deployment of largest micro-grid portfolio in New York City to-date.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Curiosity to learn more from everyone and everything around them.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this programme for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? A key factor was job market conditions particularly for internationals as I thought of next steps post-graduation. From personal experience (back in the USA as a Salvadoran citizen), I know being an international student looking for job opportunities can impose significant limitations to a job search and some countries are more “expat-friendly” than others.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Currently, I am president of the Energy Club, captain of tennis team and member of the Women in Leadership Club. I am also looking forward to participating in all sports-related activities and competitions.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I wanted to acquire more management skills that can be coupled with my technical knowledge and skills. In addition, wanted to explore a new geographic region with the goal to enhance my experience and expertise in different and changing markets.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I wanted to boost my career with the goal to reach a leadership position and inspire those around me.

What other MBA programmes did you apply to? LBS, IE and IESE.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? Curriculum, student life, and student body.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Quitting my first full time job after only eight months. Growing up as a student-athlete representing my home country instilled an attitude where quitting had never been an option. However, in this situation, I learned that taking care of one’s well-being always has priority over anything else. This event has allowed me to determine priorities and identify what I look for in my professional career.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? Join a company in the energy industry with a mission to contribute to a better future with the use of more sustainable energy processes.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Being in a project leadership position, serving as an agent of inspiration and also working towards building a family.