Carlos Delgado González

Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management

“Obsessed with learning, hoping to have an impact and always ready for a deep conversation.”

Hometown: Madrid, Spain

Fun Fact About Yourself: Every once in a while, I publish a YouTube video reviewing a product or service – the most popular one has fifty thousand views (It is about a skateboard). It’s quite badly positioned, but maybe you’ll find it!

Undergraduate School and Major: Universidad Carlos III Madrid, Business Administration

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Amazon, Senior Vendor Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: One major event that comes to mind is when I joined Amazon’s country launch team to support Turkey’s market entry in 2018. You would think (at least I did) that Amazon’s scalability obsession had produced easily “exportable” processes and you would be surprised (at least I was) of how much adaptation was needed for this international expansion. As part of an eight-people team, we designed the forecasting and order model for 16 retail categories, many extremely risky. The time pressure, complexity, and scope of the launch yielded an exhilarating learning experience which I recall very vividly and I am very grateful for!

When you think of MIT, what are the first things that come to mind? Ambition, bias for action, collaboration, and humility.

How has your experience with the Sloan program reinforced or upended these early impressions? The numbers speak for themselves: MIT alumni have launched more than 30,200 active companies, employ 4.6+ million people and generate roughly $1.9 trillion in annual revenues (10th-largest world economy). Furthermore, when you look at the resources (Martin Trust Center, 100k competition, delta v, MIT fuse, Clean Energy Prize, DesignX, Sandbox Innovation Fund, The Legatum Center, fellowships…) dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship at MIT, there is no doubt that you are at the right place if you want to start up.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Open-minded, kind, ambitious, curious, intelligent and action-oriented.

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? When researching MBA programs and visiting campuses, it became clear that MIT stands out as an entrepreneurship powerhouse, something that I look for as I transition from corporate projects to entrepreneurial endeavors. Admissions, alumni, current students, and professors all homogeneously signaled that entrepreneurship was an integral part of the MIT community. Once I saw the myriad of resources (Martin Trust Center, 100k competition, delta v, MIT fuse, Clean Energy Prize, DesignX, Sandbox Innovation Fund, The Legatum Center, fellowships…) dedicated to this field I was sold on Sloan!

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I really look forward to being part of the MIT Venture Capital & Private Equity Club, I’ve heard great things about it and can’t wait to get involved!

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? I wouldn’t describe it as a challenging question, but this one surprised me: “what did you do yesterday?” While the answer might not be representative, it certainly eliminates the chance of regurgitating a prepared response. Overall, the interview was very stimulating and we discussed many topics of interest.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? After finishing my undergraduate studies I wanted to gain practical experience in a growth phase company. The last 5+ years at Amazon Spain have served as the first building block of my career and I feel privileged and relatively well-equipped after having worked “on both sides of the table” (sales, buying, and general management). I now know it is time to take the leap, leave my comfort zone again, double down on developing my leadership skills and take a shot at starting my own venture. I decided to do an MBA because it offers a structured approach to deconstructing existing mental schemes and exposing one’s self to a myriad of stimuli that accelerate personal growth.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Wharton/Lauder, Stanford, Berkeley

How did you determine your fit at various schools? Something I love about the MBA community is that people are willing to help each other and share their experiences. I set out to research my target schools and cold contacted around 50 people through LinkedIn. I really enjoyed learning through the eyes of a diverse alumni base. Even though there are consistent patterns, everyone has a different perspective and with each conversation, I would learn something new. Through this process, I was able to get a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of multiple schools and thereby determine my fit. I prioritized (i) having a matching set of values with the school’s community, (ii) a strong entrepreneurship program, and (iii) the university’s network/reputation.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? One defining stage was my sophomore year of high school, which I spent as a visiting student at Newton North High School (Boston). It was a life-changing phase because it was my first extended stay abroad and I gained exposure to countless new experiences. By discovering a new language, culture, and customs, I developed a deep appreciation for the unknown, diversity of thought, and ex-comfort-zone moments. Since then I relentlessly seek culture shocks, love to try new experiences for the first time and enjoy learning more than anything else.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? Doing something personally meaningful and with a positive impact on others. I also hope to have started my own family!