Laura Gomez-Cardona

Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

“Outgoing yogi and traveler, passionate about jewelry design, coffee, friends, and female empowerment.”

Hometown: Medellin, Colombia

Fun Fact About Yourself: Traveling the world I have been twice north of the arctic circle: in Fairbanks (Alaska) and Tromso (Norway)

Undergraduate School and Major:

Bachelor of International Business, Major in Finance. Universidad EAFIT

Master of Science in Applied Mathematics. Universidad EAFIT

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Director of Corporate Finance for Suramericana S.A.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment professionally has been leading a cross-functional team in the acquisition of a Mexican insurance company in 2018. My role demanded a strategic mindset and a holistic view in order to coordinate and successfully defined all topics involved in a cross-border M&A. Furthermore, cultural awareness and leadership skills were paramount in getting everyone working for the same goal. The deal was successfully closed, strengthening the company’s competitive position in the region.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Collaboration. While everyone is focused on their learning experience, there is always a sense of helping others even with the smallest details. There is a great sense of team and community that you can feel from abroad and even before landing in Toronto.

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? Cultural diversity is a major factor for me. The interaction with people from different backgrounds, lifestyles, cultures, and mindsets, has represented a great learning source for me. Since pursuing an MBA is not only an academic experience but also a personal growth opportunity, cultural diversity became a decisive factor when choosing this program.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am looking forward to joining the Women in Management Association, the Latin American Business Club and the Wine Society.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? “Tell me about a situation when you have failed as a leader, and what would you have done differently.”

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Pursuing a graduate degree internationally has been a dream I’ve had ever since I started college. As I moved forward in my career and gained working experience, I realized this is the right moment to pursue my MBA. With my current work experience, I know I can take the most advantage from the program. Also, it is becoming relevant for me to develop other skills in order to complement my profile and become a well-rounded professional.

What other MBA programs did you apply to?

UC Berkeley

NYU

Michigan University

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I believe the key to choosing the right school is self-awareness. I deeply reflected on what I wanted for my future. Then, I was ready to contrast the different schools with my expectations, wants, and needs. For every school, I focused on the culture, values, class diversity, and learning methods instead of academics only. Having all that in mind, I chose Rotman because it represents what I am looking forward to gaining and experience in my two years of study. Furthermore, the human quality of its community (alumni, students, and staff) is an outstanding aspect I didn’t find in any other school.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment happened four years ago when my mother had a brain aneurysm that burst. She was in a coma for two weeks and her diagnosis was that she would not be the same anymore…if she even made it. After surgery and almost a month in the hospital, a challenging period began for me and my family. We embarked on a journey of leading her recovery while trying to continue with our lives. Our efforts paid off since after six months my mom had improved her mobility, and she was able to speak and communicate again. Right now, she is fully recovered and has no side effects left.

My mother’s story taught me the most valuable lessons of resilience, perseverance, teamwork, drive, and determination, which have deeply shaped who I have become today.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? In 10 years, I see myself in Colombia, my home country. Professionally I would love to be in a role that enhances more active participation of women in business. I see myself combining both my knowledge in finance and leadership, in order to help the biggest Colombian companies to broaden inclusion and foster innovation and creativity through diversity and women empowering. Hopefully, this could generate a positive impact in my country’s social development by achieving a more inclusive economy.