Santiago Zúñiga

Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business

“I’m focused and passionate, but very good at keeping things in perspective.”

Hometown: Monterrey, México

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m a big architecture buff- I’ll sometimes just walk into random buildings I like just to see them from the inside.

Undergraduate School and Major: Boston University, Double Major Biology and Psychology

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Massachusetts General Hospital, Clinical Research Coordinator

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I am very proud of the work I was a part of at MGH. The nature of the research we were doing led me to see the direct effects of my work- the improvement in patient outcomes was immense and we were bringing this life-changing care to more patients than ever.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Diverse. MSB is full of students from all walks of life, from all over the globe, from all sorts of different and non-traditional backgrounds. It’s reassuring to know that no matter what you’re dealing with, there’s most likely someone in your class that has been in the same shoes.

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? The McDonough Career Center. After they talked to us at Welcome Weekend, I left reassured that the career center would help me effectively navigate the complicated job search process- not just while at McDonough, but for life. As a career switcher, I knew this was one area I would struggle with, so it weighed heavily in my decision.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Global Business Experience

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? Why an MBA? For me, it was difficult to articulate why I wanted to get an MBA when there are many different avenues and professional degrees in healthcare. My answer was that I wanted to make a difference at a macro level.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Having seen first-hand what access to good care can do for patients, I realized that I wanted to be a part of the push to increase access to healthcare. Getting an MBA was the best first step toward implementing the top-down change desperately needed in the industry.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Boston University (Questrom), University of Texas (McCombs)

How did you determine your fit at various schools? The most important factor for me was school culture. I was primarily looking for a program with a more relaxed and collaborative atmosphere that simultaneously did not skimp on academic rigor – since I’m coming from a non-traditional background, my primary objective is to learn and find a way to synthesize my experience in the health sciences with what I would be learning in an MBA program. I found that the most effective way to research school culture is to visit the schools and talk to current students in person; they are the best people to help put everything in perspective.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Close to two years ago, I was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease. That single moment not only changed my future but also re-contextualized my past. All my priorities were instantaneously shifted, and I came out of it with a different idea of what is and isn’t important, what had and hadn’t mattered. While I wouldn’t recommend the experience as a method for self-improvement, I’ll say that I came out of it a better person: more in-tune with both myself and the people around me.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? I don’t have a clear idea of where I’ll be in 10 years, but I hope that I’ll be able to say that I’m working to make the world a better and healthier place.

See The Entire ‘Meet The Class’ Series