Ivan Mosqueda Ramirez

Emory University, Goizueta Business School

“I am the first to climb onto the roof or get into the underground tank to see how something works.”

Hometown: Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico

Fun Fact About Yourself:  The only thing I can cook is quesadillas.

Undergraduate School and Major: BS Civil Engineering, Tec de Monterrey; MS Building Construction, Georgia Tech

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Worthing Southeast Builders, Assistant Project Manager

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the school’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I think my search started as everyone’s does, looking for the best-ranked schools. I was lucky that Emory is the same city where my wife and I live. It simply took a Super Saturday campus visit to realize what a big opportunity it would be to attend Emory. The staff, professors, current students ─ everyone was super helpful and informative.

What excites you most about getting your MBA at Goizueta? What makes you most nervous? I am really excited to learn about a completely new professional world. This is also what makes me the most nervous because I will have to catch up to my peers that already have experience in the business world.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I think my biggest accomplishment is getting to where I am today. I am proud to have completed my Bachelor’s degree in Mexico, one Master’s degree in the USA, and that I was able to work and gain professional experience in the USA. Now, I am earning my MBA at one of the best universities in the world.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I have always been eager to learn and keep on growing professionally. I loved my job in construction. However I felt there was more out there that I did not know about. Getting my MBA is the perfect way for me to expand my knowledge and try new career paths.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Stanford, Harvard, McCombs

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? What matters most to you, and why?

How did you determine your fit at various schools?  I was sure I wanted a smaller class size. I reached out to alumni or current students for feedback, and I attended as many info sessions as possible.

What was your defining moment and how did it prepare you for business school? My defining moment was completing my second apartment project and realizing that my career growth was starting to reach a cap. I had attended many info sessions at this point out of curiosity. Finally, I started studying for the GMAT and oddly enough, I liked the challenging questions there, which motivated me to aim for more and get my MBA.

What is the most important attribute that you are seeking in an MBA employer – and why is that important? I want an employer that empowers employees and that offers challenging projects, learning experiences, and career growth.

DON’T MISS: MEET EMORY GOIZUETA’S MBA CLASS OF 2022