Meet the MBA Class of 2024: Carlos L. Pérez-De La Rosa, North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)

Carlos L. Pérez-De La Rosa

University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School

“I’m a big-hearted Puerto Rican, passionate about empowering others and transforming organizations for the future.”

Hometown: Juncos, Puerto Rico

Fun Fact About Yourself: When I was a child, I had to wear leg braces like the ones Forrest Gump wore in the movie.

Undergraduate School and Major:

  • Randolph-Macon College, BA in Psychology
  • George Mason University, Master’s degree in Special Education
  • University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, Master’s degree in Leadership in Educational organizations

Most Recent Employer and Job Title:  University of Puerto Rico at Carolina, Division of Continuing Education, Project Coordinator

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Kenan-Flagler’s MBA curriculum or programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The balance between academics and real-world experiences immediately attracted me to UNC Kenan-Flagler. I’m particularly excited to test my knowledge and skills during the STAR Program by providing innovative, effective, and sustainable recommendations for corporate partners in a real-world setting.

What has been your first impression of the Kenan-Flagler MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best Kenan-Flagler story so far. Excellent and highly supportive! I attended The Consortium’s Orientation Program this past June, where we had many UNC Kenan-Flagler alumni come from all over the nation to support and motivate us! It was terrific to meet them and learn about how UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA positively changed their lives.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Kenan-Flagler? I’m excited to participate in the Latin American Business Association. I plan to develop strategies that help Hispanics and Latinxs use business to positively impact their communities, as well as help increase the number of minorities in top MBA programs.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In 2021, as interim director of the University of Puerto Rico at Carolina, I was assigned an internal audit of two university projects with demanding timelines. After analyzing pertinent documents and working with key stakeholders, I led a three-person team through the audit, receiving no penalties and meeting all university and state requirements. In addition, I accelerated and automated specific processes through this task, redesigning protocols and procedures to optimize financial operations and streamline documentation. As a result, all project coordinators quickly adopted these practices, which became an essential part of the operation.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to prospective MBAs? Why? Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” The MBA admissions process and full-time programs are rigorous, so it’s essential to develop a resilient mindset that allows you to adjust and persevere when facing challenges and adversity.

Looking ahead two years, what would make your MBA experience successful? I would have become a more knowledgeable, impactful, and strategic leader who facilitates change through business strategies to enhance organizations in a sustainable form. Additionally, I will have played an active role collaborating with business leaders to systematically instill business knowledge in local communities and in my beloved island of Puerto Rico to spur economic growth and create enduring change.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Kenan-Flagler’s MBA program? Be your authentic self! Connect with students and alumni to get to know the school’s culture and learn about other opportunities!

DON’T MISS: MEET UNC KENAN-FLAGLER’S MBA CLASS OF 2024

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