Irasema González-Gutiérrez

University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School

“Passionate about human design; goal-driven individual who values authenticity, adaptability and community.”

Hometown: Reynosa, Tamaulipas; México

Fun Fact About Yourself: Huge coffee junkie! Love to explore coffee shops around the world.

Undergraduate School and Major: Texas A&M University, College Station; Vachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Amazon.com, Operations Manager

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? Personally, what I love the most about UNC Kenan-Flagler’s MBA program is their STEM-designated curriculum and its collaborative and diverse learning environment. There are over 125 electives and 12 concentrations that allow you to customize your education based on your career goals. This was so important to me since I am interested in a variety of subjects and having the flexibility to combine challenging courses and my passion all at once. Also, I was really impressed by their continued career support and faculty who are world-class researchers and expert teachers.

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. All the students and alumni I’ve met so far at UNC Kenan-Flagler have been extremely collaborative and supportive since day 1. I love the sense of community and connection that UNC offers. Being a Tar Heel feels like we are all part of a big family – together every step of the way!

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Kenan-Flagler? At UNC Kenan-Flagler, I want to explore how my social identity shapes how to navigate social, cultural and power differences in the organizations I lead. My commitment at UNC Kenan-Flagler will be to continue encouraging underrepresented minorities at both the micro- and macro-levels by becoming a leader in the Carolina Women in Business and Latin American Business Association student organizations. Additionally, through synchronizing my previous experiences, I am excited to create a space where culture, business and emerging female leaders can be harmonized to thrive.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Embracing my identity as a minority in the workforce, in 2019, I began spearheading the “Women in Operations” initiative at Amazon. It focused on mentoring women across Amazon’s North America South Central (NASC) region and launching inclusion events such as the first NASC “Women @ Amazon” virtual conference during the pandemic. In a short period of time, Amazon recognized the importance of the “Women in Operations” initiative due to the exponential improvement of women in the warehouse, transforming our team to be 65% female-led in the sort-center network.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to prospective MBAs? Why? Untamed by Glennon Doyle is a must read. I found her book to be a wake-up call, empowering and deeply-relatable.  It is about letting go of our desire to please others so that we can truly please ourselves. This a great reminder to fight for what you want until the end. When going through the MBA application process there will be a lot of “noise” around and you’ll need to stay true to yourself. As Glennon Doyle said, “This life is mine alone. So, I have stopped asking people for directions to places they’ve never been.”

Looking ahead two years, what would make your MBA experience successful? In order to make my MBA experience successful, I am willing to learn from mistakes, being receptive and vulnerable while practicing gratitude. Also, I want to be empathetic by listening attentively and respecting one another in an inclusive learning environment. I will take this time to invest in both personal and professional development to positively impact my life. Overall, taking advantage of all the opportunities, network, and resources that UNC Kenan-Flagler offers will maximize my MBA experience.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Kenan-Flagler’s MBA program? Embrace yourself, take the risk and have fun with the process. Don’t underestimate what you can bring to the table – no one is you and that is your power.

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