Alfredo Zanatti Lizier

Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management

“Friendly, empathetic, creative, and perseverant. Always considering how my actions will affect those around me.”

Hometown: Lima, Peru

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am the oldest of 9 brothers and sisters.

Undergraduate School and Major: Universidad del Pacifico – Business Administration

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Los Incas Lima Hotel (CEO)

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Northwestern Kellogg’s MBA curriculum or programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Kellogg’s team-driven environment. For me, a culture driven by collaboration was the best way for me to develop the leadership skills I needed to attain my long-term goals. A Kellogg education is not just focused on helping you be successful right after your MBA but setting you up for success for the rest of your career. The faculty we have around leadership, management, and organizations are inspiring and help us become better leaders for the changing and diverse workforce of the future.

What has been your first impression of the Kellogg MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best Kellogg story so far. Kellogg MBA students are intelligent, outgoing, passionate and collaborative. I’ve been amazed at the collaborative attitude that my peers have shown me through both academic settings and co-curricular settings. My peers are always supportive and engaging. The unconditional support to see your fellow classmates succeed is probably one of the greatest impressions I’ve had.

What makes Chicago such a great place to earn an MBA? Chicago is a great place to earn an MBA because it has a wide range of cultures and a great history. I really like Kellogg’s location (Evanston) because you are a little away from the city where you can immerse yourself in a college town feeling, but close enough to the resources and employers that exist in a big city. Best of both worlds.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Peru was disrupted economically by the repercussions from COVID-19 and politically by ideological dissensions. During that time, I took the difficult choice to put my consulting career on hold and support a business in which I had no previous experience and which had taken a hard financial hit.

As CEO in Los Incas Lima Hotel, I was able to supervise over 70 employees. COVID-19 and the political uncertainties hit the hospitality and real estate sectors badly. The firm faced a cash flow crisis due to the plummeting occupancy rates, the high fixed costs, the debt denominated in dollars and the collapse of the local currency value.

We had to reduce work hours and salaries until we were able to boost sales revenues. This challenge really helped me focus on developing new strategies, motivating the team to gather new ideas, and better understanding the employees’ points of view to tackle the new uncertainties.

I motivated our employees to be at their best even when working under pressure. We focused on exploiting our assets to the maximum by implementing multiple experimental ventures with diverse strategic partners. Ultimately, we were able to salvage 100% of the formal jobs while giving the employees growth opportunities.

From major losses in Q2 & Q3 of the year 2020 we reached a business equilibrium point and are profitable considering all the current political difficulties. This brought financial sustainability for the business and avoided a likely fire sale or bankruptcy.

Once the business cash flow had finally stabilized and the strategy was working optimally, I knew it was time for me to take a new step and pursue my long-term passions.

Kellogg is known for a team-driven culture. What quality do you bring as a teammate and why will it be so important to the success of MBA class? I believe that the qualities I bring to the class are integrity and positivity. I try to always motivate my fellow classmates and portray my collaborative spirit in order to contribute as much as I possibly can for their individual successes, either academically or professionally. Overall, I think we have developed an amazing team that is always willing to support each other, something I believe distinguishes the 1Y 2023 class.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? I pursued an MBA to enhance my leadership and management skills. My goal after finishing my MBA was to join a prestigious management consulting firm. After a rigorous recruiting process, I received an offer for my dream job at McKinsey & Co. This accomplishment would not have been possible without all the support I received from my classmates and the Kellogg resources available for students. I will be joining McKinsey in the Miami office full time after my graduation.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Northwestern Kellogg? The Kellogg Consulting Club. The KCC has been very successful over the years, it has a “pay it forward” culture here at Kellogg where second-year students prep first-year students.

Kellogg is known for a team-driven culture. What quality do you bring as a teammate and why will it be so important to the success of MBA class? I believe that the qualities I bring to the class are integrity and positivity. I try to always motivate my fellow classmates and portray my collaborative spirit in order to contribute as much as I possibly can for their individual successes, either academically or professionally. Overall, I think we have developed an amazing team that is always willing to support each other, something I believe distinguishes the 1Y 2023 class.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? I pursued an MBA to enhance my leadership and management skills. My goal after finishing my MBA was to join a prestigious management consulting firm. After a rigorous recruiting process, I received an offer for my dream job at McKinsey & Co. This accomplishment would not have been possible without all the support I received from my classmates and the Kellogg resources available for students. I will be joining McKinsey in the Miami office full time after my graduation.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to prospective MBAs? Why? The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. It is a great book that really taught me the importance of embracing failure and using it as a tool for motivation and growth. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck emphazises how hard times are what leads us to growth and how they are crucial in developing our identity. “Who you are is defined by what you’re willing to struggle for.”

What other MBA programs did you apply to? INSEAD, Wharton, HBS

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Northwestern Kellogg’s MBA program? When applying to Kellogg, it is essential to focus on the school’s core values. Kellogg sets itself apart from other business schools for its focus on teamwork and collaboration. Apart from academic and professional experiences, Kellogg’s admissions office does an exceptional job understanding a candidate’s core values and motivations. It’s therefore crucial to highlight how do you align with Kellogg’s values and what you can contribute to the community.

DON’T MISS: MEET NORTHWESTERN KELLOGG’S ENTIRE CLASS OF 2024