Juan Sepulveda

Harvard Business School

“Love running and podcasts. Passionate, creative, and determined. Learning to be a dad.”

Hometown: Santiago, Chile

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m a one hit wonder Reggaeton singer.

Undergraduate School and Major: Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Management and Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Procter & Gamble, Global Brand Director

Tell us your best Harvard Business School story so far.
My wife, Luz, and I became parents for the first time, with our baby arriving just three weeks into the program. The support from the HBS community was truly incredible. Professors were understanding, and the student services team was readily available to address any questions. Both my section mates and the Crimson Parents club organized a meal train for us, alleviating our worries about cooking for two weeks. We felt that they had our backs on everything. It really showed us the tight community vibes here, making our HBS story extra special.

What makes the case method so attractive as a way of learning and becoming a better manager? During the first week at HBS, you are organized into sections of 95 students (go Section H!) with whom you share every class for the entire first year. These sections are carefully planned to ensure broad and diverse geographic representation (over 30 countries) and diverse backgrounds. In each class, we analyze complex business situations by immersing ourselves in the case protagonist’s perspective. This demands substantial pre-work, as we don’t spend class time learning the subject—everyone needs to read the case and subject material in advance. But it promotes meaningful dialogue, especially when facing challenging decisions, creating a safe space for discussing diverse points of view.

And it truly works in practice! Whenever there’s a decision to make or options on how to move forward, the class is often divided on what we should do. It also teaches you to listen more than you speak, and many discussions have shifted my initial stance. Over two years, this process repeats about 500 times, resulting in a profound understanding of diverse topics, industries, and functions. For me, at least, this knowledge gained through active participation and collaborative decision-making is what lasts.

Aside from your classmates and cases, what was the key part of Harvard Business School’s MBA Program that led you to choose this business school, and why was it so important to you?
The amazing community. Everything at HBS, from the campus infrastructure to events, is geared towards building a strong sense of community. Most students live on campus, and there are great common areas that ensure that pretty much all the academic and social activities happen here. Plus, there’s this fantastic gym where you can hit the treadmill or lift weights with your friends—it’s a great way to stay connected. Outside of the classroom, there’s always something happening—whether it’s club activities, conferences, or talks featuring top-notch speakers. Almost every week, there’s a chance to dive into something new and exciting. For me, this community-driven environment is at the heart of forming solid relationships that last forever.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at Harvard Business School? I am very excited about an upcoming course called FIELD Global Immersion. Toward the end of this first year, in May 2024, the entire class of 950 students will embark on a journey to one of 15 different countries to engage in local projects. Last week, we learned that we will choose from several countries in Africa, South America, Europe, and Asia.

We will be organized into teams of six, deliberately outside our sections. Each team will be tasked with consulting for a local D2C company. We will start working on the project in Boston and then travel to spend 10 days on the ground with the company. The focus of the project is to immerse ourselves in the local culture, interact with others, and navigate barriers such as language and cultural differences. I am particularly excited about the opportunity to explore and learn from a new culture and, of course, to share a valuable experience with fellow HBS students!

When you think of Harvard Business School, what is the first word that comes to mind? Why? Excellence. At HBS, the expectation is clear: become a leader who makes an impact in the world. The entire experience, along with strong support systems, is carefully structured to ensure that every student has the resources and encouragement necessary to reach their highest potential. This creates an environment where every pursuit is geared towards attaining the summit of excellence.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I had the privilege of leading an incredible team at P&G as a global brand director in the Boston headquarters. This is something that I thought was unreachable when I started in the company in Chile, but I believe that my passion and commitment to learn and be my best every single day got me there. Along with my team, we were able to leave our mark by introducing groundbreaking innovations, elevating our standards of superiority and sustainability in the global Gillette and Venus brands. And we did this while having a lot of fun!

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far. Being able to balance fatherhood and being a husband with everything else that’s going on at HBS. While this has not been an easy task, I think I’ve struck the right balance between academics, family, social life, and recruiting.

What will you do after graduation? I aim to continue making an impact in the consumer space, potentially through avenues like consulting. This industry is rapidly evolving, and I hope to be an actor shaping this change. Consumer goods touch billions of lives every single day, and I’m excited to use my skills and passion to bring a positive impact to people’s lives.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Harvard Business School’s MBA Program? Reflect on what makes you different and what you will bring to the community. HBS needs students with diverse stories and backgrounds for the case method to work, so be authentic and showcase what makes you unique.

DON’T MISS: MEET HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL’S MBA CLASS OF 2025