Alejandra Giron

Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business

“Passionate to make things happen and overcome challenges while creating a sustainable world.”

Hometown: Bogota, Colombia

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love to ride horses and travel. Last year, I visited 10 different places: Maui, Dallas, Denver, Yellowstone Park, Grand Tetons Park, Idaho, Wichita, and Los Llanos, Colombia.

Undergraduate School and Major:

Bachelor of Architecture – Universidad de Los Andes, Bogota, Colombia

Master in Urban and Regional Planning – Universidad de Los Andes, Bogota, Colombia

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Green-Tech Ingenieria Y Arquitectura / COO, Development of Strategic Projects

What excites you most about studying in Washington, DC? Many things excite me about the MBA experience in Washington, D.C., from its culture to its cherry blossoms. Washington is one of the most important cities in the world. It’s a unique place where global action happens, providing me access to high-profile speakers, top employers, and professional organizations.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Georgetown McDonough’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school, and why was it so important to you? Georgetown McDonough’s MBA is rooted deeply in the Jesuit tradition that cares about the importance of serving others and doing the common good. After COVID-19 and some personal experiences, I decidedthat I wanted to pursue an MBA where they care holistically for the whole person. As Dean Paul Almeida told us during the welcome day reunion on April 21, 2023: “If you come here, you will be a unique FISH in THE POND.”

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Georgetown McDonough? I look forward to joining various Georgetown clubs: Operations and Management Association, Retail and Luxury Association, Graduate Marketing Association, and Graduate Women in Business (GWiB). I’m eager about the Retail and Luxury Association because I will immerse myself in the sector that I want to pivot towards.

Finally, l look forward to gaining the MBA Certificate in Consumer Analytics and Insights to understand how data impacts an organization’s actions affects relevant decisions, and helps to understand risks.

Georgetown McDonough programming focuses heavily on instilling a global mindset. Why is exposure to global diversity so critical to business success? It is imperative to have a holistic view to succeed in the business world. Thus, having the opportunity to access, learn, and understand other cultures, languages, and policies opens and nurtures your mindset. Being exposed to those experiences allows you to be a better leader, develop new skills to quickly adapt to any kind of challenge, and be empathic in any project.

Over the years, I have seen that in the execution of public projects in Latin America is not possible to duplicate the same kind of infrastructure from one place to another, even if it’s in the same continent. Because all cultures have unique features and it is important to see them through a different lens.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In 2021, I led the non-port projects team at Cormagdalena; a government institution that supervises and allocates the construction licenses of all the non-port projects next to the 700 miles of riverside of the Magdalena River, the largest river in Colombia.

Most of the Colombian population is in Magdalena’s River watersheds; 129 urban zones are in its riverbank, with 78% at risk of erosion or soil scouring. Thus, as a team leader, I decided to establish as a primary goal the improvement of the approval times for the allocation of permits for the execution of flood controls, considering the girl phenomenon and all the changes in the river due to climate change and infrastructure for transportation.

At the end of that year, 42 projects met all established requirements, with 51% related to flood control, and we denied licenses for 30 more. We set a procedure for projects completed without permits to force them to comply with the regulations.

Looking ahead two years, what would make your MBA experience successful? My MBA experiences in and outside the class will allow me to be a better version of what I’m today. Accomplishing a pivot to the luxury retail sector and creating a career in that industry, with the challenges that will arise during that path, will make me feel so grateful and successful in my MBA experience.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Georgetown McDonough’s MBA program? The MBA application process is tedious, but if it’s your dream, you will work hard and get into your dream program. With that in mind, I advise the potential applicants three things. First, the exams are like a marathon; you must prepare for them with time, discipline, and a plan. Second, discover your magic; everyone has a unique story that makes them stand out of the crowd. Third, understand Georgetown’s culture and reflect on why it is your dream program.

DON’T MISS: MEET GEORGETOWN MCDONOUGH’S MBA CLASS OF 2025