Meet the MBA Class of 2026: Luis Dominguez Guillot, HEC Paris by: Jeff Schmitt on October 25, 2024 | 49 Views October 25, 2024 Copy Link Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email Share on LinkedIn Share on WhatsApp Share on Reddit Luis Dominguez Guillot HEC Paris “Empathetic adventurer, passionate about sustainability, diversity, and multicultural experiences, committed to positive global impact.” Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico Fun Fact About Yourself: One fun fact about me is that I once backpacked across Asia visiting 11 countries in 2 months. During my travels, I had the unique opportunity to explore Myanmar, a country that has a deep historical connection with one of my favorite authors, George Orwell. This journey not only fueled my passion for cultural exploration but also deepened my appreciation for the intricate histories that shape different regions of the world. Undergraduate School and Major: Univeridad Panamericana (Mexico City) – Administration and International Business Most Recent Employer and Job Title: EY (Ernst & Young) in Boston, MA (USA) – Innovation Consultant Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of HEC Paris’ MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? A few factors that led me to choose HEC Paris are its strong emphasis on a unique blend of business, sustainability, and innovation expertise, along with its tight-knit community. The strategic location of HEC Paris is another crucial factor, providing an environment for community bonding while being close to the city—a hub for art, culture, entertainment, travel, and business. Moreover, HEC Paris’ emphasis on experiential learning and collaboration in diverse teams resonates with my values. The program’s focus on developing leadership abilities, with an emphasis on diversity and strategic thinking, aligns perfectly with my career aspirations. Additionally, the diverse class at HEC Paris, particularly in terms of global representation, played a significant role in my decision. Engaging with peers from various cultural and professional backgrounds enriches the learning experience and prepares us for the global business environment. This diversity fosters a deeper understanding of different perspectives and approaches, which is invaluable for personal and professional growth. Overall, the combination of HEC Paris’ strong industry connections, strategic location, diverse and globally representative class, and emphasis on diversity, innovation, and sustainability makes it the ideal place for me to achieve my professional objectives and emerge as a transformative leader. What course, club or activity excites you the most at HEC Paris? The HEC Paris LGBTQ+ Club excites me the most, as someone deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This club is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ students and allies. It offers a platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, promote awareness, and celebrate diversity through various events, workshops, and networking opportunities. Moreover, the club’s emphasis on leadership and advocacy aligns perfectly with my goal of making a positive impact in the business world by championing diversity and inclusion. I am interested in obtaining the strategy specialization at HEC Paris and want to combine my efforts towards diversity with key strategic decision-making. This integration will enable me to contribute effectively to both business success and societal progress. Furthermore, I am passionate about ensuring that the next generation of business leaders incorporates representation from the LGBTQ community, which unfortunately is not notable today. HEC Paris is just 17 kilometers from Paris. What do you see as the best part of earning your MBA so close to Paris? The campus offers the best of both worlds by being situated on the outskirts of Paris, providing an environment for community bonding while being close to the city—a hub for art, culture, entertainment, travel (big yay here!!!), and business. Nestled in the heart of Europe, HEC Paris offers proximity to major French companies, including, for example, French car manufacturers’ R&D facilities. This location provides invaluable insights and networking opportunities, allowing me to immerse myself in vibrant business hubs. The chance to interact with industry leaders and access cutting-edge research and development is essential for my goals. What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2026? My unique quality is my empathy, combined with a multicultural orientation and extensive international exposure. I have a deep passion for learning about other cultures, and I am committed to diversity and inclusion. Having lived in Mexico City, Boston, and Strasbourg – and complemented this experience with extended travels to Asia, the Middle East, and Africa – I have developed a profound love for people and cultures, as well as a fascination with different ways of solving both every day and complex problems. Embracing diversity and fostering collaboration, regardless of background and differences, is essential. My experiences have taught me the value of understanding and appreciating diverse perspectives, which I believe is the most constructive contribution I can bring to the class and, ultimately, to society. By leveraging my empathy and multicultural background, I aim to create an inclusive environment that promotes mutual respect and collaboration, enriching the learning experience for all my peers in the Class of 2026. Why did you choose a 16-month program over a one-year program? How do you see a HEC Paris MBA giving you an advantage in the marketplace? An MBA is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the length of the program is a significant consideration. While a one-year program allows you to return to the workforce more quickly, it sacrifices the value of additional time spent gaining experience from learning from classmates, engaging in experiential learning including treks, academic exchanges, specializations, and, of course, internships. The added time in a longer program allows for a richer and more comprehensive learning experience beyond a busier academic schedule, which often compresses the curriculum and limits other types of learning. HEC Paris manages this balance exceptionally well, providing all the resources and tools necessary to create a well-rounded experience. This approach translates into an enhanced and more holistic profile by the end of the program. Notably, HEC Paris allows students to remain in France under student status after a year-and-a-half into the program, enabling MBA candidates to benefit from this status and gain new professional experience prior to returning to the full-time workforce. This is particularly advantageous for MBA candidates pursuing a triple jump—changing location, industry, and function. The additional time and opportunities for internships, specializations, and real-world experiences offered by HEC Paris are especially beneficial for those aiming to make significant career changes. It’s no wonder why HEC’s program is so successful at producing success stories. The program’s structure allows for a deeper immersion into the academic, professional, and cultural environment, ultimately giving graduates a distinct advantage in the marketplace. Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I have had multiple career accomplishments at EY, where I have worked since graduating from college. I am proud of building the career I’ve always wanted and gaining diverse experiences, such as learning about the Mexican tax system, working in Risk Consulting, and successfully transitioning from the EY Mexico City office to the EY Boston office. I have also supported the firm’s innovation efforts, particularly in AI-driven transformations to enhance productivity and efficiency both internally and for our clients, positioning EY as the trusted transformation partner. While these achievements bring me pride, my biggest accomplishment is being selected as one of EY’s 2024 Americas Business Resource Group (BRG) Impactful Leaders. This recognition honors leaders from each of EY’s 12 BRGs, and I was nominated for my leadership in the International Culture Exchange Community and collaboration with our Latino and LGBTQ+ communities, among others. To put this into proportion, EY in the Americas has over 50,000 employees who are represented by the BRGs and only 26 leaders are selected annually. I feel profoundly honored to be recognized as a champion of belonging, well-being, leadership development, mentoring, and community connections. These extracurricular efforts reflect my values and purpose of striving to impact colleagues, clients, and communities positively. I aim to inspire by advocating for belonging, connectivity, inclusive leadership, and allyship. Looking ahead 16 months, what would make your MBA experience successful? To consider my MBA experience successful, I envision several key achievements. First, I aim to build a robust network with like-minded yet highly diverse individuals within the HEC community, forming long-lasting relationships and friendships. These connections will be invaluable both personally and professionally and with collaboration and allyship as the main engine. Second, gaining access to enriching experiences is crucial. This includes securing key internship roles that provide practical insights and exposure to innovative, sustainability-oriented, and strategy-focused learning. These experiences will help me develop a comprehensive understanding of various industries and their dynamics. Additionally, successfully landing a post-MBA professional opportunity in an industry I am passionate about will be a significant measure of success – this could be, for example, within the automotive industry. Achieving a triple jump—changing location, industry, and function—will demonstrate my adaptability and the value of the diverse skill set I developed at HEC Paris. Lastly, immersing myself in the global environment of HEC Paris will allow me to learn and explore more about the world and different cultures, further broadening my perspective and enhancing my ability to navigate and lead in diverse settings. Together, these achievements will ensure that my MBA experience is not only successful but also transformative, equipping me with the knowledge, network, and skills to thrive in my future career. DON’T MISS: MEET THE HEC PARIS MBA CLASS OF 2026