Lorraine Bichara Assad

Harvard Business School

“Curious learner committed to leveraging technology for meaningful and inclusive change.”

Hometown: Monterrey, Mexico

Fun Fact About Yourself: I was born and raised in Mexico but have Lebanese & Palestinian roots. Interestingly, my DNA tests reveal that I’m 100% Middle Eastern!

Undergraduate School and Major: Computer Science at Monterrey Institute of Technology (Tec de Monterrey)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Product Manager at Microsoft

What makes the case method so attractive as a means to learn and become a better manager? The case method asks us to put ourselves in the shoes of a protagonist and apply different business frameworks to make a decision. It is so effective because instead of only learning the theory, we can put into practice different concepts in situations that will mimic what many of us will encounter in our professional lives. For example, I’m not only learning the different aspects to consider when driving change within an organization, but I also see real-life examples of how driving change looks like for different leaders across different industries and the pros/cons of each possible outcome. Also, sharing the case method discussions with my section mates (shout out Section i) has been very insightful, allowing me to learn from their different cultural and professional experiences, and opening my eyes to viewpoints I wouldn’t have originally considered.

Aside from your classmates and cases, what was the key part of Harvard Business School’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The MS/MBA joint degree program was a key part of choosing this business school. I was very excited to acquire and develop business skills. Coming from a background in technology, I wondered how the business skills would synergize with my technology skills. That’s when I discovered the MS/MBA program offered by Harvard Business School (HBS) in partnership with the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). The program allows me to graduate with two degrees (an MBA and a Master of Science in Engineering Sciences) in two years. Through its courses, it is setting me up to launch and lead technology ventures. I’m able to apply the business skills learned at HBS, along with my previous engineering experience and new skills developed through SEAS, to create ideas that will make an impact in the world using technology.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at Harvard Business School? I’m excited about the FIELD Global Capstone course in the spring semester! For FIELD, we partner up with a company and travel to their given location for a week of immersion, applying the learnings of our first year at business school to a real-life situation that the company is facing.

I’m also looking forward to a lot of the elective courses in the 2nd year. I’ve heard great things about “The Founder Mindset” with Professor Reza Satchu, “The Business of Entertainment, Media, and Sports” with Professor Anita Elberse, and “Strategy and Technology” with Professors David Yoffie and Andy Wu, among other courses. I’m excited about the opportunity to choose courses that resonate the most with my personal and career interests and diving deeper into those topics, with top-notch faculty.

When you think of Harvard Business School, what is the first word that comes to mind? Why? Magic. Earlier this semester, Toto Wolff (team principal and CEO of the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 team) visited campus. As a motorsports fan, having the opportunity to interact with him was an unforgettable experience. When I shared my excitement with my brother (HBS MBA Class of 2015), his response was “That’s the magic of Harvard Business School”. Those words have stuck with me, resonating through various experiences that highlight how special HBS is.

Another moment when I’ve felt this is through the HBS network. Exploring the Alumni Directory has led me to discover very interesting people, many of whom were happy to connect and share their insights when I reached out. There’s something truly magical about the connections and experiences that HBS makes possible.

Looking at your recruitment, what was the moment when you realized Harvard Business School was the right program for you? Why? I applied to HBS through the 2+2 program, which is designed for candidates pursuing careers in underrepresented industries, including technically-demanding roles. I knew HBS was the right fit for me as soon as I discovered the 2+2 program, as it showed me that HBS values nontraditional professional paths and provides support to help candidates with no prior business experience succeed in the application process. This feeling was reinforced by conversations with alumni and current students with similar backgrounds, whose success during and after HBS confirmed this was the program for me.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Helping my team at Microsoft launch Azure Container Storage – a service for enterprise customers to manage storage for their applications running on the cloud. I joined the team early on when the product was just an idea, with no prior product management experience or in-depth knowledge of the cloud storage space. Despite these challenges, I contributed across multiple areas, helping drive the product to its general availability release. This accomplishment holds special significance for me, as it’s one of the more complex products I’ve worked on, and because of the value it brings to customers.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? Stepping out of my comfort zone! The case method has been a true challenge for me. Speaking up in front of my incredibly talented and smart section mates – often on unfamiliar topics, and occasionally with experts in the room – all in a language that’s not my first has been far from easy. One of my professors described it as “an exercise in public speaking every time we talk in class”, which was especially daunting since public speaking wasn’t exactly my favorite activity before HBS. However, I’m proud of myself for leaning into the discomfort and trusting the process, as it has resulted in rewarding learning experiences.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Harvard Business School’s MBA program? Leverage all the application materials to tell a cohesive story about you. Think about what you want HBS to know about you, and make sure that is portrayed in your application. Every requirement is included for a reason, so approach each thoughtfully and intentionally, deciding which elements of your story to share. Above all, be authentic! Don’t try to present a version of yourself that isn’t genuine, to “fit the mold”. There’s no single HBS student mold! All 900+ students in the Class of 2026 are different and it’s our unique passions and qualities that make us stand out.

Also remember that there is an amazing community of current students and alumni eager to help prospective students. Don’t hesitate to reach out – either for questions during the application process or to learn more about the student life at HBS!

DON’T MISS: MEET HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL’S MBA CLASS OF 2026