Maria Fernanda Heredia

Yale School of Management

“Someone who works incredibly hard to leave a lasting positive impact on people and places.”

Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana

Fun Fact About Yourself: Huge WNBA fan (pre-Caitlyn Clark)

Undergraduate School and Major: Williams College, Chemistry and Art

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Pfizer Inc., Senior Associate Scientist in Analytical Research and Development

The Yale School of Management is regarded as a purpose-driven program. What is your mission? How will your MBA at Yale SOM help you fulfill that mission? My mission is to equip myself with the business knowledge needed to return to healthcare at a leadership position. That comes with the goal of helping to develop the next generation of healthcare companies designed to close the gap in the medical delivery system to underserved populations. A Yale SOM MBA would build my foundational finance, operations, and strategy skill set while allowing me to take classes at the medical school, engineering school, and in public policy.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Yale SOM’s MBA curriculum or programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? It was the rigorous course work that drew me to SOM. I knew that I wanted a program that would give me the tools to build my financial and leadership skill sets coming from a scientific background. No other business school besides SOM allows you full and unhindered access to the entire university’s course catalog. That spoke to me about the importance of academics and building well-rounded leaders.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at Yale SOM? I am excited to be a part of the Nonprofit Fellows Club, which allows SOM students to sit on the board of a local New Haven nonprofit. Since living in Connecticut for the last few years, I have seen how important small businesses and nonprofits are to the ecosystem of communities. It would be a great opportunity to have an impact that directly benefits the local community.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2026? I am very much a people person, and someone that is not afraid to take on an organizational role for a group. I am usually the person designing and organizing dinner parties, outings, and other activities that help people connect with each other.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My analytical team being awarded the Heroes in Chemistry Award for our work on Paxlovid.

What do you hope to do after graduation?

Short Term: Consulting.

Long-Term: Still exploring the exact role, but I have a desire to return to the healthcare/life sciences.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Yale SOM’s MBA program? Time is your biggest enemy when it comes to application season. I would try and give yourself enough time to complete every part of the application to the best of your ability. Don’t let time rob you of the ability to show who you really are to the admissions committee.