Ivan Aristondo

University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business MBA Online

“Experienced consultant specializing in strategic planning, market analysis, and client relationship management. Results-driven and proactive.”

Age: 28 years old

Hometown: Lima, Peru. Currently living in Denver, CO

Fun fact about yourself: I just became a US citizen a few weeks ago.

Undergraduate School and Degree:

Utah Valley University – Bachelor’s in finance with minor in Business Management & University of Utah – MBA with a Data Analytics Certificate (Graduating July 2025).

Where are you currently working? Deloitte LLP, EFA Consultant

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? The achievement I am most proud of in my professional career is increasing profitability of a project by 110%. I accomplished this by leading the analysis of pricing models in collaboration with team leaders to identify opportunities to enhance project margins. My role involved conducting cost-benefit, break-even, and margin analysis, preparing revenue projections, and optimizing pricing strategies. This comprehensive approach not only improved our financial performance, but also demonstrated my ability to drive significant business outcomes through strategic analysis and teamwork.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? I chose the University of Utah’s Online MBA program because of its prestigious ranking, the successful job placements of alumni I know, the national network of the school offers, and the flexibility it provides to maintain a full-time job while pursuing my degree.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? I valued the opportunity to network with professionals from across the country. My cohort was very experienced, and we built strong relationships that allowed us to support each other in areas where some of us had less expertise.

How did your online experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? My online experience was excellent, as it provided the flexibility to complete schoolwork and attend classes even while traveling for work—something that wouldn’t have been possible in a traditional classroom setting. The faculty were also very communicative and always available to help, which I greatly appreciated.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? My advice to online MBA students is stay on top of assignments, develop good relationships with faculty, and cohort and most importantly, to enjoy the journey! Leverage the available resources, and they’ll gain valuable skills and insights to advance their career.

How has your online education helped you in your current job? The Online MBA program has prepared me for my recent new role at Deloitte by improving my leadership skills through its management classes, which have made me a more effective leader. Also, the program has given me the knowledge and expertise to solve various workplace complex situations, think critically, and adopt different approaches on a case-by-case basis.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? Yes, I was promoted from analyst to consultant a year into the program.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential or executive MBA program? I chose this program because the ability it would provide me to get my MBA while accruing years of professional experience concurrently. That way, I would be able to apply the knowledge I obtain to better my performance at my current job as I’m more marketable to benefit my team and assigned clients.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? In my Marketing & Predictive Analytics and Management Accounting class, my professors gave us tools and knowledge on how to leverage some AI platforms into specific case studies and learn from those if we were stuck at a certain topic. Using these AI tools helped increase decision-making processes that might not be immediately apparent through traditional analysis methods.

Number of Hours Per Week Spent on an Online MBA: 15-20 hours.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? Post-MBA, I intend to either move to a senior consultant position within my company or move vertically to a highly innovative and profitable technology company as I ambition to become a Finance Managing Director in the Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) area.

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