Iris Fernanda Arguedas Salgado

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University

“Passionate, committed leader who thrives on engagement, community-building, and always giving my best.”

Hometown: Cuernavaca Morelos, Mexico

Fun fact about yourself: I have lived in six different countries across four continents and have traveled to around 35 countries.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Tecnologico de Monterrey (Industrial Engineering), The University of Newcastle (Master’s in Engineering Management)

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Mastercard, Associate Managing Consultant

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? Mastercard, Miami (MBA Summer Consultant, Strategy& Business Insights)

Where will you be working after graduation? Mastercard, Associate Managing Consultant

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: VP of International Students for Student Council; Chair of International Council; VP of Finance for Latin American Business Association; Co-Chair of Emerging Market Institute; Emerging Markets Institute Fellow; Teacher Assistant for Critical and Strategic Thinking, Finance, and Strategy & Consulting Immersion.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? One of the achievements I am most proud of during business school is my involvement with the Emerging Markets Institute (EMI) Conference during both years of my MBA. In my first year, I supported the case competition and assisted with event logistics. However, after attending the conference, I realized I wanted to continue being part of it, but with a more active and impactful role.

After working closely with EMI and Lourdes Casanova, Academic Director of the Emerging Markets Institute, during my first year of the MBA, I was honored to be appointed co-chair for the case competition. In this role, I was involved in every stage of the process, including selecting the competition’s focus in collaboration with EMI’s leadership team and Corning; developing the case; and ultimately witnessing incredible presentations from university teams worldwide. In the process, I was able to showcase innovative solutions to esteemed judges. It was a truly rewarding experience to help shape an event that brings together brilliant minds to tackle challenges in emerging markets.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? One of my proudest professional achievements is attending business school, fulfilling a long-held dream. While I initially planned to pursue my MBA much earlier, unexpected challenges – including the COVID-19 pandemic, layoffs, and the uncertainty of starting a new job – made me question whether it would ever happen. Despite these setbacks, I remained determined and focused on growth.

One project in particular became a turning point in my journey. I had to step into an ongoing engagement, quickly adapt, and build a strong relationship with the client. This experience challenged me to learn fast, navigate ambiguity, and prove my ability to deliver results under pressure. Pursuing my MBA at Johnson is not only a personal achievement, but a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the unwavering support of those who believed in me including Mastercard, which sponsored my journey.

Why did you choose this business school? One of the main reasons I chose Johnson was its strong sense of community. In February 2023, I had the opportunity to visit the different universities where I was applying. While Ithaca was quite different from what I was used to, the warmth and support of the Johnson community stood out immediately. From the moment I stepped on campus, I felt a genuine sense of connection. During my visit, a second year took the time to personally walk me through their experiences. That level of generosity confirmed Johnson was the place where I wanted to build my future.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? My favorite MBA professor is Risa Mish. She made an impression on me with the way she connected with the class, her passion for teaching Critical & Strategic Thinking, and her ability to emphasize the importance of even the smallest details. What truly stood out about Professor Mish was not just her teaching style, but also her commitment to her students. She always kept her door open, making time for everyone. Her dedication extended beyond the classroom and she continues to stay engaged with alumni, reinforcing the strong sense of community that makes Johnson so special.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite course was the Strategy and Consulting Immersion. Having Chris Bordoni as the professor made the class incredibly engaging. He ensured that everyone stayed involved, encouraged participation, and facilitated meaningful discussions. Beyond that, the course content was exceptional, a well-balanced blend of the case method and hands-on workshops that created a truly enriching learning experience. With two sessions per week, one was dedicated to analyzing and discussing case studies, allowing us to explore real-world challenges and strategies that companies across various industries have faced. The other session focused on practical, skill-building workshops designed to teach essential tasks required for consulting and strategy roles.

The high level of participation and engagement from both students and faculty, combined with Chris’s ability to guide discussions effectively, made this course the most valuable and impactful part of my MBA experience.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favorite MBA event and tradition is Sage Social. Every Thursday from 4:15 to 5:45 pm, students gather in the atrium of Sage Hall (the dining area inside the Business School) for an event with food and drinks. It’s my favorite because it’s a great opportunity to connect with people across the program –

not just from my class but also with second years when I was in my first year (now with first years as a second year). This helps strengthen relationships, which is one of the standout aspects of Cornell SC Johnson College of Business.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Looking back on my MBA experience, the only thing I would have changed is that, it was much harder for me to connect with more people, since my recruitment process was different from the norm. I felt a bit more distant from everyone since most people were focused on recruiting. In my second year, I was surprised by how many meaningful connections I made that year with people I hadn’t had the chance to engage with earlier. I think we often focus on those we have a lot in common with and connect with right away. As a result, it can be harder to connect with others who, although they might seem different at first glance, are truly amazing people. I’m grateful to have met them and wish I had done so much earlier.

What is the biggest myth about your school? One of the biggest myths about Johnson is that it can be a very competitive environment. After being at Cornell, while recruiting is intense, Johnson’s culture is more collaborative than cutthroat. Peers go out of their way to share resources, conduct mock interviews, and celebrate each other’s successes.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? What I love most about my business school town is that it’s a true college town. This made it much easier for me to connect with people in the MBA program. Since it’s a small town, it’s common to run into classmates when going out for dinner, and it’s always easy to visit friends, which has made me feel constantly surrounded by a supportive community. I also love that Ithaca offers plenty of outdoor activities like hiking, the opportunity to visit wineries and breweries in the spring and summer, and skiing in the winter. 

What movie or television show best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? One of the TV shows I believe best reflects the realities of business is Shark Tank. In business, just like in life, you have to take risks – and there’s always uncertainty about success. What stands out to me in the show is the way entrepreneurs present their ideas and face the judgment of the sharks. Despite the high stakes, they must remain resilient, regardless of the outcome. The show highlights how crucial it is to stay focused and adaptable, especially when things don’t go as planned. It teaches that setbacks and challenges are inevitable, but perseverance and the ability to learn from each experience are essential to move forward and ultimately succeed.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? Cornell has integrated AI in various ways, both by offering dedicated AI courses and by incorporating AI into more traditional subjects to analyze results from a different perspective. One of the AI-specific courses I took was AI Strategy and Applications, where we learned how AI processes information and its applications across different industries. Additionally, in some assignments for courses like Business Data Analysis with SQL and Managerial Decision Making, we not only had to develop our own analyses, but also use AI tools to understand the solutions they provided. This allowed us to strengthen our analyses by leveraging AI-generated insights that supported our initial hypotheses. Going forward, I plan to integrate AI-driven insights into my strategy work, leveraging predictive analytics to drive more data-informed business decisions.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? One of the classmates I admire the most is Ianiv Kadoch. Ianiv is an entrepreneur who has achieved incredible things throughout his professional life, and I was impressed by his accomplishments from the moment I met him. Beyond that, he has taught me that you can always follow your own path and progress at your own pace. One thing that really stood out to me about Ianiv is that during our first conversation, he told me he’d scheduled a coffee chat, and he followed through on it. That was when we truly connected. He is someone who tries to get to know people personally and form deeper connections. He has been a key part of my MBA journey, offering support and guidance since we met in the program, and motivating me to explore one of my future goals: starting my own business. On top of that, he has been an exceptional friend, always there for me.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? Two items on my professional bucket list are:

 1) Leading a large team: Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to have incredible mentors who have supported and challenged me to keep growing and improving. These individuals have had a profound impact on my professional journey. One day, I want to be that person for others. I’d love to guide and support my team members in their development, helping them grow into stronger professionals.

 2) Starting my own business: Eventually, I want to explore entrepreneurship and build something meaningful that solves a real problem. I’d love to create something from the ground up, be involved in every aspect of the process and operations and develop a business that truly makes an impact.

What made Iris such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“Iris is one of the brightest stars in the Class of 2025. As a first year, she was an excellent student in the Strategy & Consulting Immersion (SCI). She greatly enriched the class discussions each week, drawing on both her prior experiences as a consultant and a driving curiosity and eagerness to learn.

As a second year, Iris emerged as one of the most consequential leaders in her class. Her contributions have included developing several new “Simulated Engagements” for this year’s SCI, managing four student project teams, leading several panels and small-group discussions, and generally going above and beyond in every possible way. It has been a delight to work with Iris, and I am deeply grateful for all that she has contributed.”

Chris Bordoni
Senior Lecturer of Strategy & Business Economics
Management Consulting Industry Lead
Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management
Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2025

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