Irma Gaviño

University of Michigan, Ross School of Business

“August Leo, creative and analytical. I’m a ride or die friend, and I’m always down to try new hobbies.”

Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico

Fun Fact About Yourself: I didn’t know how to ride a bike. I learned 2 weeks before moving to Ann Arbor, because I wanted to visit Mackinac Island

Undergraduate School and Major: Instituto Tecnologico Autónomo de México (ITAM), B.A in Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: PepsiCo International, Strategy and M&A Associate Manager

Michigan Ross is best known for experiential learning programming like MAP, Living Business Leadership Experience, and the Leadership Crisis Challenge. What experiential program interests you the most? The Multidisciplinary Action Project (MAP) excites me the most because it offers me the chance to work with real business challenges in my first year. I find it inspiring that Ross allows students to step outside the classroom quickly, applying what we learn to a real organization in another state or country. For me, it’s not just about building skills. It’s about the adventure of working hands-on in a new environment while making a tangible impact.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Michigan Ross’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? It is the flexibility to customize my learning journey. Whether I am pursuing my concentration or taking electives from other schools at the University of Michigan, I know that I’ll be able to tailor my MBA to match my passions. This freedom is important to me because I’ve always thrived at the crossroads of disciplines, and I want my education to reflect that. Plus, Ann Arbor is one of the best cities in the US, and home to the Big House. How can you beat that?

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at Michigan Ross? Two activities I’m most excited about are the Golf Club (the newest club at Ross) and the Fashion Media Summit. Golf has always been a silly pastime with my brothers, but at Ross, I’m ready to get serious and finally earn my handicap while having a blast with classmates. The Fashion Media Summit is another highlight, because I am really into fashion, and the lineup of speakers is incredible.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2026? Why? My ability to combine creativity with analytical thinking stems from being an artist at heart and an economist by training. I naturally see connections where others might see separate pieces. I also hope to enrich the global perspective of my classmates by sharing my culture and experiences from Mexico, offering insights into how business, creativity, and community intersect in different contexts.

When you think of the University of Michigan, what is the first word that comes to mind? Why? Community (with Mr. Brightside playing in the background). From the classroom to game days and extracurriculars, I felt a sense of belonging here from day one. Whether I’m collaborating with classmates, cheering on the Wolverines, or joining student clubs, the support, energy, and shared purpose at Michigan make it feel like home. Connections here go beyond academics, and that spirit of togetherness makes the University of Michigan truly special to me.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Completing a four-year cycle at PepsiCo within the Strategy team stands out as my biggest career accomplishment so far. I joined right out of college in a junior role, learning everything from scratch and navigating tasks that I had never done before. Over the years, I gradually took on more responsibility, building both technical and leadership skills. Four years later, I became an associate manager, leading projects, coordinating diverse teams, and delivering strategic insights that had a tangible impact on the business. This journey taught me resilience, adaptability, and the value of continuous learning, and it gave me the confidence to take on increasingly complex challenges.

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