Melissa Barrientos

Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business

“Creative strategist with a global lens, blending finance and heart to build growth with purpose.”

Hometown: San Salvador, El Salvador

Fun Fact About Yourself: Every Christmas, my family and I travel to a new country and buy a local ornament. Our tree is now full of unique pieces from around the world, each with its own story.

Undergraduate School and Major: Superior School of Economic and Business (ESEN), Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Business

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Unilever, CD Finance Channel Specialist

What excites you most about studying in Washington, DC? What excites me most about studying in Washington, DC, is how the city feels creative, diverse, and globally connected. The mix of culture, business, and policy creates the perfect environment to grow both personally and professionally. Coming from a background where I’ve led initiatives that blend creativity with strategic thinking, I feel energized being in a city where global decisions are made and cultural insight matters. DC’s dynamic atmosphere fuels my passion for driving meaningful, inclusive solutions with real-world impact.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Georgetown McDonough’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?

Georgetown’s global perspective and value-driven approach immediately stood out to me. From international consulting opportunities to a diverse, collaborative community, McDonough fosters the kind of environment where inclusive leadership thrives. As someone with a finance background in emerging markets, I was drawn to a program that prepares students to think across borders and lead with purpose.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Georgetown McDonough? A key part of Georgetown McDonough’s MBA that drew me in is the Global Business Experience (GBE). This immersive consulting project allows students to work with international companies and present real solutions abroad.

I’m especially excited by the chance to work across cultures and industries, building strategies that are both locally relevant and globally informed. The GBE reflects how I’ve already collaborated with teams across Latin America, where solutions often had to be adapted market by market. That experience taught me that strategic thinking must be flexible, inclusive, and grounded in real-world context. Programs like the GBE will strengthen my ability to lead in environments where business decisions span countries, cultures, and customers.

Georgetown McDonough programming focuses heavily on instilling a global mindset. Why is exposure to global diversity so critical to business success? Exposure to global diversity helps teams think bigger and solve problems more creatively. At Unilever, I worked closely with colleagues from across Latin America to tackle challenges in a specific market. Sometimes the solution from one country didn’t apply exactly to another, but it gave us a starting point and sparked new ideas. Being surrounded by people with different perspectives made our approach stronger and more thoughtful. It taught me how valuable it is to have diverse voices at the table when trying to grow and adapt in competitive, fast-changing markets.

When you think of Georgetown University, what word comes to mind? Why? When I think of Georgetown, the first word that comes to mind is community. From the moment I was admitted, I felt supported. Second-years offered help without hesitation and staff made sure I had everything I needed. When I reached out to alumni, they were incredibly open and willing to share advice. There’s a real sense that everyone wants you to succeed, and that kind of community isn’t something you find everywhere. It’s one of the things that made me feel certain I was in the right place.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My proudest accomplishment has been leading the creation of Forêt, a luxury wedding and event venue surrounded by nature. I was fully responsible for bringing the project to life. This included building the brand identity, defining the pricing and cost structure, developing financial models, and executing a marketing strategy that positioned Forêt as a premium experience in a developing market. I applied both creative and analytical thinking to understand our target audience and deliver a concept that people were genuinely excited to invest in.

This experience allowed me to use a wide range of skills including financial planning, consumer insight, brand positioning, and strategic decision-making. I learned how to communicate value in a way that resonates with people, even in a price-sensitive market. Today, Forêt is fully booked through 2026, with confirmed weddings in 2027. Creating something from the ground up and watching it succeed taught me the importance of clarity, resilience, and trusting in bold ideas backed by strategy.

What is your long-term career goal? Long-term, I aspire to become the Chief Executive Officer of a global organization, where I can shape strategic decisions that drive both business growth and social impact. I envision leading a company that not only performs financially but also takes an active role in addressing global challenges through sustainable practices, inclusive leadership, and ethical decision-making.

Throughout my career, I have seen how powerful leadership can influence company culture and create environments where diversity is not only accepted but celebrated. Reaching a CEO position would allow me to foster that kind of environment on a larger scale, empowering people from all backgrounds to thrive and contribute. My goal is to use that platform to build innovative solutions, inspire future leaders, and ensure businesses leave a positive mark on the world.

DON’T MISS: MEET GEORGETOWN MCDONOUGH’S MBA CLASS OF 2027

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