Mateo Mendoza

Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School

“Analytical, globally minded problem-solver driven by impact, curiosity, and thoughtful leadership.”

Hometown: La Paz, Bolivia

Fun Fact About Yourself: I know every Drake song by heart.

Undergraduate School and Major: Lindenwood University, Finance

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: EY – Transfer Pricing Analyst

What has been your favorite part of St. Louis so far? makes St. Louis such a great place to earn an MBA? My favorite part about Saint Louis is the variety of food in the area as well as the great parks and museums the city has. You are able to have a great balance of city and countryside life.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Washington Olin’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? A key part into choosing to attend WashU was the hands-on experience through the CEL. Being able to be involved in real world projects with big companies while in school and applying our learnings was very important for me.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Washington Olin? I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of Olin Finance Club and Olin Strategy and Consulting Association (OSCA). I have always been passionate about the intersection of finance and strategy. Having so many alumni and speakers come to campus to share their experiences has been very rewarding and inspiring.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I think my biggest accomplishment in my career has been being able to work at top companies where I was surrounded with smart and experienced people that have helped form me into the professional that I am today.

Describe your biggest achievement in the MBA program so far: My biggest achievement in the MBA program so far has been earning second place at the Carnegie Mellon University CSL Case Competition. My team developed a strategy for deploying AI in banking for PNC that balanced commercial value, operational feasibility, and regulatory risk. We designed a scalable AI application to improve customer decisioning while maintaining strong data governance and compliance. This approach emphasized practical implementation and measurable business impact.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? My best memory so far in the MBA has been traveling to Seattle to a company’s trek with WashU to meet employers and alumni. This was a great experience being able to visit the offices of such important and impactful organizations. Being there in person and talking to alumni was very inspiring and motivating for the future I want to build for myself.

© Copyright 2026 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.