Guillermo Arola

Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business

“Curious problem solver with a data-driven mindset and a passion for business and sports.”

Hometown: Barcelona, Spain

Fun Fact About Yourself: I recently climbed a 6,250m peak and I still don’t like hiking.

Undergraduate School and Major: Polytechnic University of Catalonia, UPC; B.S. in Industrial Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: KPMG; Senior Strategy & Transformation Consultant

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Carnegie Mellon’s MBA curriculum and programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? What drew me most to the Tepper School is how it combines two things I believe will define the future of business: technology and leadership. Carnegie Mellon’s reputation in fields like AI, analytics, and emerging technologies is unmatched, and that played a big role in my decision.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Carnegie Mellon? I’m particularly excited about exploring the Tepper School’s AI in Business and Business Technologies concentrations. I love the idea of diving deep into how cutting-edge tech can solve real business problems. Beyond the classroom, I’m also looking forward to connecting with peers who are just as passionate about technology innovation.

The Tepper MBA is known for intensive one-on-one coaching and personal development. What area do you hope to strengthen during your two years in business school and why? I plan to leverage the Accelerate Leadership Center to sharpen my leadership style — especially understanding how my emotional intelligence plays out in different situations. My approach has always been to lead by example, listen actively, and create space for people to share ideas and concerns. Through ALC coaching, I want clearer insight into my strengths and blind spots so I can adapt my communication and presence to different people and settings.

The Tepper MBA is also known for being highly data-driven Why does the program’s focus on quantitative analysis and decision-making appeal to you? How have been able to leverage this approach in your career so far? What excites me about the Tepper School is its integration of this analytical mindset into all aspects of business decision-making. I want to sharpen these skills further to lead data-informed transformations. As an industrial engineer and a consultant, data has always been central to how I solve problems. Whether implementing technological solutions or optimizing business processes, I rely on quantitative analysis to identify opportunities and measure results. My work in digital transformation at KPMG often involved translating large volumes of operational and financial data into actionable strategies — a process that required both technical fluency and strategic vision.

When you think of Carnegie Mellon University, what is the first word that comes to mind? Why? CMU’s legacy in engineering and its data-driven approach to problem-solving have made “analytics” a core part of its identity. At the Tepper School of Business, analytics isn’t just a skillset; it’s a mindset. To me, Carnegie Mellon represents excellence in using data to drive smart, strategic decisions. Its deep-rooted strength in analytics aligns perfectly with how I’ve approached challenges in my consulting career.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: One of my proudest accomplishments was leading the implementation of a market-leading Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) system for a global manufacturing client. The project involved designing a new Financial Planning & Analytics model, analyzing complex data flows, and managing client expectations. Our work ultimately reduced process inefficiencies by 50% and provided the client real-time insights from +30 subsidiaries. I led a diverse team and helped guide the client through both the technical rollout and the human transition. It was a powerful lesson in how real transformation goes beyond systems — it’s about people.

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