Sara Eraso Lasso

“Colombian, ambitious, curious, and always up for the next leap”

Grad Year: Class of 2021

Current Employer / Role: Delivery Hero – Associate Principal Product Operations

Is this the industry and role you envisioned yourself in upon entering the program? 

The role, yes. The industry took a different turn.

I have a major in chemical engineering and a minor in business. Early on, I pictured myself in healthcare, pharma, or one of the major chemical companies, with an interest in innovation across both startups and scaleups. An internship at BASF gave me a first-hand look inside its internal incubator, Chemovator, where I had the opportunity to work with the founder of a

pre-seed startup. Conversations with alumni throughout the program gave me the clarity to choose a different industry.

After the MBA I joined Vinted, Europe’s leading second-hand marketplace, as part of the company’s 1000th-employee cohort, and stayed almost five years as a Program Manager, experiencing hypergrowth up close and connecting strategy with execution. That’s where I found what actually motivates me: sitting at the intersection of product, engineering, and business, turning strategic priorities into scalable execution. Delivery Hero is where I keep doing that now.

Why was HEC Paris and their MBA program the right fit for you among all of the options out there?

Of every school I interviewed with, HEC was where I felt the most genuine connection: warmth, candor, and real opinions. That came through with alumni and recruiters alike. Beyond the people, HEC’s network across Europe, my target geography, was decisive. Five years out, I can say that network is still one of the most valuable things the program gave me.

How has the program helped you grow personally or professionally since graduating?

Beyond the MBA itself, the program was something like an honorary master’s in navigating uncertainty: quitting a stable job, relocating to a new country, restarting a job search, chasing the “triple jump.” All of it built resilience, comfort with change, and a much sharper sense of what I bring to the table.

What’s a standout moment or memory from your time at HEC Paris that really stuck with you?

My batch went through half the program during the pandemic, and, bittersweet as it sounds, that’s actually where my fondest memories live. Those of us who stayed on campus looked out for each other in a sibling-like way. Unique, unexpected circumstances pushed people to lead, to be vulnerable, and in some cases to genuinely thrive under pressure. That’s something I’ll carry with me for good. My closest friends today are the ones I went through it with.

How did you balance your work/school/home life during your degree? What were the biggest challenges?

Hard to talk about balance when half your MBA happens during a pandemic. The first half was intense in the best way: a new country, classmates from everywhere, campus life, constant activity. Looking back, it’s a lot to have packed into a few months. The second half tested you differently: lockdown, classes online, a frozen job market, and far fewer chances to build on the connections you were just starting to make. Looking back, there wasn’t much “balance.” You joined the rollercoaster, leaned in, and embraced uncertainty.

What are some of the biggest takeaways or skills you gained from the MBA experience?

Strong opinions, loosely held. The MBA will change your mind about plenty of things; that’s the point. You learn as much from your peers and the culture around you as from your professors.

What is your advice for those who are considering applying to the HEC Paris MBA program?

The application process is a self-reflection exercise: get to know what actually motivates you, not just what looks good on paper. If you take the essays seriously, you’ll find yourself coming back to those answers years later, especially when the program (and life after it) throws you off balance and you need to be reminded of how to move forward.

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