Alexa Ceballos

Emory University, Goizueta Business School

 “I am a high energy, determined woman with a passion for business and science.”

Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am a black belt in Japanese traditional karate.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Miami, BS in Chemistry

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Janssen Pharmaceuticals – Cardiovascular Specialty Representative

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Winning President’s Circle (top 10% of sales growth in the nation) twice in my first three years in the pharmaceutical industry!

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Everyone I’ve met is incredibly PASSIONATE about different things, which makes me excited to start school with a diverse group, each an expert in their own way.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The nurturing environment at Emory is what let me to this program. From heavily involved and helpful admissions counselors, to the beautiful campus and small class sizes, I felt welcomed throughout the whole application process.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am very excited to participate in intermural sports and the Hispanic Business Association.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I want to pivot from sales into a more strategic marketing role. I also want to learn to harness my passion for leadership to be more impactful in the business world.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I studied the opportunities that are created with a masters degree in the work force, and realized the time difference between having a degree or not in accessing that potential.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? NYU, UCLA, USC, UC Berkeley and University of Michigan

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I looked for schools that had concentrations and classes in fields I wanted to explore, along with being in cities that I felt had great exposure to large companies and growing economies. The employment profile was a great resource in making my decision, because I wanted to find a school that had individuals pursuing a similar direction to mine. I was also interested in a program that had a student population with a diverse industry background and not hyper focused on one specialization. I reached out to students from each of the schools to hear about their experiences and what sort of activities they took advantage of on campus to get a feel for each student culture.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment was deciding to step away from pursuing my PhD in Chemistry and going into the pharmaceutical industry. This changed my perspective on life to be more holistic, and include factors such as income potential, work-life balance, and culture within an industry in making a decision, instead of simply following a passion. It shaped my choices and helped me create a career that includes my love for science as well as the type of life I want to live.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? My plan is to return to industry with the lessons from my MBA and become a strategic partner in a healthcare or science corporation. I am looking to continue my career in an impactful industry, specifically in a large company.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself living in a different city, potentially in a different country, gaining as much experience as possible to build a long lasting career in my field. I am hoping to begin to start a family at that time as well.