Alina Rosenthal

Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business

“I have an incredible ability to turn lemons into lemonade even when all odds are against me.”

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am classically trained in the violin and I started to play when I was three years old.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Maryland, B.S. International Business

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Senior Specialist Hilton Honors Lifecycle Marketing, Hilton

Prior to this role, I have held various roles at Hilton.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of the school’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I was attracted to Georgetown because of its unique global experience consulting project, a core feature of the MBA program at McDonough. I have always wanted to work in Latin America and the global experience project ensures that I can get valuable experience working in this region prior to graduation.

What excites you most about studying in Washington, DC? Washington, DC is a unique city where social good, politics, and economics all come together. I am excited to have that shine through my coursework and in my classmates’ interests.

What quality best describes your MBA classmates and why? I love how outgoing and genuine all my classmates have been so far. Everyone is eager to learn from one another and engage in healthy discussions and debates. I am excited to see my classmates bring that energy to the classroom!

What club or activity excites you most at this school? I am a proud first generation Mexican-American and my dream has always been to have a career that connects me to my roots and allows me to work in Latin America. As a Prospanica scholar, I am really looking forward to being an active and engaged member of the Latin American Business Association and connecting with my fellow Latinx classmates.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In 2019, my team was tasked with the goal of reaching 100 million Hilton Honors loyalty program members for Hilton’s 100th year anniversary. This was an extremely aggressive goal and I knew that in order to achieve it I would have to work efficiently and strategically to execute innovative marketing campaigns. Therefore, I launched three enrollment-focused sweepstakes, diligently optimized business-as-usual enrollment campaigns, and launched the first-ever Hilton Honors enrollment direct mail campaign. All this hard work, creativity, and teamwork resulted in achieving the 100 million member goal four months early.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I was introduced to the warmth and culture of the hospitality industry through an internship at Hilton the summer before my senior year of college. I completely fell in love with the industry, my job, and my coworkers. However, I knew I always wanted to go back to school to get an MBA. With the global pandemic’s significant impact on the hospitality industry, I identified fall 2020 as the perfect time for me to go back to school and arm myself to lead the resurgence of the travel industry in a new landscape.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I did not apply to any other MBA programs – Georgetown was my dream!

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? During the admissions process, I found the video essay prompt – a one minute introduction to my fellow classmates – to be the most challenging. I had so much I wanted to share with my classmates and one minute felt so short!

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I knew I wanted to stay in the Washington, DC, area. Therefore, I used Poets & Quants to do research on which schools in the area would be the best fit for me. I looked at rankings, culture, and which companies recruit for marketing at each school. Once I narrowed down my school choices, I contacted alumni of all the MBA programs I was interested in so I could hear first-hand about each program. At the end of the day, my conversations with Georgetown alumni were the key indicator to me that Georgetown would be my best fit.

What have you been doing to prepare yourself for business school? I have been connecting with McDonough alumni to get their recommendation and advice prior to classes starting. I am asking each alumnus I connect with what that they wish they had known prior to starting business school. This exercise has helped me prepare for the next two years, opened my eyes on what to prioritize during my MBA experience, and has made me even more eager for school to start.

Additionally, I am trying my best to take the time to relax and connect with family and friends before the craziness of the first year of business school begins.

What was your defining moment and how did it prepare you for business school? A defining moment for me was my rejection from the Elite Orchestra my freshman year of high school. It forced me to learn patience, relent to my teacher’s suggestions of violin technique, and develop a new practice routine. Although it was difficult, a year later I made the Elite Orchestra. This experience taught me that with an open mind, discipline, and hard work, I can achieve anything I set my mind too. I have continued to apply this mindset throughout college and my professional career and have subsequently continued successfully achieving my goals. I am excited to apply this mentality to my MBA and see what else I can achieve!

DON’T MISS: MEET GEORGETOWN McDONOUGH’S MBA CLASS OF 2022