Lucia Madero Murillo

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

“Puzzle-junkie who believes that stubbornness and perseverance are two sides of the same coin.”

Hometown: Monterrey, Mexico

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m a speed reader!

Undergraduate School and Major: Boston College, Double major in English and Political Science.

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Liz Gately Scouting, International Consultant

What has been your favorite part of the Twin Cities so far? What has made it such a great place to earn an MBA? The Twin Cities have been an extremely welcoming place in every sense of the word. I’ve been exploring the area since July, having never stepped foot in Minnesota before, and have found that it is full of adventures (and Fortune 500 companies!). From the gorgeous lakes to the extensive volunteer and networking opportunities—not to mention the seemingly endless list of breweries to explore—there’s so much to do here. I’ve been lucky enough to meet extraordinary colleagues in the MBA program, while also being a part of organizations like TEDx Minneapolis and the Phillips Neighborhood Clinic. My favorite part of the experience so far has been finding places and people that make the Twin Cities feel like home.

Carlson MBA spend a year in hands-on Enterprise programs for Consulting, Branding, Ventures, and Funds. Which program do you intend to enroll in? What excites most about your Enterprise program? I knew I wanted to join the Ventures Enterprise the moment I applied to the Carlson School. The design thinking, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit required for this program are extremely appealing. I’m excited to collaborate with a diverse, hard-working group of classmates and look forward to tackling some projects together!

Aside from your classmates, experiential learning, and location, what was the key part of the Carlson MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The administrators and students at the Carlson School discussed developing business leaders for a better business world, people who have big goals but are also committed to social impact and sustainability. It has an international requirement, with enrichment trips to Sweden, Morocco, and Ghana, among others. It also offers dedicated specializations in Corporate Innovation. In the process, the Carlson School focuses on making sure its students are exposed to a variety of perspectives. As an international myself, I was looking for a program that valued entrepreneurship and pushed its students to consider today’s problems from a socially conscientious standpoint as much as a business one.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Carlson? The aspect of the Carlson School I’ve enjoyed most has been the community. I knew while applying that I wanted a place where I could get to know my class and not just feel like I was going to class. Our MBA group is small but tight knit. I enjoy going to events and being able to say hello to everyone, to bond over core courses and similar challenges. I would not be where I am without the constant support of my peers and am excited about the opportunity to welcome new first years to the Carlson School community come 2022.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Although most of my career has been in the publishing and entertainment industry, I’ve also worked with nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation since high school. Last year, I was invited to be a founding member of BASIC’s Emerging Voices Network, as a part of the disarmament group. We were tasked with developing a set of policy recommendations that would later be presented to members of the UNODA at the Next Generation Forum 2021. Three months of meetings, brainstorm sessions, and many drafts later, my group was able to produce a paper examining the differences between the NPT and the TPNW, and how NATO’s non-nuclear weapon states can mitigate concerns and bridge the gap between TPNW signatories and nuclear allies. The paper was published by the British American Security Information Council as part of the EVN collection, and I hope to continue working with disarmament affairs in the future.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: When I got to Minneapolis, I heard about the Phillips Neighborhood Clinic and their need for Spanish interpreters. Since Spanish is my first language and I’ve worked with translation previously, I wanted to volunteer. However, they hadn’t had an MBA student at the clinic before and weren’t sure what kind of time commitment and coaching I would need. After going through HIPAA training and speaking with school administrators for several weeks about what it would look like, I was able to get approval to join as the only MBA student at the clinic. Since then, I’ve been on several shifts and have enjoyed working and getting to know students in the medical, pharmaceutical, nursing, and public health programs, among others.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into the Carlson MBA program? Give yourself enough time on the application. It can be daunting, but everyone comes to the Carlson School with different skill sets and backgrounds. Don’t undervalue yours. Think of the application as a chance to highlight your passions and what you can give back, but also what you want to get out of your time here. The admissions team does an incredible job hosting webinars and providing opportunities to connect with current students. Take advantage of these, as they can really help give you a sense of the community and resources within the program.