Brenda Garcilita Romero MBA

The course

Why did you choose to study at the University of Edinburgh Business School (UEBS)?

I had been to Edinburgh as a tourist and found the city to be welcoming and magical. I knew I wanted to return.

I was looking for a one-year MBA programme at a globally recognised university. The University of Edinburgh Business School has an excellent reputation and the MBA is included in the most relevant worldwide rankings.

What was it about the degree programme that particularly attracted you?

I decided to pursue an MBA programme to boost my career. I knew it would allow me to improve and further develop my managerial and leadership skills.

Specifically, the MBA programme at the University of Edinburgh Business School offered a wide selection of business and strategy-related courses and gave me a comprehensive overview of how an organisation works. The key differentiator was that the programme included professional development, including providing tools and courses to improve the soft skills necessary in the business world.

Your career

Can you tell us about your career before and after graduating?

I worked at Baker McKenzie, a large international law firm, for 12 years providing consultancy services to multinational companies. I was based in Guadalajara, Mexico for most of that time. In 2017, I had the opportunity to join an international training programme and I transferred to the Chicago office.

That international experience allowed me to widen my network within the firm and work with larger clients. It gave me a broader view of how companies work and how intercompany transactions are set.

After that, I knew I wanted to expand my knowledge of businesses in order to better understand my client’s needs and to enhance my leadership skills to manage and direct a team when the time came.

When I started the MBA programme, my plan was to return to Mexico and continue developing my career within the law firm. However, the MBA expanded my horizons and opened doors in the UK that I had not considered before. I was ready for a new challenge and pivoted my career from consultancy to in-house work. Currently, I work at Morgan Stanley.

The MBA expanded my horizons and enabled me to pivot my career.

How did your degree prepare you for your career?

My cohort was very diverse and that provided me with a refreshing perspective on how businesses are conducted internationally. In my current role, I work with stakeholders located in different countries on a regular basis. My experience on the MBA enables me to do that more efficiently and with better results.

Masters of Change

What notable changes has your degree enabled you to make in your professional or personal life?

The MBA allowed me to pivot my career from consultancy to in-house. It has allowed me to expand my knowledge on policy setting and planning and specialise in financial services.

It also allowed me to relocate to Edinburgh permanently and I now have a work-life balance that I didn’t have before.

What are the changes you have been able to make in your chosen field, of which you are most proud?

The change I feel most proud of is my change in perspective regarding how sustainability impacts businesses. Before the MBA I did not have enough experience to understand the effects of sustainability, but now I am able to comprehend and analyse them.

How did your studies at the Business School help you to make those changes?

The Business School gave me the tools to improve my leadership and communication skills, and help me to be more prepared for new challenges. It helped me to push myself to step out of my comfort zone.

What key things that you learnt at the Business School do you still rely on today?

Emotional intelligence. It is still a skill that not many business schools or companies use but it can make a huge difference in team dynamics.

The negotiations class also provided me with relevant tools regarding communication, decision-making and conflict resolution.

Course highlights and advice

What are your best memories on the programme?

Collaborating with a whiskey company to improve their marketing efforts was a project to remember. I got to know more about the process of making whiskey, and was able to apply the learnings from the class to a real company.

For me though, the best part of the MBA was the friendships I made. The memories we have together both in class and outside are invaluable.

What one piece of advice would you give to current students?

Enjoy your MBA, the year goes by so fast. The first month might seem difficult but organise your time and prioritise tasks. Don't forget, your classmates are in the same boat as you, so don't be afraid to share your experiences.