After working in the Technology industry for four years, Hector Morales (USC Marshall, ‘22) decided to pursue an MBA to transition into a new career. After going through the application process Hector decided to attend USC Marshall. Now, as an MBA Student Ambassador, Hector speaks with numerous MBA applicants, and during this interview, shared his journey to Marshall, why he chose Marshall, and his advice to how MBA applicants can select the right MBA program.
Name: Hector Morales
Year: 2022
Hometown: Basalt, CO
Career Interests: Digital Transformation, Product Management, Operations, Consulting
MBASchooled: What did you do before business school, and why did you choose to apply?
Before business school I began my professional career at Cisco in their Durham/Raleigh office. I worked four years within the Customer Experience division; three years as an Operations Manager followed by one year as Services Manager. Throughout my different positions at Cisco, I advised some of our top clients on developing and implementing their IT strategy. I built deep relationships with our customer stakeholders and championed their business objectives and services requirements into Product Management and Service Delivery.
Although I loved my roles and coworkers, I did not feel prepared to take a business management position. That is when I began evaluating different possibilities to enhance my career and management skills. An MBA was at the top of my list of possibilities for numerous reasons. An MBA would give me the opportunity to simultaneously find new interests, explore different careers and industries, and develop my leadership skills.
MBASchooled: When did you find out when you got admitted? How did you navigate your decision process if you were evaluating multiple schools? (You don’t need to mention the schools, just how you were able to ultimately decide on Marshall)
I applied to business schools through The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management and found out in the spring that I had been awarded the fellowship and acceptance into several business schools. At that point I had three main criteria when evaluating business schools: location, leadership development, and post-MBA opportunities.
I wanted to be in a location where I had the opportunity to network locally with various companies and Los Angeles, being a large international city, provided that opportunity. Even if major companies aren’t headquartered in Los Angeles, many have a local campus, office, or employee that I can visit and talk to. Additionally, the growth of Silicone Beach is bringing many companies and startups to the area. Moreover, Marshall offers numerous unique leadership development opportunities including the Marshall Leadership Fellows Program and the PRIME Module. Finally, the reputation of the Marshall MBA and strength of the Trojan alumni network are highly respected and valuable resources when pursuing internship and full-time opportunities.
MBASchooled: What were the most important questions you asked in order to help make your admissions decision?
- “What diversity initiatives is Marshall undertaking?”
Diversity of thought, backgrounds, and race are important to me. Therefore, I had to ensure that the business I attended made diversity a top priority. Not only was Marshall the first major MBA program to reach gender parity, but it also continues to place a great deal of emphasis on growing the number of students from underrepresented backgrounds. As a current Consortium fellow, I feel supported by Marshall and this year we saw our Consortium family grow. Marshall believes that diversity is what makes us strong and what helps our Trojan Family continue to thrive.
- “How will the MBA program help me grow as a leader?”
One of the reasons I came to business school was because I wanted to accelerate my development as a leader. I was impressed by the leadership development opportunities at Marshall through programs like the Marshall Leadership Fellows Program (MLFP). MLFP is a leadership program that gives MBA students the opportunity to develop leadership skills through classroom and experiential learning. MLFP students apply their learnings by coaching first-year core teams. It is a unique opportunity that I felt I could only get at Marshall.
- “How collaborative are the students?”
From the first day I have seen how the Trojan family is made up of people who want me to succeed and are willing to support me. At USC Marshall we understand that a “rising tide lifts all boats,” so we enthusiastically celebrate each other’s successes . Navigating school through a pandemic has been difficult but it has brought us together as a community.
MBASchooled: What sources of information (ex: people, resources, websites, students) did you evaluate when making your admissions decision?
Although I frequented the schools’ websites and blogs (like MBASchooled), the most crucial information in making my final decision came from coffee chats with current students. Due to the COVID pandemic I was unable to visit schools and therefore the coffee chats were crucial. I was able to get an understanding of the school culture, academics, and professional opportunities even though I could not visit. Talking to first-year students as a prospective student was important because those were the students I was going to be learning from and taking classes with. The students I talked to were impressive and I instantly felt welcome which confirmed that Marshall was the school for me.
MBASchooled: After spending a semester at Marshall, what’s something that you now know about Marshall that you wish you knew when you applied?
One thing that I wish I could have known before coming to Marshall is that being a first-year MBA student requires an excellent use of your time and prioritization skills. There were points in the semester where I felt overwhelmed and forgot to spend time on my self-care. USC has a club called Mindful Marshall that promotes a culture of mindfulness and compassion through free workshops, classes, and practice groups. I wish I would have known about it before I applied and used it throughout my first semester.
MBASchooled: Who did you talk to that was most helpful in learning information to help you make a decision? What questions did you ask?
Coffee chats with current students and alumni were the most helpful in making my decision, especially with students from underrepresented backgrounds. As a Latino, I wanted to ensure that the school I attended not only believed in equity and inclusion, but also had initiatives to promote that belief.
Questions I asked were based around collaboration within the student body, leadership and career opportunities, and living in LA. As someone who has never lived in a large city, moving to the second largest U.S. city was intimidating. Consequently, some of my questions were based around rent prices, security around campus, and commute times. Students were great with providing housing recommendations and other accommodations that made the transition to Marshall much easier.
MBASchooled: What is something that admitted MBA students should know about Marshall?
First, admitted MBA students should understand that although rankings are important, they shouldn’t be the primary factor in their decision. They are investing two years in the MBA experience; therefore, it’s important to find the school that is the best cultural fit for them. The school where they feel they can bring their authentic self and thrive. The MBA academics are going to be challenging enough as it is, and the culture shouldn’t add more stress. The small, tight-knit Marshall community has allowed me and the other students to feel at home and emphasize having a great experience outside the classroom just as much as inside of it.
Students tend to underestimate how location of the school will influence professional opportunities and their daily routine. Being in LA, students have numerous opportunities to network with local professionals across all industries and create relationships that can lead to future opportunities. Additionally, LA is filled with so many cultural opportunities that can enrich and enhance the MBA experience.
MBASchooled: Obviously, it’s a little more challenging to find out what a school or program is like as a result of COVID-19. What advice do you have, or what specific actions would you recommend admitted students take, to really get to know a school before selecting a school?
I am a strong believer that in order to really get to know an MBA school you have to talk to current students whether that is virtually or in-person. The students are the ones who are living and breathing the experience every day and can best talk to the strengths and weaknesses of a program. Moreover, the more current students an admitted student is able to talk to, the more perspectives and experiences they will be able to hear.
This year due to COVID-19 I also advise prospective students to also talk to second year students because they were able to have some in-person experience before the pandemic. They will be able to better talk about what a day in the physical classroom is like since the first years have only had virtual classes this year. Another piece of advice that I give admitted students is to talk to people who have lived in the area to understand what the dynamics are between the school and the community. Since they are going to be a part of that community for two years it is important to understand how the surrounding area impacts the daily life at the school.
MBASchooled: As an MBA Ambassador, what are some of the most common questions that you get from prospective students? What are some questions you wish more prospective students would ask?
Some of the most common questions I get as a Marshall Ambassador are regarding career opportunities for their field of interest, information about specific student organizations (events, interview prep, etc.), and career center support.
Questions I wish students would ask more would be around living in Los Angeles, what specific leadership opportunities are available at Marshall, and the community engagement at Marshall.
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for admitted students on how they can make the best decision?
At the end of the day, students should be choosing the schools and programs where they feel the best fit. They are going to be dedicating two years to the program and creating lifelong relationships with their classmates and the school . For example, at USC Marshall MBA students have lifetime access to our career services.
Therefore, understanding the program, their beliefs, their opportunities (inside and outside the classroom), and their track record is going to be crucial. Although you can read about the schools through forums and on their website, the single most important resources are going to be the people. I strongly recommend that students spend time talking to current students, alumni, and even the professors. Doing their due diligence is going to be the first and most crucial step to determining the best fit.
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