About
Name: Karina Martin
Nationality: Mexican
Programme: MBA 2022
Education: IPADE Business School Diploma, Introduction to Business Management for Women
Current role: Business Development Consultant, Grupo Inmobiliario Azteka, Mexico
Pre-MBA role: Plant Controller, Grupo Inmobiliario Azteka, Mexico
Why did you decide to pursue an MBA in the UK?
I was working for the family business with the external shareholders, developing the strategy for a real estate development business unit. I wanted to do an MBA ever since I was in my undergraduate years. But I realised that for me to go to a master’s degree and to get the best of it, I needed to work in the industry first. I wanted to come to the UK because I’ve studied in the US before, and I wanted a different experience. And also, because the UK offers a one-year programme.
What aspects of the MBA programme stood out to you the most?
When I realised how the programme was, a very hands on programme with the Cambridge Venture Project and the GCP, the Global Consulting Project, I wanted to have a very hands on experience. I realised that this programme has 2 consulting projects and also the opportunity to do an internship. It was clear there was no better place for me.
How would you describe your year on the MBA programme?
I can tell you 3 aspects about my year. It has been intense, it has been challenging, and it has been amazing. It has been intense because the workload along with the social events, along with career events, along with my own interests, along with everything that this city offers, it has been challenging because of all of these reasons, but also because I want to progress in my career.
And it has been amazing because of the people that I’ve met here. I learnt a lot about myself from that term as well, because I worked on things that I thought I was never going to work on, like risk management. And then the GCP came and it was something about the industry that I liked and opened my eyes in terms of ESG, and the fact my project was for Formula 1. It was amazing to think about an industry and especially that part of sports, Formula 1.
How does the MBA programme address ESG consciousness?
Overall, this programme offers a lot of ESG consciousness. Honestly, if we want to become future leaders, global leaders, we have to have that in mind. This programme has done really well at expanding on that and putting the different aspects for us to be the real leaders that we want to be.
What are your future plans after completing the MBA?
I just decided to go back and work within the industry to learn one aspect that I’m still missing, to later on start my own business, which has always been the idea, the idea that I came for. My biggest surprise has been my personal development.
What has been your biggest surprise during the MBA programme?
Just to be among or just to be part of these great leaders and amazing people has just made me work more on myself and work more towards the best version of myself. That’s been the biggest surprise for me.