Luisa Maria Horwitz: Building bridges between public and private sector

What led you to take the Cambridge MBA?

After many years working in public policy and Latin American public-private sector relations, I wanted to transition to the private sector and needed a catalyst to propel my career forward. As a young specialist in Latin American public policy and government affairs, I realised that a transition into the private sector’s world of public affairs would be stronger if I added new tools to my belt with an MBA, not only to gain management skills but also to learn from world-class faculty and a wide variety of peers hailing from all sorts of backgrounds and work experiences. 

Cambridge Judge was the missing piece with which I was able to complete my MBA search puzzle. It was the Business School and programme that matched up all my considerations, and where I felt I fit best. Starting off with Cambridge’s profound history and prestige, coupled with the MBA’s forward-thinking spirit, I found exactly what I was looking for. 

Describe the biggest accomplishment in your career so far?

During my time at Americas Society/Council of the Americas in New York City, a business organisation gathering Latin America’s public and private sector, I organised meetings with the highest level of government across the region, including the presidents of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Suriname and Uruguay. 

I also travelled to several of these countries to carry out investment conferences and private meetings between heads of state and cabinet ministers and business leaders from diverse industries. 

How do you feel about being awarded your scholarship?

I am deeply honoured and humbled to be the recipient of the Professional Diversity Scholarship, as well as the Forté Fellowship award. Not only were these awards significant in helping me attend the MBA programme, but they also make me proud to represent students of non-traditional backgrounds within my class and for women in business school generally. 

As an undergraduate in politics and journalism with experience in public policy and government relations, these recognitions position me as an ambassador to any future students who are considering an MBA but are unsure whether their profiles and experiences merit a place at such a prestigious programme institution like Cambridge Judge Business School. 

Additionally, as a Forté Fellow, I hope to use opportunities during my programme and beyond to make connections with talented individuals within the network and beyond and carry forward the Foundation’s mission to champion women’s progression in business through access to education, paying forward the opportunity I have received. 

What do you want to get out of the MBA most of all in the next year?

What I want to get out of my MBA most of all is a challenge. Beyond accessing a network of aspiring individuals and world shapers, I want to learn from different perspectives and be challenged to push my boundaries: academic, professional, and personal. 

I was looking for an enriching experience in my MBA, and an enriching experience to me means venturing outside my comfort zone, learning new perspectives on ways to solve problems, and coming out on the other side empowered by the challenge overcome. 

Where do you see your MBA journey taking you in your future career?

I see my MBA taking me to being an empowered leader, leading by example and in turn empowering others. I see my MBA journey opening doors to new opportunities and challenges, and I will have the tools to face them with curiosity and might. 

I hope to play an important role in public or government affairs in a company that makes a real impact in the world, be it a technology or energy company, not only providing real solutions to real world problems, but also to build bridges and valuable relationships between public and private sectors to empower such solutions, embracing challenges as opportunities to gain strength, learn, and grow. 

What does Cambridge mean to you?

To me, Cambridge means prestige, challenge, and opportunity. Prestige because of the world-class community of students and faculty it attracts, challenge because the community’s brilliant minds across disciplines intimidate one to feel pressure and surely some competition, and opportunity because there are endless possibilities at Cambridge, if you care to look for them. 

Something that few people may know about you…

I come from a family of golfers and was once a competitive golf player but gave it up because of the lack of women and community I felt in the sport. 

Now, I regret not being my own champion and encouraging more girls to play to create my own community. I still play for pleasure occasionally though!