I’ve seen the power that design, and architecture in particular, has on communities—for better and for worse. I’ve seen the difference Habitat for Humanity makes for families, and the way that the affordable housing gap displaces underserved communities.
I’ve focused on creating spaces that enrich work and life, as well as society at large, but I discovered that my impact, as an architect, was limited. Developers and clients have more power when it comes to pursuing projects and final decisions. My goal is to create architecture that’s equitable and responsible, and to eventually lead a change in the affordable housing sector. But I first needed an MBA to supplement my skill set, especially in finance and business strategy.
Choosing Yale SOM was easy after I visited campus and reached out to alums and current students. Every person I met was not only high achieving but also extremely humble. The school’s mission of educating leaders for business and society really resonates. The entire community supports and contributes to the Internship Fund, a student-led organization that provides financial support to students interning in the public or nonprofit sector. Roughly 20% of our students receive funding!
I’ve taken several classes outside Yale SOM, and they’ve all had a big impact on me. Introduction to Planning and Development at the School of Architecture teamed architecture students with students from other programs—undergraduate, business, law—to tackle projects with a very interdisciplinary approach.
A seminar on Land Use at the School of the Environment let me interact with industry experts and professionals. And I was also lucky enough to get into a Yale College seminar taught by Ernesto Zedillo, Mexico’s former president. It was incredible, hearing him teach about the economic evolution of Latin American countries. His anecdotes and life experiences were fascinating, and he shared them in a very intimate setting of just 15 students.
