Ariel Zynger ’25

One of my biggest motivations for pursuing an MBA was to become a more well-rounded leader. I wanted to gain new perspectives and frameworks for approaching problems and managing people. But I came to SOM to grow personally as well. The school’s focus on business and on society encourages students to reflect on how we can make the world a happier and more fair place. For me, everything revolves around the people we love—family and friends. They’re the reason we work hard, and they’re the ones who bring happiness into our lives. Making the world a better place for them and for future generations is what drives me.

I didn’t have much formal education in business areas like marketing, human resources, or technology. SOM’s core curriculum has really broadened my perspective. I have a much better understanding of how different stakeholders think and what their individual goals are. I feel like I’ve started speaking multiple languages in the corporate world. Outside SOM, I’m currently taking a computer science class at Yale College. Tech literacy is a necessity in almost any role today, and its importance is only expanding. The class has given me foundational knowledge in computer science and programming, and I feel like a new world has been opened in my mind.

I’ve been able to expand both my professional and my personal networks during my MBA. Having lived, studied, and worked solely in Brazil, my connections were mostly local. At SOM, I’ve met people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. The collaboration among students impresses me the most. Their questions in class are thoughtful and add value to the group’s learning.

I’m also part of the leadership team for the Jewish Student Association, which has helped me connect with other Jewish students and maintain the religious and cultural traditions I grew up with. And I’ve found a similar sense of belonging in the Association of Hispanic and Latin American Students, where I get to interact with Latinx colleagues from various countries. These are relationships that I plan to keep cultivating as we all move into our careers.