Eduardo (Lalo) Gutierrez Pereyra, Manchester AMBS MBA Class of 2027
Age: 30 years old
Hometown: Toluca, Mexico
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Campus Toluca
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Senior Product Manager, Fintech, Kueski, 4 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I wanted to grow my networking with people from different countries and industries, as well as explore the UK market. Now was the perfect moment to go through this experience because I want to grow my career and take on more strategic roles and, at the same time, earn experiences from areas I hadn’t explored before, such as finance and consulting.
Why did you choose Manchester AMBS? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Working on consulting with organisations from the start of the program was key for me. I knew I wanted a very hands-on program and the Manchester method reflected it perfectly. On the other hand, the Return On Investment for the program was very attractive.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2027?
My past experiences and background. I’m part of the LGBT community, studied accounting, but work in technology and have experience growing teams and business units by 5x. I have unique experiences and I’m always open to share them and get to know others’ perspectives.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I have hiked 4 out of 5 of Mexico’s highest mountains.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I shared my essays with current and former managers, as well as people I’ve worked with in the past to get their feedback and ask if they thought I should add something. It was really rewarding to remember experiences and get to know myself through someone else’s eyes.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would have spent more time trying to get to know alumni and current students and here more about Manchester and their daily lives, rather than just talk about the program. I focused too much on academic life, rather than consider what was outside as well.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The anxiety of waiting for a response was definitely the least fun part. I spent a lot of (extra) time with friends, family and on my hobbies to avoid overthinking if I could have done something differently.
What is your initial impression of the Manchester AMBS students/culture/community?
I was very impressed with how close the community is! Everyone is always open for networking and the culture is based on getting to know each other, rather than competing.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I’m a member of the student council and I have joined several Consulting and Venture Capital competitions.
What is one thing you have learned about Manchester AMBS that has surprised you?
I was surprised of how involved AMBS is with its community. From working with social enterprises to startups and large corporations in Manchester, I’ve loved getting to know Manchester through and with the university.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Getting to work on consulting projects with real life clients from widely different backgrounds has been really exciting. I never considered consulting as a possible career path and I’m very excited to continue exploring it.
