Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15 – October 15, is a national celebration of the accomplishments and cultural history of Hispanic and Latinx individuals and organizations in the United States. At Texas McCombs, our students are a constant reminder of the positive impact that diverse backgrounds and perspectives bring to our communities. We are proud to highlight some of our Latin American & Hispanic MBA Association (LAHMBA) students’ stories, their “Why McCombs?” and LAHMBA initiatives this year.
Brenda Garcia, Texas McCombs Class of 2021
Brenda Garcia
Full-Time MBA Class of 2021 and LAHMBA Co-President
“I wanted to invest my time in a young organization where I could leave my mark. ” – Brenda Garcia, Co-President of LAHMBA
Tell us about your experience as a Latinx/Hispanic MBA student. What inspired you to get your MBA now and why McCombs?
I am a non-traditional candidate coming from the non-profit/education reform space. I reached a point where there were minimal upwardly mobile opportunities for me within that sector in Texas. Growing up in a low-income, Latinx household, I knew an MBA would provide access to senior-level positions in the private sector that would be transformational for my career and worth the upfront investment.
I chose McCombs because I’ve lived in Austin since 2015 and have laid my roots here. My fiancé and I purchased our first home in this city, and we see ourselves settling down here for the long term. The University of Texas has strong relationships with Austin’s tech community, and given the rapid expansion of that sector in the city, I knew the McCombs MBA program would be a good fit for me.
What inspired you to join LAHMBA and to take on a leadership position as Co-President?
I was inspired by the previous LAHMBA board, who put in the time and effort to institutionalize a Latinx community at McCombs. Like them, I wanted to invest my time in a young organization where I could leave my mark. Aside from that, I love planning social programs! In every city I’ve lived in, I’ve gotten involved with the Georgetown University alumni clubs (where I went to undergrad), and I really value the friendships that have formed from my involvement.
What are some fun or key events people considering joining LAHMBA should look out for? Are you planning anything for Hispanic Heritage Month specifically?
Yes – we have several events and initiatives for Hispanic Heritage Month! We are hosting a virtual “Being Latino” storytelling series in collaboration with our Graduate Business Council on October 6th where LAHMBA members can present on family traditions, memories, or in general on what their Latino identity means to them. We are also planning a roundtable with a VP or C-level McCombs Latinx alum. Lastly, we are designing and selling a fútbol jersey in collaboration with the MBA Soccer Club. Any proceeds from the jerseys will go to a Latinx charity organization.
What do you think are the biggest or most pressing issue Latinx & Hispanic people are currently facing both inside and outside the business world?
I think the pandemic has really highlighted health inequity issues among low-income, U.S. minority communities.
Andres Villarreal, Texas McCombs Class of 2021
Andrés Villarreal
Full-Time MBA Class of 2021 and LAHMBA Co-President
“I was inspired by the international community at Texas McCombs. I truly believe that a diverse program benefits both domestic and international students.” – Andrés Villarreal, Co-President of LAHMBA
What inspired you to get your MBA now and why McCombs?
Before my MBA, I worked in Human Capital. A year prior to McCombs, I started at an HR Consulting firm where I discovered that my knowledge of Human Capital was centered on the business world. I wanted to learn more about operations, marketing, strategy, and finance to gain a data-driven thought process in business. I chose McCombs because of the amazing people in the program (faculty, students, program office staff), all that Austin has to offer as a growing city, and the alumni network, full of people willing to pay it forward for the future Longhorn generations.
What inspired you to join LAHMBA and to take on a leadership position as Co-President?
My vision for LAHMBA was to contribute so that, as a board, we can make way for future Latinx students and increase our involvement as an organization in the MBA program.
Sharing the co-presidency has been a great experience. We’ve found initiatives that encompass both Latinx and Hispanic communities by complementing each others’ strengths. As an organization, we made decisions to evolve and adapt to COVD-19 and still find ways to connect our members to a professional network, social events, and to our Latinx local community.
Adding to what Brenda has already mentioned, the fútbol jersey collaboration with the MBA Soccer Club was born with the initial idea to give back to local communities affected by COVID, and fútbol is an important component of the Latinx community. The jersey will be inspired by jerseys of different clubs and the proceeds will go to a local Latinx charity.
What do you think is the biggest or most pressing issue Latinx & Hispanic people are currently facing both inside and outside the business world?
Outside of the business world, COVID-19 has hit many Latin American countries, specifically low-income communities. There is a lot of misinformation and sadly, some people don’t grasp the severity of the virus. Socially in Latin America, we also have a long way to go in terms of gender equality. Inside the business world, we need more Latinx presence in leadership positions and work on closing the gender gap pay too.
Diana Lainez, Texas McCombs Class of 2021
Diana Lainez
Full-Time MBA Class of 2021 and LAHMBA VP of Finance
“I decided to come to McCombs specifically because of the authenticity and humility of the student culture.”
– Diana Lainez, VP of Finance of LAHMBA
What inspired you to get your MBA now and why McCombs?
Prior to coming to McCombs, I worked in procurement for a residential construction company. Although I enjoyed my job, I recognized that I needed to get an MBA to get technical business knowledge and expand my career opportunities. I felt a sense of urgency when reading Forbes magazine and realizing that the first Latina became CEO of a Fortune 500 company in 2017, and I became passionate about making the business world more diverse and inclusive.
I decided to come to McCombs specifically because of the authenticity and humility of the student culture. I wanted a place that felt like home so I could build a community for the next chapter of my life. Aside from LAHMBA, I have also found a sense of belonging through The Consortium and the MBA Soccer Club. Within The Consortium, we actively strive to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in business school and leadership in the workforce, so it is so rewarding to get to be a part of this. Then, being a Latina, fútbol (soccer), is in my soul.
Even though I am not the best player on the field, I have a lot of fun socializing with all of my teammates and at McCombs, we host the largest MBA soccer tournament in the nation!
Tell us about your role in LAHMBA. What inspired you to join and take on a leadership role within this organization?
I am currently the VP of Finance for LAHMBA, but my role is very collaborative with the organization as a whole in planning events for our members. At McCombs, students strive to leave the program better than they found it, so I was compelled to be a part of the LAHMBA board because I wanted to continue expanding the amazing work the previous class did. I also believe LAHMBA is a refuge for Latinx students and an amazing platform to share a piece of our culture with our classmates.
During Hispanic Heritage Month, we will be hosting a storytelling series to share our unique experiences and parts of our culture. I am super excited to hear all of the richness that comes from being Hispanic/Latinx. Later on in the fall, we will also have an amazing McCombs alum come to share their career path and experience. More to come on that!
What do you think is the biggest or most pressing issue Latinx & Hispanic people are currently facing both inside and outside the business world?
The number one issue for me is the current political climate towards immigrants. I have seen how this can impact my international peers, and this also exasperates immigrants from all income levels seeking safety and stability.
Miguel Trigueros, Texas McCombs Class of 2021
Miguel Trigueros Rivera
Full-Time MBA Class of 2021 and LAHMBA Co-VP of Events
“Another thing people sometimes do not know about LAHMBA is that it is an organization open to all MBA students — you do not have to be Latinx or Hispanic to join.” – Miguel Trigueros, Co-VP of Events.
What inspired you to get your MBA now and why McCombs?
My experience as a Latinx MBA student has been great. It was a very natural integration for me, culturally speaking. I have met amazing people from all around the world and love living in Austin. I think it is a thriving city with a great culture and a bright future ahead!
What inspired me to pursue an MBA degree was professional growth, the chance to meet new people and learn from them. I also wanted to try my skills in one of the most competitive countries in the world.
Tell us about your role in LAHMBA. What inspired you to join and take on a leadership role within this organization?
LAHMBA feels young and new but the truth is that it has existed for a long time, but has never been as active as it is now. The Latinx and Hispanic MBA students from the 2020 class did an amazing job bringing a new life to LAHMBA and igniting a new chapter.
My role in LAHMBA is Co-Vice President of Events, a role that I share with Mario Vázquez. We are in charge of the organization and monitoring of events targeted to all students in the MBA with the help of all LAHMBA board members. Of course, these events are related to Latinx and Hispanic culture. Another thing people sometimes do not know about LAHMBA is that it is an organization open to all MBA students — you do not have to be Latinx or Hispanic to join.
What kind of events do you organize and host for LAHMBA?
Last year, LAHMBA hosted amazing events in order to share the Latinx and Hispanic culture with our fellow students and partners. My favorite event was the Salsa class, but we also had an event for Día de Muertos, along with other Latinx organizations from UT Austin, where students could interact and know more about our culture and custom. Furthermore, the past board was able to bring the Uber Mexico VP to campus in order to expose students to Latinx business leaders. We plan to do something similar this year, too.
What do you think is the biggest or most pressing issue Latinx & Hispanic people are currently facing both inside and outside the business world?
I believe that the most pressing issues Latinx & Hispanic people face now depends on the country you analyze, but in general, I consider poverty and immigration as one of the most important issues at the moment. Additionally, racism is something that concerns our community, inside and outside the business world. LAHMBA supports respect and inclusion; we all have to work together to make the world a better place for everyone.
If you are interested in learning more about LAHMBA, you can check out their web page at https://www.texaslahmba.com and follow them on Instagram @TexasLAHMBA. Hook ’em!
