2022 Best & Brightest Business Major: Christopher Sanchez
Christopher Sanchez
Emory University
Goizueta Business School
Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I love coquito, pernil, and excel shortcuts. Resilient, Optimistic, and Passionate. #1 UConn basketball fan
Hometown: Bridgeport, CT
Fun Fact About Yourself: During my last semester of undergrad, I decided to try something new; I tried out for and made the rowing team at the University of Connecticut. The most incredible and intense experience!
Undergraduate School and Major: University of Connecticut, BS in Accounting, Certificate in Management of Information Systems
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Barclays Capital, Assistant Vice President
Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the school’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?
I was particularly interested in the opportunity to participate in IMPACT360, Goizueta’s semester-long consulting project, as well as to explore the opportunities available through Goizueta’s Social Enterprise Center. I really wanted to make sure I had as much hands-on learning experience as possible during my MBA and Emory offered me just that.
What excites you most about getting your MBA at Goizueta? What makes you most nervous?
I am excited to travel with my classmates (post-COVID) and for the opportunity to take on leadership roles in a smaller, dynamic setting. I am also eager to learn from established professionals in different fields and from diverse backgrounds, both in the form of classmates and faculty. Lastly, a part of my goals for business school is to learn about and invest in communities, specifically those with people of color, and I believe Emory will allow me to do so through some of their offerings such as the Start: ME Accelerator. I am nervous about the core semester, as I have been told it is extremely intense with classes Monday through Friday, but I am looking forward to the challenge.
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:
My role at Barclays was focused on improving and implementing technology and processes for internal teams. During one specific project, I worked with finance, tax, and technology teams to capture the requirements to support a new set of technology capabilities and reporting tools to ensure compliance with newly passed tax regulations. Given that this was the first time this had ever been done, I enjoyed the challenge of helping the firm solve never-before-seen problems and designing technology that
successfully provided the desired results. I became a subject matter expert across a variety of topics related to this new regulation and trained more than 20 teams internally on how to use and review the technology, calculations, process, and roles and responsibilities. The work I did will continue to support Barclays’ compliance and tax capabilities moving forward, and the process we implemented will result in controls, automation, and tax savings.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career?
I want to apply the skills I’ve learned over the years to have a greater impact on society, and an MBA program would serve as the perfect environment to elevate my abilities while exploring career opportunities related to social impact.
What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process?
One interview prompt that I often struggled with answering was “Tell me about a time when you had to use a large amount of data to solve a problem.” Because my role was technology focused, I found it difficult to explain the situation, impact, and end results of my work without giving too much technical background to the interviewer. I would highly encourage applicants to practice with people who are not familiar with your role or experience to ensure you can effectively communicate the story and skills you intend to highlight to an interviewer.
How did you determine your fit at various schools?
Visiting campuses, attending diversity and recruiting events, and having conversations with current students, prospective students, and alumni helped me determine which school would be best for me. The strongest determining factor was the campus visit, where I was able to attend a class and a social event. It helped me determine whether I could see myself there with the student body and if I could reach my greatest potential and be my purest self.
What was your defining moment and how did it prepare you for business school?
I remember working on an extremely complex tax problem and calculation at Barclays and realizing that over the course of this assignment, I had developed into the leader and subject matter expert in this area. Realizing and knowing that internal senior stakeholders at this global Fortune 500 company were relying on me and trusting me with something so important really spoke to me. In that moment, I knew I was capable of understanding and tackling large problems, navigating ambiguity, and delivering results when asked to. Business school will now help me take these skills and experiences to that next level.
What is the most important attribute that you are seeking in an MBA employer – and why is that important?
At this point in my career, I want to work in an environment where I feel empowered to ask for what I need, take on a new role, take risks, be a leader, and to be given the tools and feedback to improve. I am also seeking an employer that encourages and provides opportunities for volunteer work. As a first generation Latinx, I know how important community engagement and mentoring is, and I want to continue to give back throughout my career.
Interested in exploring Full-Time MBA opportunities? Learn more about Goizueta’s Full-Time MBA program.
