Meet the MBA Class of 2024: “Alex” Ramon Alejandro Gonzalez
“Alex” Ramon Alejandro Gonzalez
Emory University
Goizueta Business School
Describe yourself in 15 words or less: An adaptable, outgoing, and driven beach boy who welcomes any challenge as an opportunity for growth.
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Fun Fact About Yourself: I enjoy hiking and exploring the outdoors with my 1-year old puppy.
Undergraduate School and Major: University of California, Riverside – Economics and Marketing
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Amazon: Area Manager – Reverse Logistics and Dock Operations
What makes Atlanta such a great place to earn an MBA?
Pursuing an MBA in Atlanta is a unique opportunity as it offers students the chance to become a part of a dynamic and diverse workforce in a booming metropolis. The various groups of backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas that are clustered in the city allow students to feel inspired to pursue great feats as they can recognize aspects of themselves in the different leaders in the Atlanta community. Atlanta’s diversity and economic success can be seen in many areas. A few key areas of achievement for the city are that it currently ranks #2 in metros in black workforce population, #3 for most desirable cities for startup companies, and #4 amongst metros for corporate headquarters.
Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Goizueta Business School‘s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?
The low faculty-to-student ratio has allowed classrooms to become a place for discussion between students and educators. Goizueta has remained a leader in graduate education by adapting its curriculum to meet the evolving needs of students by implementing the feedback received from students. I am eager to contribute to discussions focused on the negative implications associated with strategies used in healthcare when pursuing economic incentives in Professor Steve Culler’s “The Business of Healthcare” class. Goizueta’s first-year core curriculum provides students with an opportunity to further develop their business fundamentals and problem-solving skills while also incorporating experiential learning opportunities domestically with its IMPACT 360 projects and internationally with its Global experiential module opportunities. The IMPACT 360 project interests me because it allows me the opportunity to apply the knowledge I’ve gained throughout my career and at Goizueta to contribute meaningful solutions that can be implemented by world-class organizations like the American Cancer Society or the Center of Disease Control and Prevention.
What course, club or activity excites you the most at Goizueta (and why)?
The Global Experience program interests me because the world is constantly being globalized and more connected every day. This would allow me to experience the world in a new way and learn new approaches that are used in different cultures to prepare me to be a competent business leader in the expanding global marketplace.
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:
Leadership is not only about driving people to reach goals but is also about developing individuals into becoming the best version of themselves. Leaders must understand not all team members grow at the same pace and to best support one’s team, it’s imperative for a leader to gain a deep understanding of each individual.
One of my proudest accomplishments occurred when I guided my successor in improving the quality of their performance during their probationary period. Failure to meet the company’s expectations during this time would have led to her termination. During her first few weeks, she demonstrated a shallow understanding of her responsibilities and struggled to complete deliverables on time.
Finding this performance unexpected, due to her years of experience in a similar role, I decided to investigate the root cause of her problems. I invited her to lunch during which I learned her previous experience came from the Philippines and that she was having difficulty adapting because the processes are so different. Her inexperience working with computers when the world was operating virtually also complicated her adjustment. To assist her, we met outside of work to discuss how to navigate the programs, databases, drives, and systems the company uses. In addition to these meetings, I hosted virtual training that focused on an overall knowledge transfer of fundamentals and best practices for the position. After being guided by me, she exemplified higher levels of confidence and understanding along with her improved performance quality. She has since been entrusted with managing higher-level responsibilities outside of her original role.
From this experience, I learned the importance of molding my mentorship style to match an individual’s needs so they may perform at their highest. Furthermore, this reminded me that leaders must always dive deep when seeking a solution to an issue.
What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to prospective MBAs? Why?
I would recommend the novel “The Four Agreements”. This is because it allows the reader the opportunity to pursue personal growth by gaining a true understanding of what brings them joy and what limits their joy in life. Having a deeper understanding of these concepts allows one to be more present, adaptable, and positive when encountering new obstacles.
What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Goizueta’s MBA program?
I would recommend that all potential applicants seek out a reliable and knowledgeable mentor for the application process that can support their goals by guiding the applicant through processes like cultivating a strong idea of their “why?” purpose for pursuing their MBA, engaging in formal preparation for the GMAT, and connecting with representatives of Goizueta.
Interested in exploring Full-Time MBA opportunities? Learn more about Goizueta’s Full-Time MBA program.
