From Mexico, and back
I grew up in Mexico and at the age of 18 left to go to the University of Houston. Almost directly after that I got my MBA at the University of Chicago. While a student in Chicago, I was recruited by McKinsey’s Mexico Office, which is now part of the Latin American Complex. I was 22 when I joined the firm (that was 16 years ago) so I didn’t exactly know what my long-term goals were yet. But McKinsey turned out to be a good fit!
An array of experience
My first few years I did everything: consumer goods, petroleum, petrochemicals, social sector work with the ministry of finance and the ministry of tourism for Cozumel and the Southern Yucatan. Then I specialized in electricity, helping the government expand electrical generation capacity with private capital and planning for the potential privatization of the sector.
Opportunities started opening up with both local and multinational consumer and retail companies, so I shifted to that space, where I have now focused for the last 10 years. I was in Mexico and Latin America for 14 years or so, and have been back in the U.S. for a little more than 2 years now.
Real meritocracy
I consider myself incredibly lucky to have been recruited by McKinsey. I have never seen another institution that defines meritocracy like the firm does and then executes it so well. It doesn’t matter what your background is; it’s the individual skills you bring as well as your ability to influence and connect with your team and clients – that’s what counts. And the firm is unequalled professionally for someone just out of school in terms of the diversity of work, opportunities, and individuals that you end up working with.
Free time
I love traveling with my 9-year-old son and my wife; we might do some oddball travel thing or something as simple as driving around Central America or around the Yucatan. I also run marathons on a yearly basis.
Offices
Education
| University of Chicago - Booth School of Business |
MBA |
| University of Houston System |
BS, Hotel & Restaurant Administration |