Moving into Sustainable Finance Leadership for Latin America
How Camila is connecting Business, Sustainability, and Social Inclusion through her MBA at Michigan Ross.
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Before MBA Protocol
I was a Senior Associate in Finance, Procurement, and Administration at the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) across three countries (Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru). GGGI is an intergovernmental organization working in the international development sector that supports its member countries in reaching inclusive and green growth.
Since university, I have envisioned my professional path connecting Business, Sustainability, and Social Inclusion. While my role at GGGI confirmed I was in the right industry, I kept wondering after several years: “How can sustainable solutions be more financially viable?” This question inspired me to pivot toward sustainable finance. I don’t want to become a narrowly specialized expert in the field, but I do want to dig deeper, expand my financial knowledge, and develop the skills needed to lead in this space.
Why MBA, why now
My long-term vision remains to become a leader in sustainable finance. To achieve this, I recognized my priority is to strengthen both my financial and leadership skills. Building these skills would not only establish a strong foundation for a career in sustainable finance but also broaden my employability and provide me with transferable skills across various industries.
I explored various master’s degrees and pathways for making this career change. I chose an MBA because it offered three essential elements for transitioning into sustainable finance: first, the option to take specialized finance courses and the ability to tailor my studies; second, a strong sustainability focus integrated throughout the curriculum in specific schools; and third, opportunities to develop leadership, team management, and networking skills.
My post-MBA plan is to pursue traditional finance roles to gain the foundational experience I need. The MBA Protocol content was critical in helping me transform my future ambitions into a concrete career game plan with clear steps, actions, and transitions.
Why MBA Protocol
After considering several options, a friend recommended MBA Protocol. As soon as I started looking at the website, I loved it. It felt like a place where I could be authentic, wasn’t expected to have an exceptionally high GMAT score, and would receive support to dig deep into my objectives, goals, and career plan.
The work we did together
Everything changed with MBA Protocol. For starters, it broke down the entire application process into very manageable steps, transforming something overwhelming into a journey I felt confident about. It encouraged me to aim high while keeping expectations clear. It also helped me understand myself better, identify my strengths and success stories, and clarify my goals. Finally, it taught me to communicate what I’d learned about myself, which boosted my interview confidence and improved my storytelling skills.
MBA Protocol broke down the entire application process into very manageable steps, transforming something overwhelming into a journey I felt confident about.
The MBA Protocol Coach Advantage
I felt fully supported by Heather. With her, I felt safe being authentic and making mistakes, knowing she would always provide insightful, constructive feedback. Working with Heather was like having both a personal cheerleader and a wise coach by my side—someone who truly wanted me to succeed and offered the specific advice I needed to get there.
She guided me through every step with wisdom, patience, and genuine care.
MBA Admission Results
Work with MBA Protocol. They will help you reflect on your story and bring out your best self. You’ll gain clarity on your career gameplan and define the specific steps needed to get there.
Advice to other pivoters
I achieved a test score that, while not outstanding, was good enough to apply to the MBA programs I wanted. MBA Protocol helped me assess how much effort I wanted to invest in improving my score. I realized that, given my time constraints and goals, it was okay not to focus extensively on the test, and I felt confident moving forward.
I applied to three MBA programs, was interviewed by two, admitted to one, and waitlisted at the other. I intentionally applied to only a few schools because I was drawn to their strong focus on sustainability. I knew it was risky not to apply to more, so I was thrilled to receive two interview invitations and overjoyed with my first acceptance.
Camila’s Success Statistics
- Admits: Michigan Ross
- Pre-MBA: Senior Associate in Finance, Procurement, and Administration at the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)
- Post-MBA goal: Leadership in Sustainable Finance
- Test: GRE