Rodolfo Gonzalez

Full-Time MBA student in the Beedie School of Business

My name is Rodolfo and I’m an MBA candidate at Beedie School of Business. I have an academic background in economics and working experience in the Financial Services and Fitness & Wellness industries. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to manage, collaborate, and learn from diverse and very talented teams in the Latin American region. I enjoy working on new challenges and developing practical solutions to improve business outcomes and working environments. I love playing football, spending time with my friends and family, and having barbecues!

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO COME TO SFU?

Since the beginning of the admission process, I really liked how personal and transparent Beedie’s staff were. SFU has the experience and resources to support international students and that was an important factor in my final decision. Additionally, I chose SFU because of how they prioritize the diversity of the students’ cohorts. I found it truly valuable how many different backgrounds and nationalities make up the classes as this enriches conversations by having different insights and perspectives. Moreover, the program has a good number of practical applications and simulations that enable students to put into practice decision-making tools while facing real-world situations. Finally, having an internship portion in Vancouver is a great opportunity to start a new professional journey in such an amazing place!

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RESEARCH OR YOUR PROGRAM TO A FAMILY MEMBER?

The MBA program has a well-balanced mix of courses that focus on developing soft skills (i.e., leadership, managing people and organization, among others) and other subjects that seek to strengthen hard skills (i.e., financial management, business analytics, etc.). Many classes use business cases as a means for students to practice critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. It is a hands-on experience as students are encouraged to discuss and debate different strategies as well as coming up with feasible and practical solutions to business problems. The program is challenging but offers a great opportunity and a safe place to try new approaches, make mistakes, and ultimately take away important lessons.

WHAT ARE YOU PARTICULARLY ENJOYING ABOUT YOUR STUDIES/RESEARCH AT SFU?

One of my favorite moments so far has been to finally get to know my classmates and professors in person after months of having online classes. We have had engaging and vibrant discussions where we have been able to share unique experiences and perspectives. Additionally, I have particularly enjoyed the teams I have worked with. We have had challenging times and some disagreements along the way, but in the end, it has all been worth it as we have become good friends and we have learned a lot from each other.

HAVE YOU BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF ANY MAJOR OR DONOR-FUNDED AWARDS? IF SO, PLEASE TELL US WHICH ONES AND A LITTLE ABOUT HOW THE AWARDS HAVE IMPACTED YOUR STUDIES AND/OR RESEARCH.

I was a recipient of the John Ellis Graduate Entrance Scholarship and I am very grateful for this. This scholarship made this experience possible and has helped me to focus on my studies.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE?

The journey has not been easy. The world is still facing the pandemic and there are many challenges ahead. However, I am feeling optimistic as we have become more resilient and overcome many difficulties. Let’s remember that many people are going through their own personal battles. Looking forward, I hope that we all can continue being empathetic and kind to each other.

Contact : rodolfo_gonzalez@sfu.ca

ADDITIONAL LINKS

• LinkedIn