Javi Gonzalez
“Everyone in the program is ambitious, impressive, and infinitely interesting. In my team specifically, we had two team members get promoted within their organization, another promoted by taking a role with another organization, and yet another that pivoted into an internship role in investment banking, all within the first year in the Fuqua Executive MBA program. Two of my teammates from my first team also became my closest friends through the program, and we kept in touch during breaks despite all three of us living in different states. The team-focused structure undoubtedly fosters professional and personal growth.”
Weekend Executive MBA
Industry:
Prior Education:
The University of Texas at Austin
BS Mechanical Engineering, 2013
Reflections
Fuqua was one of the few Executive MBA programs that allows students from across the country to attend their program without having to relocate to attend classes in person. The hybrid system allowed me to maintain my role in Austin, Texas, while traveling to Durham about once a month for three-day residencies. This balance was ideal for someone like me who completed their undergraduate degree in Austin and wanted to expand their professional network and attend one of the top Executive MBA programs in the country.
Additionally, because there are a range of elective courses, the opportunity to take a consulting elective course (Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum), MBA concentrations, and various organizations Executive MBA students can join, Fuqua allows MBA students to tailor the MBA experience uniquely to their own professional and personal growth ambitions. Having these options to create my MBA, foster new friendships, and build a professional network across state lines made Fuqua an easy choice among several other Executive MBA options I was exploring.
Before Fuqua
I manage energy infrastructure capital projects in the Austin, Texas, area that range from building new substations to improve grid reliability in growing parts of the city to working with solar developers to increase our renewable energy sources and meet Austin’s Climate Equity Plan.
After Fuqua
While I may choose to continue building my career in energy infrastructure, my primary goal is to pivot into a more finance-based role consistent with several of the finance courses I’ve taken at Fuqua, such as in energy management consulting, infrastructure advisory, energy investment analysis, and/or project finance, among others.
Five Random Facts About Me
- I minored in Japanese in college and love learning new languages. You will find in your cohort not only various languages spoken but also many classmates having an interest in languages and travel.
- I translated (Spanish, Japanese, and German) in my first job after graduation. This was surprising, considering I was a mechanical engineer working in chemicals in Houston and Louisiana. Yet again, you will find classmates with various career experiences—some quirkier than others.
- I’ve cycled 150 miles from Houston to Austin more than once. This was through the annual BP MS150 bike ride, in which my previous employer sponsored a team. Consistent with the MBA program, the experience was crucial to my personal and professional development at the time by fostering community.
- My first solo trip abroad in 2016 to Taiwan strengthened my confidence in navigating unexpected challenges. At one point, I got lost in rural Taiwan and had to find a way back to my planned itinerary (Google Translate was not great yet). The unexpected will likely occur during your MBA, but relying on previous experiences can serve as a guide (in my case, it was the Japanese “alphabet,” which uses Chinese characters).
- I obsess over all things music. Do I play instruments? No. However, chasing concerts around the country with friends has not only driven friendships that now span decades, but it’s also a hobby that has formed the foundation of friendships made through the MBA.
MSQM:HA students "meet" in Durham without leaving home
Global Executive MBA
Top Areas of Career Focus
Financial Services (20%)
Consulting (5%)
Sales/Business Development (5%)
Energy/Chemical/Gas (9%)
Marketing/PR/Advertising (6%)
Consumer Goods (3%)
Average Age
Average Work Experience
Countries Represented
Women
Non-US Citizenship
Master of Management Studies: Duke Kunshan University
Undergraduate Majors
Business/Accounting (51%)
Economics (22%)
Liberal Arts (14%)
Engineering/Natural Sciences (10%)
Other (4%)
Average Age
Average Work Experience
Countries Represented
Women
Non-US Citizenship
Master of Management Studies: Foundations of Business
Undergraduate Majors
Liberal Arts (33%)
Business/Accounting (24%)
Engineering/Natural Sciences (18%)
Economics (17%)
Other (8%)
Average Age
Average Work Experience
Countries Represented
Women
Non-US Citizenship
Weekend Executive MBA
Top Areas of Career Focus
IT (16%)
Financial Services (14%)
Health Care/Health Services (10%)
Manufacturing/Operations (9%)
Sales/Business Development (8%)
Consulting (8%)