Marcos grew up in Brazil, studied engineering, and worked in management consulting across Latin America. He led strategy projects in energy, infrastructure, and technology, helping large firms navigate complex transformations.
Before Stanford, he also co-founded a non-profit to promote social inclusion in his community. He’s analytical, globally minded, and passionate about creating economic growth while delivering social impact.
Essay Approach: “Why Stanford?”
Mr. Marcos should frame Stanford as the place where he can merge his strategic toolkit with leadership depth to grow internationally. He needs to be specific about the courses and experiences that will sharpen his skills and influence global clients.
Core Curriculum
• Strategy – Crucial for refining his ability to analyze industries, develop competitive insights, and design transformation plans. Mr. Marcos will deepen his understanding of how firms achieve sustainable advantages, which directly relates to his consulting background.
• Leadership Laboratory – A simulation exercise mimicked from Video games, where the challenges get harder as each round progresses
• Strategy Beyond Markets – As someone who worked in infrastructure and regulated sectors, he should highlight this course for learning how business decisions intersect with politics, regulation, and social forces, especially relevant for consulting in emerging markets.
• Organizational Behavior – To move beyond purely analytical skills, Mr. Marcos would benefit from understanding human dynamics, change management, and how to mobilize people during corporate transformations – a skill he has already acquired.
Electives & Experiential Learning
For the in-depth profile-based breakdown of the curriculum, Download F1GMAT's Stanford MBA Essay Guide
Essay Planning
Problem: Gaining cross-cultural exposure in North America and demonstrating fit with the entrepreneurial and global-centric mindset of Stanford.
Problem (Explained): For this Why Stanford MBA Essay, Marcos had to prioritize experiential learning with global themes, as he already has an impressive record of working in transformational projects in Latin America and one pilot project in California.
Feasible Goals: Consulting is a valid goal, with the latest Stanford MBA employment report showing 16% entering the function. General Management is also a feasible goal, with 32% entering the function.
Short-term Goal: Consulting in the Energy and AI intersection
Long-Term Goal: To offer sustainable solutions to low-income communities in Latin America by starting a boutique consulting firm serving in the energy and infrastructure niche.
Stanford’s Strength: Stanford’s legacy of building leadership skills to take on global challenges.
Opener: Summarize the greatest achievement as the opening line of the Why Stanford MBA Essay. This strategy has worked wonders in all Why MBA essays.
Strategy: The strategy is to organically transition from the greatest achievement to an interaction with a Stanford MBA alum when Mr. M realized the importance of gaining exposure in North America and in Asia/Africa through Stanford’s consulting projects.
Why Stanford MBA Essay: Consulting (343 words)
Earning the Consultant of the Year for 5 consecutive years in the Latin America region encouraged me to take on the most challenging transformation projects. MBA was not in my immediate plan until I met ..
