Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to reflect upon and celebrate the rich and diverse cultural contributions that are so deeply embedded into the multicultural fabric of the United States. This month-long celebration allows individuals of Hispanic, Latinx, and Latine descent to showcase their heritage and serves as a reminder of the many contributions made by this community. This month reminds us to celebrate not just the Hispanic culture but also the invaluable contributions these individuals bring to our society and to appreciate their unique perspective.
Hear from Will Rodriguez, Haydee Marino, and Pedro Ribeiro, co-chairs of the Hispanic American Business Student Association
Will Rodriguez
Why did you want to get an MBA?
I decided to pursue an MBA in order to grow professionally and become more of a decision maker in the education field. After witnessing the effects the pandemic has had on education through work and my personal life, I wanted to increase my knowledge and skills to help improve educational systems with a more widespread reach.
What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?
To me, Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to recognize and celebrate my upbringing and cultural background while also taking the time to reflect and learn about other cultures. The term Hispanic has such a wide reach for who it applies to and learning about the different cultures and countries that fall under the category is a great way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
Haydee Marino
What do you currently do for work? What are your career goals?
I’m starting a machine learning SaaS company. I hope to found and run highly specialized and effective charities some day.
What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?
Growing up in one of Chicago’s Mexican neighborhoods, every day felt like an appreciation of our heritage and culture. Hispanic Heritage Month is when everyone else wants to celebrate with us 🙂
Pedro Ribeiro
What part of the MBA experience or Booth community do you enjoy the most?
The pay-it-forward culture. I was recruited for consulting last summer before Booth was even in session, but many Boothies offered to connect and help me prepare for interviews or other events.
What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?
Hispanic Heritage Month is a chance to celebrate a community that is often very underrepresented and undervalued. I love being able to celebrate Hispanic culture and share more about it with my peers.
Will Rodriguez, Haydee Marino, and Pedro Ribeiro, are all members of the Hispanic American Business Student Association (HABSA). HABSA is a student-run organization at Chicago Booth that serves as a professional resource and peer network for the Hispanic community at Booth. We encourage you to check out their website to get a glimpse of what resources are available for students who are interested in joining HABSA in the future.
