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MBA Applicant Voice: Digital Strategist Seeks MBA To Generate Social Impact

Gratianne Valdez Quade has worked in the public sector, the digital media industry and in the film business. Now she hopes to use an MBA in Europe to pursue consulting.

By  

Wed Mar 4 2015

BusinessBecause

Gratianne Valdez Quade is a new media specialist with a keen interest in digital and brand strategy.

After years working in international organizations like AIM International and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, she is ready for business school and is certain that an MBA will help her to achieving her career goals. 

Why do you want to begin an MBA now?

I promised myself a long time ago that I would wait to apply to graduate school until I was absolutely certain of my objectives, no matter how long it took to define them.

I graduated from Occidental College in 2007 and subsequently have had time to explore many facets of new media in both advertising and the non-profit world in developing countries.

I want to combine my experience in the digital space with the leadership and management education of an MBA degree, to pursue a career in brand strategy.

What do you hope to gain from it?

I am looking for a way to strengthen and connect the skills I [have] learned in previous jobs, while adding marketing skills gained from an MBA program.

Having worked for and interned at a variety of organizations including Publicis Modem, the Charlie Rose Show and PBS’s American Experience, my experience comprises many moving parts.

I gained experience in film editing while working on the Oscar-nominated documentary Bully. I also worked with a team of journalist to cover the continued devastation in Haiti a year after the 2010 earthquakes.

For the last two and a half years, I have been living in Phnom Penh [Cambodia], where I work in the anti-human trafficking field. Here, my greatest achievement has been founding and developing, with a colleague, a database for missing and trafficked children in Cambodia.

I am at a point where I would like to take my experiences full-circle and augment them with education. My goals are focused and now I must concentrate on filling in my knowledge gaps with an MBA from a top business school with a global focus.

How will an MBA impact your future career?

My core objectives are to grow as a leader and to learn. I want to delve into marketing theory, brand strategy, consumer research, and more importantly the art of leadership. These skills are needed to bridge my skill-sets.

An MBA will give me the training and credibility I need to move into a leadership position, with the ability to influence overarching organizational brand strategy.

Which business schools will you apply to?

I am looking at business schools in Europe. My top choices are: HEC [Paris], ESSEC, ESCP Europe, EMLYON, and IMD.

What are the most important factors to you when choosing a business school?

Personal attention and class size are key considerations, as I tend to thrive in personal, collaborative environments. I value meaningful interactions with my professors and seek an environment conducive to forming lasting friendships and business relationships with my peers.

Opportunities for internships and consulting projects are also major draws for me. I would like to get experience in France before entering the job market. Since I am a non-native French speaker, finding a job will be a challenge.

Picking a program with a strong career development department and alumni network in France is essential. 

What has been your greatest challenge during the MBA application process?

The GMAT. After seven years out of school, getting into the habit of intensive independent study has been a challenge, but a fun one.

I decided to take an online course that I could complete at my own pace. I have augmented my studies with additional GMAT books and an enormous stack of flashcards. I was intimidated at first but I am now looking forward to taking the test. 

How do you plan to fund your MBA?

Of course I hope [to get] a scholarship, but applying exclusively in Europe means that tuition and living costs will be for one year, as opposed to two years in the US, where I am from. I have savings but am prepared to take on loans to finance the degree.

What are your future career plans?

I aspire to work in brand strategy, where I can combine my experience in the digital space.

What I love about the digital marketing and brand strategy space is that they are found in a variety of settings, from business consultancies to ad agencies and even in the non-profit sector.

Upon graduation, I’d like to work at a business consultancy firm that has clients including corporations as well as non-profit organizations.

 

Student Reviews

emlyon business school

Student

Verified

4/12/2023

On Campus

Intense courses, helpful professors

I am an international student in my 3rd year and I love going to this school and do not regret chosing it for my BBA. The classes are helpful, professors are always there to help as well and we have a very understanding administration.

Student

Verified

18/03/2023

On Campus

Leadership in an amazing city

I decided to do my exchange in Emlyon because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, and I found a space with very capable People.. participatory, empathetic and full of leadership. I will never forget Lyon, apart from giving me an unforgettable experience, he gave me great friends

Student

Verified

23/11/2021

On Campus

A lot of opportunities professionally and socially. A unique program in France.

You can choose your courses and do your internship, exchange whenever you want. It's flexible and adapted to the needs of each student. A great program and a great city! Professionally, it opens a lot of doors for you to find internships or jobs in France or abroad thanks to the network and career events.

Fabian

Verified

7/06/2020

MSc in Digital Marketing

Combining both worlds into one, this course gave me all the on-demand technical skills in data science while maintaining a business-oriented approach. Thanks to the strong academic profile of this university I was able to secure an internship and full-time job at Amazon.

Student

Verified

14/10/2018

Top Business School fostering innovative entrepreneurs

EMLyon is one of the best business schools. The campuses, associations and courses offered provide the students with the best options to build the future they have chosen. The various opportunities to study and work abroad also offer a deeper understanding of the world, not only economy-wise but social, which helps the student become as well a better individual and not only a pre-formated business school student.

Student

Verified

9/06/2020

Emlyon campus in Paris

It has a great international community and you have access to many international tools, courses and professors. I had many networking events and workshops for students. Campus and some details of the program could have been improved or need to be bigger in order to have a better student life.

Student

Verified

21/11/2022

On Campus

Entrepreneurship

Overall good content and good activities. Lack of administration but still ok. Good flexibility and liberty offered to the students. Finally, the amount of internship is also a good way to improve qualifications.

Student

Verified

25/05/2020

Good Reputation and International Business School

The course was not well adapted but it was up to the mark. The professors are very well experienced and their experience comes in handy while working on assignments. The facilities on the campus are top class. Truly professional. I really like spending time in the learning hub and using all the available resources. Lyon is an amazing city. You will never get bored.

Edel

Verified

11/07/2024

On Campus

MSc International Hospitality Management

The best educational experience of my life so far! It’s been full of exposure and great connections. From Lyon to London, Paris, Los Angeles and Las Vegas! Truly an exceptional way to discover the world of hospitality.

Student

Verified

11/07/2024

On Campus

Real networking opportunities

- meeting new people, specially professionals during seminars or evening meeting at school. - going abroad to study luxury - being involved as an ambassador to promote the school and the program I was into (MSc LMM) - having such a great professional core

Daphné

Verified

14/07/2024

On Campus

white baccalaureate in the world of work

I really appreciated the MS SDAI as a whole. The teaching staff, the different subjects, the university exchange, TEM... I started my internship in a consulting firm having acquired a solid foundation. Downside for CentraleSupélec, which I found far too academic for a program such as this.

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