She joined leading Italian business school MIP Politecnico Di Milano after an industrial engineering undergraduate degree and a career at a leading manufacturing company in her native Mexico.
After a summer internship focused on logistics at Luxottica, she joined the Ray-Ban sunglasses owner on a full-time basis as a planning and reporting supervisor.
But there has been a global slowdown in luxury sales in 2014, and many brands have struggled to make waves in the fashion world.
Sandra, however, has benefited from Milan’s reputation as a fashion capital and MIP’s unique luxury sector offerings.
Why did you decide to begin an MBA at MIP Politecnico di Milano?
I chose MIP because it is based in Italy and it is considered among the top[-ranking schools] in Europe.
Italy has a culture of building high quality products and luxury brands [such] as Ferrari [and] Gucci. I’ve been attracted to Italy to learn about the passion of brands and commitment to quality.
Mexico and Latin America have a growing business education market. Did you consider studying closer to home?
Mexico has great management schools; I did consider staying but my willingness to [gain] experience outside my country was stronger.
Being away from home was also a hard decision, as I have a big family in Mexico, but sometimes we have to [make] sacrifices to reach what we want.
What’s it like to study and live in Milan?
Milan at first was shocking, due to the high cost of living. The cold weather during winter was another hard thing for me as I'm from a hotter place.
But once you get into the city it is easier to adapt. The experience of studying in Milan was great – I had the opportunity to [get to] know great people from around the world, and at the same time live the Italian culture.
You first studied industrial engineering. Do you value that experience now as a business manager?
Absolutely, yes – the work experience helped me to understand concepts and connect the dots. I recommend [people] to have some experience before enrolling into an MBA.
In my case, with the background I had, it also opened the opportunity to find a job in Italy. [And] the contribution during the consulting project was smoother for me as it was linked with [my] previous work experiences.
You first had a short-term consulting position at Luxottica Group. What projects were you tasked with?
The project was in the logistics area, focused on finding a trade-off between the service level and the transportation cost – in other words to supply more products to improve the service level without incurring additional costs.
The focus area was the planning of volumes to be released and [sent] to the distribution centre to supply customers. This process is extremely important for the company as it defines the way they serve their customers.
How important was the MBA, and the consulting experience, in securing a full-time job at Luxottica Group?
The collaboration between Luxottica and MIP was [the first step] to open the door to the consulting project. Securing a full-time job was in my hands and my colleagues’ hands. [We had] to show the skills, knowledge and team work to solve problems.
In my case speaking the language, contributing to the project solution and work experience were also key [for me] to be considered as a potential candidate for a full-time job.
Milan is renowned for its fashion industry. Did MIP’s location benefit you in securing a job with a luxury group?
I have to be honest – Italy has great brands and products [and] not only in the luxury sector, so maybe [it] was the location [that helped me secure the job], maybe not.
I think the relationship between the school and luxury brands might be a good start to connect [with luxury companies] and get to know the alumni, to open opportunities for jobs.
There has been a global growth slowdown in the fashion industry this year. Have you entered the sector at the right time?
Luxottica keeps growing and getting stronger in the market. I don't think I got in the sector in the wrong moment. I believe that you can build your path at any moment; it depends on you and your willingness to succeed.
Do you get to take any Ray-Bans home – a perk of the job?
The company offers the benefit to its employees to access their products – a very limited amount at a lower cost. I already bought my tailor-made Ray Bans – but at a regular price, as I wanted them customized.
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