Carolina Gutierrez
University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business
Hometown: Monterrey, Mexico
High School: American School Foundation of Monterrey
Major: Finance & Sociology
Favorite Business Courses: Investment Theory, Business Law Contracts & Agency, and Advanced Corporate Finance
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles during College:
Extracurricular Activities
- Student International Business Council – Largest student organization on campus (500+ members). Member since my Freshmen year; traveled with multiple projects; led three Consulting projects; as Consulting Division Director, I am currently overseeing eleven projects with consulting companies, where over 180 students are participating
- Human Development Conference – Helped organize conference for over 300 attendees from universities around the world, selected research proposals and created panels that dealt with similar topics
- Teaching Assistant for Foresight class and IT Management class
- Calculus group tutor and Private tutor in the Learning Resource center
- Student Assistant in the Stayer Center for Executive Education
Awards/Honors
- Dean’s List every semester
- Hesburgh International Scholar – Honor for International students
- International Scholars Program – Selected among 25 students to conduct research with faculty
Where have you interned during your college career?
| Company | Location | Dates | Roles |
| Deloitte Consulting | Chicago, Illinois | Summer 2014 & 2015 | Business Technology Analyst – Intern Developed Excel models and managed information in application lifecycle management tools. |
| Auric Consulting | Monterrey, Mexico | Summer 2013 | Summer Intern Research consumer good markets in Mexico and evaluated expansion opportunities for a leading Mexican conglomerate. |
Describe your dream job: My dream job would challenge me, and enable me to make significant contributions to society through the work I would be doing. I have always believed business can be a tool for a greater good, and if I could apply what I’ve learned for that purpose, it would be extremely rewarding.
What did you enjoy most about majoring in a business-related field? I believe a business education, particularly in Finance, gives you an excellent portrait of the way organizations work, and provides you with the knowledge, tools and frameworks to be productive from the start of your professional activities. Often I’ll find myself reading the news, looking at a product, or hearing about a new company, and using what I’ve learned in class almost instinctively, without noticing. After four years at Mendoza you realize how much you’ve learned and grown and what you can do with your knowledge.
Where would you like to work after graduation? I’m going to be working in Bain & Company as an Associate Consultant in Chicago, Illinois.
What are your long-term professional goals? After working in consulting for a several years, I would probably want to start my own business or explore another industry. Further down the road I could also see myself as a professor. In any case, I want to make sure I can see the impact of my work, be a piece of a puzzle for a greater good.
“I knew I wanted to major in business when…I was a senior in high school. The National Honor Society had always helped a rural elementary school by giving them Sunday classes and donating goods, but I wanted to have a more tangible impact when I was president. I set out to look for donors, and decided to expand our sale of school sweatshirts from our middle/high school campus to the elementary campus to raise money for the school. The expansion of the sweatshirt sales was my first contact with accounting, with contracts and commitments, and with the satisfaction that comes from achieving your goals. That year we raised a significant amount of money, and afterwards, once I was at Notre Dame, I found out that several new classrooms were being built. I realized that a business education would provide me with a solid foundation to contribute meaningfully in a variety of different industries, ranging from corporations to non-profit work.”
“If I didn’t major in business, I would…have probably been an architect. I liked to draw growing up, and whenever I travel I always love to take architecture tours and think about how entire cities and their buildings transformed over time. But many architects need a business education to become successful or to manage their success, so you never stray far from this field.”
What was the happiest moment of your life? One of the happiest moments of my life was probably during Freshmen Orientation at Notre Dame. I was taking a tour around our beautiful campus and all of a sudden I felt full of wonder and excitement at the idea of spending the next four years here. I wanted to gain different perspectives, make meaningful relationships with people from all over the world, and take advantage of as many opportunities as I could. Four years later I still feel extremely lucky and I know I will think of my time at Notre Dame and Mendoza as some of the best years of my life.
Which academic or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am most proud of my involvement with the Student International Business Council (SIBC). I started out as a member participating in multiple projects, then led three projects, and currently I’m finishing my term on the Board of Directors as the Consulting Division Director. SIBC has been an integral part of my time at Notre Dame, helped me meet many students from different backgrounds and taught me valuable skills that you can’t learn in a classroom setting. I enjoyed growing professionally and personally through SIBC, and being able to help younger classmates, the way upper classmates helped me when I started.
What animal would you choose to represent your professional brand? It’s difficult to say, since it would depend on the product or services offered. For consulting, you need to transmit vision, creativity, swiftness, team work and boldness. A wolf might work.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I would want to thank my parents the most for my success. I’ve been blessed with very supportive parents who have always encouraged me to discover and pursue my interests, and to be become a better person. I have always tried to follow their simple advice to, “get involved, and make a difference.”
Fun fact about yourself: Growing up I participated in almost every single school play since my First grade, and it all ended after I played the role of Maria in the Sound of Music in 11th grade. I still take voice lessons at Notre Dame.
Favorite book: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Favorite movie: The Dead Poets’ Society
Favorite musical performer: Celine Dion
Favorite vacation spot: Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, in the Southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula.
What are your hobbies? Singing, running and reading.
What made Carolina such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2016?
“Carolina (Carol) Gutierrez has been my student twice. She is always one of the first to arrive in class, she is prepared, asks questions and is a good student. It has been a pleasure to have her in my classes. What has set her apart from many of my other students is her demeanor. She is poised, very professional and mature beyond her years. Carol is personable and comes across as very calm and in control. I have no doubt that she will be very successful in business – analytical and personable, a great combination.”
Margaret Forster
Teaching Professor/Professional Specialist
Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame
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