Cristina Gutierrez: 2016 Best and Brightest

Cristina Gutierrez Notre Dame

Cristina Gutierrez

University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business

Hometown: Monterrey, Mexico

High School: American School Foundation of Monterrey

Major: Finance & Psychology

Minor: Studio Art

Favorite Business Courses: Business Law Contracts & Agency, Macroeconomic Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

  • Dean’s List – all semesters
  • President – Student International Business Council
  • Business Manager – The Observer

Where have you interned during your college career?

  • Auric Consulting – Monterrey, Mexico – Summer Analyst
  • Deloitte – Chicago, IL – Business Technology Analyst Summer Scholar
  • Bain & Company – Chicago, IL – Associate Consultant Intern

Describe your dream job: In my dream job, I’d be able to combine my passion for problem-solving and creativity. I’d love to work in something that draws in people from different backgrounds, since I’m a firm believer that interdisciplinary solutions — those that focus on approaching problems from multiple perspectives — are most effective. Most importantly, however, my dream job will force me to get out of my comfort zone, keep learning about a variety of different disciplines and topics and, hopefully, make a difference in the projects I become involved.

What did you enjoy most about majoring in a business-related field? The great thing about majoring in a business-related field is that your major enables you to pursue a variety of post-graduation opportunities, both in business and non-business realms. Majoring in business provides you with a robust skill set that can be applied to an endless list of endeavors. One of my favorite things about my business education was having the opportunity to explore various business fields as an undergraduate; although my major is finance, I have been able to take courses related to other areas such as accounting and marketing. And this has equipped me with a better-rounded business education.

Where would you like to work after graduation? I will be working as an Associate Consultant at Bain & Company’s Chicago office.

What are your long-term professional goals? I have two main long-term professional goals. Firstly, I want to go back to school and pursue a graduate degree – either a Master of Business Administration or a Master of Design. Secondly, I would like to eventually combine my passion for consulting with my interest in creativity and innovation to work in something related to design consulting.

“I knew I wanted to major in business when…I was seven years old and visited my dad’s office. As I watched him work, I saw how happy his work made him; that was the moment I realized I wanted to find a passion that made me just as happy.” 

“If I didn’t major in business, I would be…majoring in economics or psychology.” 

What was the happiest moment of your life? The happiest moment in my life was when my twin sister and I found out we had been accepted to Notre Dame. After applying early action, we were notified of our acceptance on December 15th, 2011. I remember waking up that morning and seeing that I had an email from the University of Notre Dame in my inbox. I immediately opened it and was overcome with joy as I read that I had been accepted. I rushed to tell my parents and, five minutes later, we were joined by my sister; as soon as she walked in the room, she had a big grin on her face and we all knew that she’d been accepted too. The whole day felt like a dream come true.

Which academic or personal achievement are you most proud of? The personal achievement I am most proud of was having overcome my fear of public speaking. When I was younger, I used to be terrified about the idea of standing up in front of my peers to deliver a speech – no matter how short it was. Through my involvement with Model United Nations in middle school, however, I learned the importance of speaking up in order to engage in meaningful conversations and fight for what one believes in.

What animal would you choose to represent your professional brand? A beaver. I was once told that beavers are the engineers of the animal world. I think this is reflective of my professional brand, considering I like to experiment with different things and solve problems.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? My parents – for their unconditional support throughout my entire life and for teaching me the importance of extending my curiosity to learn beyond the classroom. I would not be the person I am today if it weren’t for the countless ways in which they have shaped me; from encouraging me to challenge myself on a regular basis to teaching me the value of being a well-rounded individual.

Fun fact about yourself: When I was five years old, I really wanted to be a teacher, and practiced regularly with a whiteboard we had at home. Seventeen years later, I still aspire to become a university professor.

Favorite book: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Favorite movie: Good Will Hunting

Favorite musical performer: Andrew Bird

Favorite vacation spot: Austria

What are your hobbies? Baking, photography, reading, writing

What made Cristina such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2016? 

“Cristina is a very talented young lady. This past year, I have had the privilege of getting to know Cristina. She is a highly motivated and dedicated student with a bright future. She represents all that we hope for in our Mendoza undergraduates. Cristina is thoughtful, intelligent and will make a difference in the world. Cristina’s performance in the 2015 McCloskey Business Plan Competition is just one example of her dedication to excellence.”

Gianna Bern
Associate Teaching Professor of Finance
University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business