Pedro is currently co-chair of the Hispanic American Business Student Association. Learn more about Pedro and his community involvement at Booth.
- By
- September 28, 2023
- Full-Time MBA Stories
Get to Know Pedro Ribeiro, Class of 2024
Pedro Ribeiro
With a background in chemical engineering, I worked in oil & gas post-undergrad at ExxonMobil where I did process engineering on the chemicals side, helping to make plastics. I really liked engineering but wanted something more strategic and high-level at the intersection of energy and industrials, with a tie-in to sustainability (an area I'm passionate about). Coming to Chicago Booth was a way to help me pivot, while exploring different industry interests. The flexible curriculum and amazing community helped me gain insight into areas I didn't know about. Since I had only worked for one company in my career, I also wanted to try a wealth of opportunities to branch out more. And that's definitely what Booth has allowed me to do, like working for a Latin American solar energy start-up as part of Startup Summer, a private equity firm through the PE/VC Lab, and in my summer internship in consulting.
What’s one of the best pieces of advice you’ve received, personally or professionally?
Something that Harry Davis said at a Booth event really stuck with me: create pauses for yourself. It's often easy to get on a grind and just execute, but by creating pauses I have been able to self-reflect better and make decisions that are more intentional.
What part of the MBA experience at Booth do you enjoy the most?
The pay-it-forward culture. I recruited for consulting last summer before Booth was even in session; nonetheless, many Boothies offered to connect and help me prepare for interviews or other events.
How has your involvement in the Hispanic American Business Student Association (HABSA) contributed to your overall MBA experience?
This student group has been an integral part of my MBA experience. Even before I started my first year, HABSA provided support while I was doing pre-MBA early recruiting for consulting. The casing resources and conversations with HABSA members that had gone through consulting recruiting before were invaluable in helping me land internships in that field. HABSA has also been a chance for me to find community within Booth, including with folks that came from similar backgrounds as me in a place where we are often underrepresented. The friendships have gone a long way toward making Booth feel like home!
What’s your favorite HABSA event you’ve attended?
Last year, around the first few weeks of class, we had a retreat together with AAMBAA and the Booth Africa Club. It was a very casual event to get to know the Booth community. The community really showed up, and it was really fun to meet everyone and know folks early in the program. The event led to a lot of good friends and connections that were critical for me in my first year.
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.
Fun Facts About Pedro:
- Pedro is a big foodie. He loves exploring all of the good restaurants Chicago has to offer!
- Growing up, Pedro wanted to be an engineer due to his love of problem solving, science, and math.
- His girlfriend (fellow Boothie and recent alumna — Ivana Chen, ’23) continues to inspire him due to her fearlessness and go-getter attitude.
- Check out our Instagram post dedicated to Pedro