This is the first time that two members of the EPN have been finalists in the event in two different categories.
Sofía Jiménez de Aréchaga, an MBA graduate, was nominated for the Start-up of the Year Award for her ventureMEZCLA,a pioneerin the country in offering designers, architects, and the general publicfurnitureand decorativeitemsmade ofconcrete.
Ximena Aleman, an MBA student, is a finalist in the Entrepreneur of the Year Award category forPrometeo Open Banking, one of the largestopen bankingstartups in Latin America, which provides access toinformationandpayment servicesfromfinancial institutionsin 10 countries across the region.
These nominations are based on several core values of ORT’s Graduate School of Business and the School of Management and Social Sciences:
- Entrepreneurial spirit, which is fostered through its curriculum, its entrepreneurial culture, its Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), and its participation in and organization of international pitch competitions.
- Innovation innovation in business, adapting and leading the digital transformation of organizations.
- Internationalization, through exchange agreements with prestigious universities around the world, dual degree programs with business schools in China, the United States, and France, and its participation in academic networks focused on innovation and entrepreneurship.
When asked about this, Dr. Gaston J. Labadie, dean of the School of Management and Social Sciences, stated: "First and foremost, this is a clear indication of the quality of our students and graduates. I believe this serves as external validation of our approach and as international recognition of our status as a national and regional leader and as a leading institution in the fields of entrepreneurship, digital business, and sustainable business."
In 2018, graduate Juan Pablo Pereira was a finalist for the AMBA Awards for his startup, Armor Bionics, a company that offers visual solutions and 3D models to help plan surgeries and conduct simulations to ensure the most effective outcomes.
The AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards are among the most prestigious awards in the business world. They aim to recognizetalent,excellence,leadership,innovation, lifelonglearning, andsustainableinitiatives within the global business education community.
Some of the schools nominated alongside ORT’s Graduate School of Business include ESMT Berlin (Germany), MBA Centre, Shanghai University (China), ESADE Business School (Spain), IE Business School (Spain), NEOMA Business School (France), Athena School of Management (India), EGADE Business School, Tecnológico de Monterrey (Mexico), Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics (Portugal), Imperial College Business School, Imperial College London (United Kingdom).
The event is organized bythe Association of MBAs (AMBA), one of the world’s three leading business school accrediting bodies, of which ORT’s MBA program is a member, and bythe Business Graduates Association (BGA), a membership and quality assurance organization for business schools that share a commitment to responsible management practices, lifelong learning, and a positive impact on their communities.