Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business students come to learn, explore, and build community. As they move forward in their careers, they take everything they've learned and use it to power innovation in industries and businesses across the globe. In celebration of Fall 2023 Commencement, we sat down with a few students to learn about their experiences and the wisdom they've gained in the process.
Meet Ciro Baires, who is graduating from the Evening MBA program with a concentration in Operations Management.
Where are you from?
My home country is El Salvador. But I am currently living in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Describe yourself in 15 words or less:
A determined and resilient person who works hard to reach my goals. 
Tell me about the person who most influenced your decision to pursue an MBA?
My wife influenced me the most because we went through the program together. We always talk about any new endeavor in our life in any aspect, including professional, personal, or academic. Our decision was: if you jump, I jump. I enjoyed the program having her by my side.
What was your favorite business course and why?
My favorite course was Service Operation Management with professor Manpreet Hora. It was one class I always wanted to attend and always learned something new. The professor did a great job making the content interactive and engaging students in participating and discussing cases. In addition, the guest speakers and tours to Chick-fil-A headquarters were valuable since they complement a lot of aspects discussed in the classroom.
What advice would you give to an incoming Evening MBA student?
Organize your time. The program is flexible, and most of the professors understand our workload of having a full-time job. However, don't cumulate homework or projects until the semester's end. Also, ask other MBA students about the classes. You don't want to have two demanding classes in the same semester.
What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at Scheller, and why?
The Crawfish Boil was my favorite event. It is a nice tradition to share with other students, family, and faculty members while enjoying a good southern dish.
What was your career journey in the Evening MBA program? Did you pivot, get a promotion, or change jobs?
At the beginning of the program, I changed jobs and had the opportunity to work for Siemens again. Earlier this year, I got a promotion and was assigned to a special project for the company as senior commercial project manager. My manager and I are working on my career development and what comes next now that I have finished my MBA.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
1. Become a manager with profit and loss responsibilities.
2. Work in the electric vehicle infrastructure division of my company.
What was a moment when you had to practice persistence and/or resilience while in the MBA program?
In the spring 2023 semester, I decided for the first time to take three classes in the same semester, and at the same time, I started a new role. The last two weeks of that semester were unforgettable with my new job's final projects and workload.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from your Scheller MBA?
Investing in my education is worthwhile. Classes have to be carefully picked and evaluated so they will be aligned with my professional goals.
What will you be doing to celebrate your graduation?
We are going to have a party at home with family and friends. Some of them are traveling from El Salvador, California, and Maryland.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
My small backyard pandemic project turned into me building a 30-foot-long x 4 feet high retention wall on my own. The lockdown was too long.