Now that Jonathan Aleman Castro, MBA ‘26, has finished his first semester at the Marketing Leadership Institute, he is excited to share some of his experiences. Coming into the program, Jonathan did not have a business background, but he didn’t let that intimidate him. Instead, he faced the program head-on and had a great semester! Continue reading to learn about Jonathan and what he does to be an awesome Business Badger!
Community in the Center
In just one word, I would describe the Marketing Leadership Institute (MLI) as a community. The close-knit atmosphere that the center fosters has connected first-years like me with some amazing people who are eager to share their advice and help. In my opinion, these relationships were crucial in those first few weeks of the program, when all of us first-year students were searching for internship offers, figuring out our coursework, attending networking events, and seeking professional development opportunities. At one point, we were all going in and out of different interviews, waiting for responses, going to classes, and then going into more interviews. It was comforting that during this entire experience, we were all going through it together. Additionally, it was nice to get advice and guidance from the second-years, who had gone through this same process the year before. Looking back, I was never faced with not knowing what to do and who I could go to, and as someone with no prior business experience, connecting with faculty and learning from my mentors and peers was extremely beneficial.
Before joining the MBA program, my career focused on nonprofit education, working with high school students as a program coordinator and advisor. From that experience, I recognized that one of my core values was having a sense of community and building meaningful relationships. I knew that when I was meeting with high school students, I couldn’t just talk to them – I had to give them a reason to listen to me. Over time, I helped my students see why my advice was beneficial and why I was sharing it with them. After all, when do people listen to others – when they trust them! Similarly, being in the MBA program, I recognize that the organic relationships that I have made have sparked my curiosity and fueled me to help others as others have helped me.
One great piece of advice I’ve received from those connections I have made is to always be yourself, which sounds extremely repetitive, but is genuinely so important. I feel like we, as students, are always told to be ourselves, and we tend to view that as us having to be something that is bigger or greater than our true selves. In reality, when you’re told to “be yourself”, do just that. Be authentic, because at the end of the day, you will end up where you’re supposed to be.
Steps to Success
So, my philosophy has been to go into life seeking those genuine connections before anything else. This has helped me in being a more authentic version of myself and maintaining long-lasting relationships. That same mindset can be seen in the MBA program as well. Here, everyone is rooting for your success, and whether it’s your mentor, classmates, professors, other faculty members, or industry professionals, there is always a lot of organic, genuine support and encouragement.
Remember, it’s a two-way street. You won’t find what you need if you’re not looking, you won’t hear what’s important if you’re not listening. A class that I got a lot out of was Current Topics where I was given the opportunity to think and learn about relevant marketing topics that are happening around the world. This was often delivered to us by industry professionals coming from various sectors of the market. A highlight after some of these classes was the networking socials, where we all got to relax a bit and talk to the speaker one-on-one.
From interactions like these, as well as other events like the Marketing Summit, hosted by the MLI, I have made connections with alums, partners, and representatives of the center’s External Advisory Board that I will always remember. Being surrounded by and having the chance to learn from people who are motivated to help you and care about your success is what fuels me further.
After just one semester, I can confirm that the Marketing Leadership Institute at the Wisconsin School of Business was the right choice for me. The community that is established within the center is apparent. Being here has made me feel supported, heard, and cared for, which comes together to create an unmatched level of community and hospitality that I could have never imagined. I know these next semesters are going to be great and I am looking forward to what lies ahead during my time as a Badger.