Six years ago it never crossed Graciela Rodriguez's mind that she had the ability to study for a master's degree at INCAE, but her determination and perseverance changed this reality; today she is a proud Incaísta , an outstanding professional and a mother who works for the wellbeing of her children.
Originally from Poás, Alajuela, Costa Rica, Graciela grew up in a very loving family; she watched daily as her parents struggled to make ends meet. When she finished high school, she pursued her dream of studying architecture, despite economic obstacles and negative comments, she managed to graduate.
"A teacher told me that architecture was very difficult and that (I) could not. Then I questioned myself for several days, why should anyone label me or think that I couldn't. Much of what I have built until today I have been doing with that desire to prove to myself that I can. Much of what I have built until today I have been doing with that desire to prove to myself that I can," Graciela recalled.
Already with a family and with all the desire to continue her professional development, Graciela began her studies in the Full Time MBA program at INCAE, for this reason she moved to the Walter Kissling Gam campus, accompanied by her husband and her young daughter.
Graciela comments that the first day she arrived at INCAE, she wondered aloud: "what are we doing", because she had doubts about how the process would be and if she could really conquer the new academic goal, this because her reality was very different from that of many of her classmates, but even with all those doubts she followed with determination her new phase, not only as a mother or wife, but as a student with the desire to become a Master in Business Administration.
"INCAE has been a process of transformation for me, but it was also a lot of connecting with those sensitive points, of continuing to challenge myself and discovering that I was capable in the things that some people said I was not good at, for example, the subject of finances," she stressed.
Her classmates and family were a source of motivation when Graciela thought she could no longer continue with her professional training. Several months after starting her studies at this Business School, the goal became more challenging because she became pregnant with her second baby.
"I found out I was pregnant about 5 months after starting my master's degree, it was a bucket of cold water for me, because if it was already difficult with one daughter, now with two, but it was not impossible. It was a lot of planning and support with my partner," explained this professional.
"Sometimes I didn't study, I would fall asleep because I was pregnant and didn't read the whole case, but I got a lot of support from my colleagues because they had knowledge and strengths that complemented me throughout this process," she added.
With months to go before finishing her master's degree, Graciela questioned what her employability would be like, because now her responsibilities had increased, so she sought the support of the Career Development & Alumni Experiencie office, which provides a permanent service to the entire community Incaístas.
"I remember that I talked to Adriana Segura (Coordinator of Corporate Alliances for Placement), I told her about the possibility of hiring under my situation (the newly pregnant). Because I was very afraid of not being able to be placed in a company. INCAE was undoubtedly a very important support in my job placement, especially the work I did with Nicolás (Herzovich, Employability advisor in the Career Development department), I was very close to him, he gave me tools, he listened to me after each of my interviews", she recalled.
After completing the recruitment process, Graciela started working for BAC Costa Rica, as Head of Business Development and Strategy PYMES, a place where she has been able to develop her potential as a professional. She currently earns 4 times more compared to her old job, prior to her MBA, and she assures that she continues learning to show a better version of herself at work, with her family and with her friends.
"For me INCAE was more than a place where I acquired new knowledge, it was a process that helped me to find my life purpose, to know where I wanted to go a few years ago, and how far I can go in the future," added Graciela.
