Each week, JWMI profiles students and alumni in its new featured series “Winning Voices.” Learn about our diverse community and what sets our program apart from those who have experienced it. For more great “Winning Voices” content, click here.
Ernesto Campos
CEO
Nuevo Almaden
Tell us a little bit about your company.
I am the CEO of a small, custom steel manufacturing company in Northern Mexico. We design and manufacture components for the steel and mining industry. The cost of downtime in these industries is significant; therefore, service and quality become even more critical. It is my job to deliver on time, at the highest quality and lowest cost.
WHY WERE YOU LOOKING TO GET AN MBA?
To be honest, I was not interested in pursuing an MBA. I read Jack’s book Winning a few years ago when my company was in a tough spot. His book helped me so much with my strategy for our company that I knew I needed to learn more about his leadership principles. This is how and when I first learned of JWMI, and I did not think twice about immediately applying for the MBA program.
How has the JWMI Curriculum helped your career?
I took every opportunity to learn something new. Learning from classmates, faculty, “Experts of Practice,” and Jack himself—the collective group helped me to become a better leader something I’ve taken back to Nuevo Almaden. The case studies from a variety of industries were invaluable, but the most impressive for me, were Jack’s case studies whereby I was able to see how he applied principles, like Workouts, years earlier at GE. It provided me significant insights that my classmates and I were able to implement in our own companies.
DID YOU FIND THE CURRICULUM WAS IMMEDIATELY APPLICABLE?
“Learn on Monday. Apply on Tuesday.” is really what the entire program is all about. Your company can be the subject of many of the discussions and assignments in the program which is a great added value, as you are learning and working at the same time!
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE IN THE PROGRAM?
Experiencing first-hand what it is like to participate in an organization that lives and breathes its mission & values every day has been the most rewarding experience. JWMI practices what it teaches. At JWMI, everything is about transforming the lives of the students, and upon enrolling, you immediately feel it. The advisors, faculty, executive leadership, and staff at JWMI want you to succeed and provide the tools and mentorship to do so.
What did it mean to be able to walk at graduation finally? Can you share more about your feelings that day?
It was an overwhelming moment to meet Jack at graduation in 2018. In 2006, I bought his book Winning (I was 22 years old), and there I was 12 years later in Washington, D.C., talking to him at graduation about how much his MBA has helped my company!
PLEASE SHARE ANY ADVICE FOR NEW STUDENTS EMBARKING ON THE MBA JOURNEY.
Try to learn as much as you can from your classmates, learn from the faculty, learn from the “Experts of Practice,” and of course learn from Jack, in other words, make the most out of your time on this journey!
Connect with Ernesto Campos Villarreal on Linkedin
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